Myanmar morning news for March 26, 2019

Myanmar to try growing, exporting more coffee as alternative to opium
Myanmar will develop and harvest coffee as an alternative crop to substitute opium poppy cultivation.
— Myanmar Times

Large banana supply from Myanmar to China
The banana price in Myanmar production areas has been stable in the last few weeks. There has been a slight decrease in some areas. People in the industry point out that the supply volume from Myanmar banana production areas recently exceeded 200 trucks per day.
— Fresh Plaza

Advancing in ease of doing business index involves effective communication, says official
Myanmar is trying hard to elevate its rank on the World Bank’s ease of doing business index, aiming to significantly improve its current rank of 171 out of 190 countries, by 2020.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar strive for movie dvelopment towards int’l standard
Myanmar is striving for its movie development with an aim to reach the quality of regional and international movies.
— Xinhua

Myanmar to build LNG power stations to meet energy requirements in 2022
Myanmar is planning to start three liquefied natural gas (LNG) power projects and a combined cycle power project to meet energy requirements in 2022, said Union Minister Win Khaing of Electricity and Energy.
— Eleven Myanmar

New labour law paves way for worker safety standards
Myanmar’s parliament has enacted the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Law to promote safe and secure working environments for labourers and workers.
— Myanmar Times

Trade volume between Myanmar and Thailand reaches over US$1.7 B
Trade volume between Myanmar and Thailand reached over US$1.7 billion till January 2019 and Myanmar exported over US$1 billion worth of products to Thailand, according to Ministry of Commerce.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar tourism expects comeback in 2019 amid rising visitor arrivals, investment
The year 2018 was a challenging year for Myanmar’s tourism sector as Western tourist arrivals continued its downward trend, but the trade is hopeful that 2019 will mark a turnaround as the year started on a positive note with foreign investments and arrivals on the up.
— TTG Asia

Myanmar looks West
Myanmar has embarked on a campaign to revive flagging interest among European investors, after focusing mainly on Asian countries — the source of almost all the country’s foreign investment in the last.
— Bangkok Post

Yangon protest kicks off nationwide campaign against Myitsone Dam
Politicians, activists and civil society representatives will gather in Yangon on April 1 to expand their campaign against the Chinese-backed Myitsone Dam, leaders of the movement said at a small protest in Yangon on Monday.
— Frontier Myanmar

Myanmar Military Denies Random Firing on Villages, Temples in Rakhine Conflict
The Myanmar military’s recent clashes with the Arakan Army (AA) in northern Rakhine state, including shooting and shelling incidents in Mrauk-U township, were counter-insurgency measures against the rebel fighters, a three-member team of military spokesmen said Monday.
— Radio Free Asia

What’s in the First Brunei-Myanmar Navy Vessel Visit?
Last week, a Brunei naval vessel arrived in Myanmar for what was officially characterized as the first visit of its kind between the two sides. The development highlighted the defense aspect of the relationship between both countries amid wider domestic and international developments.
— The Diplomat

UN resolution slams Myanmar over rights violations
The United Nations Human Rights Council has expressed grave concern over continuing reports of serious human rights violations and abuses including sexual and gender-based violence in Myanmar.
— UCA News

The Ancient Kingdom to the New Capital — Destination Guide to Central Myanmar
Naypyitaw, the legendary purpose-built administrative capital of Myanmar, was established in 2005. Known for its sweeping empty highways and elaborate, little-used roundabouts, the city also has a military museum, a zoo and safari park, two golf courses and many five-star hotels.
— The Irrawaddy

Myanmar: Women, Girls Trafficked As ‘Brides’ To China, Says HRW
The Myanmar and Chinese governments have failed to stem the trafficking of ethnic Kachin women and girls as “brides” to families in China, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
— Eurasia Review

Union P&F Minister inspects border control facilities in Myawady
U Soe Win, the Union Minister for Planning and Finance, inspected the customs, immigration, and quarantine procedures (CIQ) yesterday at the border control facilities near Myanmar-Thai Friendship Bridge 2 in Myawady Town, Kayin State.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Myanmar to further regulate SIM cards
Myanmar is taking measures against the sale of unregistered SIM cards, saying that the move is aimed at providing security for mobile financial services and individuals, the Ministry of Transport and Communications announced in a statement, according to Xinhua.
— Mizzima

Border trade value hits over $4,300m in five months
Myanmar has earned US$4,300 million from border trade over the past five months in the current fiscal year, exceeding over US$320 million compared to the same period of last year, said an official from the Ministry of Commerce.
— Eleven Myanmar

Education, banking and energy pitched to investors in London
Myanmar delegates discussed education, banking, and energy with the British Government and British businesses at the Myanmar Trade and Investment Conference 2019 held in London on March 18, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar’s first premium cinema opens in Yangon
The first Premium Cinema in Myanmar was opened by JCGV at Level-1 of Junction Square Shopping Centre in Yangon yesterday.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Is Shwe Mann out in the cold?
Despite several setbacks and humiliations, the former junta general and one-time ally of Aung San Suu Kyi has never strayed far from the corridors of power.
— Frontier Myanmar

Post-operation, 28 NDFB-S cadres leave Myanmar soil to enter Assam!
Due to heavy operations carried out by the Myanmar Army recently, many camps belonging to the northeastern militant groups were demolished and seized by the military.
— Nenow

Myanmar Academy Award winners praised with gifts in dinner reception
Winners of the 2018 Myanmar Academy Awards were honoured with a dinner reception at Inya Lake Hotel in Yangon yesterday.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

MSMEs receive awards on last day of national trade fair, contest
The awarding ceremony of the National MSMEs Products Trade Fair and Contest was held at Myanmar International Convention Centre II in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. Union Industry Minister U Khin Maung Cho, who is also Vice Chair of the MSMEs Development Working Committee, presented awards at the ceremony.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Myanmar: Peace Talks With Non-Signatories Of NCA By The Government Fail – Analysis
The much-hyped peace talks with the non-signatories of the National Cease-Fire agreement ended in failure thanks to the rigid stand of the Government.
— Eurasia Review

Myanmar’s first online goods transportation service receives US$130,000 from Yoma Bank
Kargo has inked an SME financing agreement with Yoma Bank, Myanmar’s largest commercial bank, on 11 March 2019.
— Enterprise Innovation

Myanmar’s best and brightest in film
The 2018 Myanmar Academy Awards was held at the One Entertainment Park, Thuwunna, Thingangyun Township, Yangon on Saturday. The event was attended by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who presented the lifetime achievement award to five-time award winner Sithu Daw Myint Myint Khin.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar Press Freedom Center opened in Yangon
Myanmar Press Freedom Center was opened at Olympic Tower in Yangon on March 24 with the aim of ensuring greater press freedom in the country.
— Eleven Myanmar

Sixteen dead, 48 injured in Meng Mao explosion
Sixteen people died and 48 were injured in an explosion in Mine Maw in the Wa self-administered region of Shan State on Saturday, according to the United Wa State Army (UWSA).
— Myanmar Times

How Will Myanmar’s Ethnicities Shape Its Future?
Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week, we’ll discuss the role of ethnicities in building a federal Union, internal peace and amending the Constitution. Joint Secretary 2 Sai Kyaw Nyunt of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) and technical adviser Salai Issac Khin of the Gender and Development Institute join me to discuss this. I’m Irrawaddy Burmese editor Ye Nei.
— The Irrawaddy

Nelito gains Myanmar microfinance win
India-based low-end core banking system provider, Nelito Systems, has won a deal from Alliance for Microfinance in Myanmar, reports Martin Whybrow.
— Banking Tech

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