Myanmar morning news for March 18, 2019

Per capita income of citizens projected to grow 6.3 pc this year
Per capita income of citizens is expected to hit 6.3 per cent this year, said Vice-President Myint Swe at a Chin State Investment and Local Products Show held on March 16.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar’s Rakhine State Sees Increase in Conflict, Displacement
More than 3,200 people were displaced last week in Myanmar following intensified fighting between the Arakan Army rebel group and the Myanmar Military in the northern Mrauk-U Township.
— The Globe Post

Sino-Myanmar bilateral trade worth US$3.7 bln in four months Oct-Jan
The value of Myanmar’s trade with China in the first four months (Oct-Jan) of current fiscal year 2018-2019 totalled US$3.74 billion, including $1.6 million worth of exports and $2.13 billion for import, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

2nd Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge ready for Tuesday opening
Preparations have been underway for the opening of the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge linking Thailand’s Mae Sot district and Myanmar’s border city of Myawaddy on Tuesday.
— Bangkok Post

Trade with South Korea up 30% in January
Trade between Myanmar and the Republic of Korea this January topped US$82.8 million, registering an increase in value by $19.148 million or 30 per cent from last January, according to the Ministry of Commerce’s latest monthly trade report.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Myanma Timber Enterprise “not worried” about EIA corruption report
Myanma Timber Enterprise responds to a report by the Environmental Investigation Agency alleging widespread corruption in the teak trade.
— Frontier Myanmar

Terror camps on India-Myanmar border destroyed
When the nation’s attention was focussed on the Balakot air strike, Indian Army in a joint operation with Myanmaerese Army destroyed 10 camps belonging to an insurgent group in Myanmar which had threatened the Kaladan multi-mode transit project.
— Economic Times

Is Thailand becoming Myanmar?
The military in Myanmar, also known as the Tatmadaw, is guaranteed 25 percent of parliamentary seats under the country’s constitution. If the National League of Democracy (NLD) – the party under Aung San Suu Kyi that won the general elections in 2015 – wants to implement any constitutional changes, it would need more than a 75 percent majority.
— The Asean Post

River catfish farming for national economic progress
Global Earth Agro & Aqua Industry Public Company Limited is building a fish farm and factories on 900 acres of flooded area on Shwelaung road, Pantanaw Township, Ayeyawady Region.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Sixth day of 56th Gems Emporium continues in Nay Pyi Taw
The 56th Gems Emporium continued its sixth day at Mani Yadana Jade Hall in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday and sold a total of 858 jade lots under the open tender system.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Insurgents attack civilian vessel, abduct crew in western Myanmar
An insurgent group of the Arakan Army (AA) has attacked a civilian vessel, setting fire on it and abducting the crew members in Paletwa town, Myanmar’s western Chin state, the Myanmar Police Force said on Sunday.
— Xinhua

Aussie startup launches online marketplace for cars
AsiaCarGroup, an Australian startup, has launched an online market platform for automobiles in Myanmar, Mymyancar.com, aiming for locals to trade more conveniently and transparently, and improve trust in online transaction, according to a release on March 13.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar seizes precious stones in northernmost state
Myanmar authorities have seized 22.9 kilograms of suspected uncut amber stones in Mokaung township, Kachin state, according to local police force on Sunday.
— Xinhua

Liquors smuggled from Myanmar seized in Manipur
In its effort to prevent the flow of illicit liquor and narcotic drugs to Manipur, the state police have seized a huge consignment of foreign liquors at Moreh, a border town at Indo-Myanmar border.
— Nagal and Post

Week in Review: Myanmar still a drug country
This week, a Myanmar Times special report detailed a growing problem with methamphetamine in eastern Shan State. Despite unprecedented record seizures of meth in Myanmar in recent years, the industry is still going strong in the Golden Triangle.
— Myanmar Times

More support for Chin community, say refugee groups
Refugee rights organisations have hailed UNHCR’s decision to halt the cessation process for Chin refugees, but raised the need for more solutions to support the community.
— The Star Online

Nationwide committee to be formed for complete cancellation of Myitsone Dam project
A talk on the complete cancellation of much-criticized Myitsone Dam project was held at the Former Political Prisoners Society (FPPS) office in Yangon yesterday.
— Eleven Myanmar

Anti-Corruption Commission receives more than 13,000 complaints since inception
Till now since its inception in November, 2018, the Anti-Corruption Commission has received more than 13,000 complaints, most of which are land disputes, Soe Tint, a member of the commission told the media after the opening of Anti-Corruption Commission’s Yangon branch on March 16.
— Eleven Myanmar

A Sisyphean fight against the narcotics scourge in Shan
A bucolic place hundreds of metres above sea level where the heat of the sun is always gentler and the weather much cooler than on the country’s central plains: Shan State is stunningly beautiful.
— Myanmar Times

Fisheries sector forced to restructure as declining demand decimates earnings
Myanmar fisheries and marine product exports have been declining over the past year after big buyers like Saudi Arabia and the US stopped importing from the sector last year. Meanwhile, demand trends from Myanmar’s other major trade partners such as Bangladesh are evolving, which has forced the industry to explore new products and strategies.
— Myanmar Times

Suu Kyi promises she will quickly tackle discrimination in issuing IDs to Hindus and Muslims
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has promised to tackle discrimination in issuing national IDs and passports to people with Hindu and Muslim faiths at the earliest opportunity.
— Mizzima

US CSR forum held in Mandalay for the first time
The Embassy of the US held its first corporate social responsibility (CSR) forum for US companies in Mandalay with the aim of promoting CSR-related activities to the business community in the region, said John Fleming, senior commercial officer, First Secretary of the embassy.
— Myanmar Times

Calls for sales of blended cooking oil to be legalised
Oil dealers want to sell blended oil made of peanut and palm oil, according to the industry body.
— Myanmar Times

Co-accused in Tanintharyi CM case is former vice-chairman of CB Bank
CB Bank spokesperson told ‘Myanmar Now’ that GGS Company Ltd. managing director Thein Htwe who was recently arrested under corruption charges along with the former Tanintharyi Region Chief Minister was a former Vice-Chairman of CB Bank who retired from his post many years back and the case would not have any impact and implications on the bank.
— Mizzima

Myanmar in urgent need of more police
A senior government official has said the country’s police force has less than half of its approved manpower.
— Myanmar Times

Giving Myanmar students a quality education through the India Education Fair 2019
Mr Sanjay Thapa, Founder and Managing Director of SAPE Events & Media Pvt. Ltd, sat down with Mizzima Editor Myo Thant to discuss the opportunity provided through the India Education Fair 2019 for Myanmar students to go to India to get a quality and affordable education.
— Mizzima

Civil society groups from across Myanmar hold anti-hydropower protest
Civil society groups from across the country convened in Mandalay on Wednesday and Thursday to protest against large-scale hydropower development on the country’s rivers, which they say is driving conflict and undermining efforts to build a democratic federal union.
— Frontier Myanmar

Maersk’s new office launched in Yangon, Myanmar
Maersk officially hosted the opening ceremony of its new central city office in Yangon on Thursday, 7 March 2019.
— Scandasia

Efforts to draw Chin investments yield positive results
Myanmar is intensifying efforts to draw investors to Chin State, which is the poorest region in the country.
— Myanmar Times

Ten terror camps on Indo-Myanmar border destroyed
When the nation’s attention was focussed on the Balakot air strike, Army in a joint operation with Myanmarese Army destroyed 10 camps belonging to an insurgent group in Myanmar which had threatened the Kaladan multi-mode transit project.
— The Sentinal

Feature photo Pxhere

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo acknowledges World Water Day, March 22.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Myanmar morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Myanmar news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.