Myanmar morning news for February 26, 2020

Myanmar-China Border Trade Drops US$200 M Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
Bilateral border trade between Myanmar and China declined by US$209 million from Jan. 23 to Feb. 18 compared to the same period last year due to the spread of coronavirus, according to U Khin Maung Lwin, assistant permanent secretary for the Ministry of Commerce.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar govt sets goal of generating more electricity to meet demand
Since April 2016, the government has invested roughly K1.2 trillion to produce some 700 megawatts of additional electricity for the country’s power needs, says Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy U Khin Maung Win.
— Myanmar Times

Remote Part of Myanmar Faces Food Shortages After China Border Closed Over Coronavirus
Two areas in north Myanmar’s Kachin state face shortages of food staples, consisting of rice, as well as increasing costs, after China closed down border checkpoints in an initiative to have its coronavirus break out, a neighborhood legislator stated Tuesday.
— The Union Journal

Myanmar’s military donates protective equipment for China’s fight against COVID-19
Myanmar’s military donated protective equipment to help China in its battle against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak on Tuesday.
— Xinhua

Myanmar to Upgrade Urban Infrastructure in State Capitals, Border Town
The Myanmar government is planning to upgrade basic infrastructure and enhance urban management of three major cities in Mon and Karen states that lie along Japan’s planned East-West Economic Corridor for the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS).
— Irrawaddy

Companies still owe gold to Myanmar govt for mining concessions: official
Small-scale gold miners owe the government some 13,300 ticals in ore, a senior government official revealed to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Assembly of the Union) last Friday.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar govt gives two defunct airlines until May to pay debts
The government will sue two local airlines if they fail to pay their debts by the end of May, a senior transport official told the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Assembly of the Union).
— Myanmar Times

Chinese bag maker shuts down in Myanmar
A Chinese-owned bag factory in Yangon abruptly announced its shutdown on Monday due to a lack of raw materials caused by the COVID-19 epidemic in China.
— Myanmar Times

Dala bridge project completes by 7%
Under the friendship between Myanmar and Korea, the Dala bridge project is being implemented with a loan of over US$157 million from the Republic of Korea and US$30 million from Myanmar totalling US$188.17 million, and the project has completed by 7 percent, according to the Ministry of Construction.
— Eleven Myanmar

138 Myanmar brick workers return from China for fear of coronavirus
More than 130 Myanmar citizens working at a brick making site in China’s province of Yunnan have returned home as they fear the coronavirus, according to a statement released by anti-human trafficking police on February 24.
— Eleven Myanmar

Imphal-Mandalay bus service: Engaging neighbours & beyond
Finally, bus service between Imphal and Mandalay is taking a concrete shape and it is indeed a landmark development for both India and Myanmar, particularly for India’s landlocked North East region.
— The Sangai Express

Border trade volume reaches to about US$4 B within over four-month time
Total border trade volume is reached to about US$4 billion from October 1 to February 7 in this fiscal year and it is more US$580 million in compared with the same period in last fiscal year, according to Ministry of Commerce.
— Eleven Myanmar

MP calls for review of Ks2.8bn budget demand for convention center repair
A member of Yangon Region Parliament has called for a review of the proposal demanding over Ks2.8 billion to repair MCC (Myanmar Convention Center) in Insein township although its annual income is just over Ks288 million.
— Eleven Myanmar

Residents of Myanmar’s Biggest City Must Be Educated Not to Litter, Advocacy Group Says
To keep Yangon clean, the laws against littering must be explained to the public and strictly enforced, the head of a waste-disposal advocacy group told The Irrawaddy.
— Irrawaddy

KBZ donates life-saving fiber boats
In a bid to mitigate the natural disasters and humanitarian challenges in the flood-hit regions during the rainy season, Kanbawza Bank donated life-saving fiber boats worth more than Ks 56 million.
— Eleven Myanmar

Emergence of qualified human resources is top priority: Minister
For new employment opportunities, priority is being given to the emergence of qualified human resources, said Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe, at the opening of 4th National Stakeholder Forum on Implementing the Decent Work Agenda and Labour Law Reform, at Park Royal Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on 24 February.
— Eleven Myanmar

Foreign Assistance to Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Myanmar
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi at her meetings with the people all over the country, has been urging young people to take up vocational training to learn a trade or occupation which will better enable them to get employment and a means of livelihood for themselves and their families.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Switzerland Agrees to Resettle Wife, Children of Myanmar’s Rakhine Rebel Leader
With the help of the UNHCR, the wife and children of the leader of the Arakan Army will be resettled in Switzerland from Thailand.
— Irrawaddy

Testaments of Yangon’s glorious past
A three-storey, austere colonial building sits stubbornly in the middle of Yangon’s Pansodan Street. The name “Wazeya House” is written above the central window arch, below the moss-covered roof and walls.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar to Upgrade Urban Infrastructure in State Capitals, Border Town
Myanmar has secured international loans to develop three cities in Mon and Karen states that fall along Japan’s East-West Economic Corridor linking Yangon to Vietnam.
— Irrawaddy

Ministries hold 5th meeting for prevention of COVID-19
The Ministry of Health and Sports hosted the 5th inter-ministerial meeting for preventive measures against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Foreigners cleared to trade on the YSX next month
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Myanmar (SECM) will permit foreigners to trade on the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) by March.
— Myanmar Times

Irrawaddy dolphin numbers hit record high in two decades
A recent survey shows that around ten months-old Irrawaddy baby dolphins were found and the number has reached 79, the largest in 20 years, according to the Irrawaddy dolphin protection team.
— Eleven Myanmar

National Symphony Orchestra Concert staged in Nay Pyi Taw
The Myanmar National Symphony Orchestra of Myanma Radio and Television under the Ministry of Information, together with Japanese artistes, featured their performances at the Myanmar International Convention Center-2 in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

US backs efforts to end child labour across Myanmar
The United States and the Myanmar government are implementing three five-year projects aimed at eradicating child labour in the country, a senior official said on Monday.
— Myanmar Times

State Counsellor meets with locals in Myawady, Hlaingbwe townships, Kayin State
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Central Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races, met with the local people in Myawady and Hlaingbwe townships in in Kayin State on yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

MPs fret over budget waste, revenue losses
Legislators said that the rampant waste of government money and revenue losses had caused the country’s foreign debt to balloon.
— Myanmar Times

Union Minister for International Cooperation receives Deputy Director-General of ILO
Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin received the Deputy Director-General of International Labour Organization (ILO) Mr Greg Vines at 11:30 am on 25 February 2020 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

GPF aimed for betterment of pensioners
The second draft of General Provident Fund (GPF) Law for civil servants has been compiled. The ministry is in discussion with lower house parliament and the banks and monetary development committee, over the GPF, said Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry U Maung Maung Win.
— Eleven Myanmar

Firm commitment key to protect victims, vulnerable migrants in IDPs
Despite efforts being taken to fight human trafficking, in accordance with the 2005 Anti-Human Trafficking Law, trafficking-in-persons cases have not declined significantly year by year.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Angry Exchange Between Military MP, Speaker Mars First Day of Myanmar Charter Debate
A military MP received a warning from the Myanmar Parliament Speaker after angrily complaining about the accidental omission of one of the military’s amendment proposals.
— Irrawaddy

UAG U Tun Tun Oo receives ICRC Resident Representative
Resident Representative Mr Stephan Sakalian of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called on Union Attorney-General U Tun Tun Oo at the UAG Office yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Brewer posts 28pc operating profit rise in FY2019
Myanmar Brewery, the nation’s largest beer maker under the wing of Japan’s Kirin Holdings, posted an operating profit of ¥12.9 billion (US$115 million) in the year to December, up 27.8 percent from a year earlier.
— Myanmar Times

Defence Services donate medical equipment for coronavirus control in China
A donation of medical equipment was delivered by the Defence Services of Myanmar to China in order to facilitate success in their fight against the outbreak and spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar ICJ Defender to Give Lecture in Yangon
Professor William Schabas, who defended Myanmar at the International Court of Justice against genocide charges, will deliver a lecture at Yangon University on March 5.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar Restaurant Owner Arrested After Child Employee Burned
Ayeyarwady police have arrested a Labutta restaurant owner after a 13-year-old employee was allegedly doused in fuel and set on fire.
— Irrawaddy

Pyidaungsu Hluttaw debate constitution amendment bill
The 15th regular session of second Pyidaungsu Hluttaw held its 12th day meeting yesterday, and Hluttaw representatives debated articles and sub-articles in the second bill on amending the State Constitution.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

KNU Rejects Myanmar General’s Appeal to ‘See the Big Picture’
The Karen National Union denounced a Tatmadaw general’s claim that they are taking the “narrow view” of the military’s project to expand a road in Karen State.
— Irrawaddy

Feature photo UNAIDS Myanmar

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on Zero Discrimination Day, March 1.

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).

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