Myanmar morning news for May 24

Export revenue from Muse border trade drops by US$600m
Myanmar recently launched its updated National Export Strategy for the next five years. The Ministry of Commerce will be adding fruits and vegetables, gems and jewellery, handicrafts, processed food products and digital businesses as potential export sectors.
— Myanmar times

Religion can play a role in Myanmar’s development
Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon has played a leading role in bringing religious leaders together as they seek ways to help the strife-torn country piece itself back together and move forward.
— UCA

Trade between Myanmar, Thailand at optimal levels: official
Khun Pakainay Leng-Ee, who was Thailand’s Minister Counsellor for Commercial Affairs to Myanmar from October 4, 2015 to May 15, 2019, reckons the two neighbouring countries have reached an optimal level of trade. “I think we’ve reached the best situation now,” he said.
— Myanmar times

KDDI, Sumitomo to enter Myanmar mobile game market
Japanese operator KDDI and conglomerate Sumitomo have revealed plans to jointly enter Myanmar’s mobile game industry through newly created joint venture Funcreate Myanmar.
— Telecomasia

Mango Group relocates headquarters to new office in Yangon
Myanmar’s longest standing Integrated Marketing Agency, Mango Group, has relocated to a new location in Yangon – bringing all of its 6 entities under one roof. Operating in the industry for more than 15 years, Mango Group provides Value Added Quality Services to create impactful communications in transparent and professional manner, according to a statement.
— Mizzima

Myanmar’s Rohingya Appeal to EU to Curtail Trade With Military-linked Businesses
The leaders of Rohingya and Myanmar Muslim groups have urged the European Union to take action on a call by a U.N. rights investigator to sanction businesses linked to the country’s powerful military, which continues to come under fire for a brutal crackdown on the minority group in 2017.
— Radio Free Asia

Campaign launched to clear ghost nets
A team of experienced divers from around the world have launched a campaign to clear lost and disused fishing nets – known as ghost nets – from the coral reefs in Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago, according to a statement.
— Mizzima

Ruby rush: Myanmar gem hunters exploit law change
Burrowing deep underground, thousands of informal miners risk their lives to find gleaming red gems as a law change spurs opportunity in Myanmar’s “land of rubies”.
— France24

Thai firm eyes Myanmar vending machine boom
XIT Service Co, owned by Thai investors, recently launched top-up vending machines in Myanmar targeting revenue Bt100 million in the first year of operation.
— The Nation

Myanmar, Philippines sign air services deal
Myanmar and the Philippines have signed an air services agreement, aimed at enhancing cooperation in the aviation sector, Myanmar’s Transport and Communications Ministry said on Thursday.
— Xinhua

Disaster Management Department of SWRR Ministry, UNHCR sign MoU
Memorandum of understanding between the Department of Disaster Management of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement and Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee was sighed at the ministry yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

US and Japan should be strategic partners in Myanmar, report says
There is room for Japan and the US to strengthen their economic cooperation and human rights policies in Myanmar, a recent study finds.
— Myanmar times

Will the Rohingyas ever return to Myanmar?
Since the massive exodus of Rohingyas from Rakhine to Bangladesh in 2017, a lot has been written and said about the plight of these unfortunate people. After nearly two years, it appears that the outraged world community has forgotten about this persecuted ethnic minority.
— The Daily Star

Myanmar monk stresses harmony to combat hate
A prominent Buddhist monk in Myanmar has called for the promotion of unity and harmony to counter the spreading of ethnic and religious hatred.
— UCA News

Myanmar filmmaker in court amid freedom of expression clampdown
A Myanmar filmmaker appeared in a Yangon court on Thursday (May 23) on charges of defaming the powerful military, one of a number of activists arrested in recent weeks as rights groups slam mounting assaults on free expression.
— Channel NewsAsia

State Counsellor receives UNHCR Chief
State Counsellor and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs Daw Aung San Suu Kyi received the delegation led by Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at 10:00 a.m on 23 May 2019 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Union Gov’t Office Minister Unveils Reform Plan for GAD
U Min Thu urges department officials to adopt new mindset, ensure full voter registration ahead of next year’s election.
— Irrawaddy

Pyidaungsu Hluttaw approves Myanmar acceding to ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement
At the tenth-day meeting of the Second Pyidaungsu Hluttaw’s 12th regular session held at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw meeting hall yesterday morning, Hluttaw approves Myanmar acceding to ASEAN Trade in Services Agreement.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar strives for listing of ancient town as world heritage site
Myanmar will submit a nomination to UNESCO for the inclusion of its ancient town, Mrauk U, in western Rakhine state as a world heritage site.
— Xinhua

Bago opens UN-backed, UK-funded road
The Bago Region government has officially opened a 1.5-km road funded by the UK under a UN rural development project aimed at promoting good governance.
— Myanmar times

Black sesame fetching good price in Mandalay this harvest season
Black sesame from Salin and Sinphyukyun townships of Magway Region is fetching a high price in the Mandalay market this harvest season, according to merchants. “Black sesame was cultivated in the summer, and it was priced at K220,000 per bag last year.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Nationwide drive to generate donations for Rohingya refugees
More than a million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh are slated to benefit from the latest humanitarian campaign of the Emirates Red Crescent Authority after it launched a nationwide drive to generate donations for them in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
— Gulf News

Sri Lankan with Suspected Easter Bombing Ties Arrested in Yangon
The man was arrested on Thursday afternoon while trying to renew his visa in Yangon.
— Irrawaddy

Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services receives Thai Ambassador
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing received Ambassador of Thailand Mrs. Suphatra Srimaitreephithak at the Bayintnaung Yeiktha in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. At the meeting, they openly and cordially discussed the status of the friendship between the two countries and .
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Man Killed, 1 Wounded by Landmines in Northern Shan State
Farmer dies while working in his field in Namtu Township; many rice fields in the area are idle this growing season as villagers fear the explosive devices.
— Irrawaddy

Free eye care services offered in Meiktila Township
The Myanmar Ophthalmological Society provided free eye care services to communities of Meiktila, Mahlaing, Wundwin, Taze, Yamethin, Pyawbwe, Myingyan, Taungtha, Kyaukpadaung, and Natmauk townships on 20 and 21 May at the Htilaoo Eye Hospital in Meiktila Township.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Spreading the NooDi Love for Kaw Yay Noodles
Entrepreneur Ma Myat Phoo Wai started her business four years ago, taking orders online and personally delivering the noodles to her customers.
— Irrawaddy

Feature photo Plan Bee

This week’s morning news photo features World Bee Day, May 20.

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.