Myanmar morning news for January 7, 2020

Myanmar to export 8,000-10,000 metric tons of semi-processed mangoes to China
Myanmar will export 8,000-10,000 metric tons of semi-processed mangoes to China between 2020 and May, 2023, according to news released online by the Ministry of Commerce.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Building an inclusive city in Myanmar, one trash alley at a time
For years, Yee Lay kept the back door of her ground floor apartment firmly shut to keep out both the stench from the rubbish that other tenants would carelessly throw behind the building and the hordes of rats that fed on it.
— Global Times

Gem buyers exempted from tax
Foreigners who purchase jewellery and gems at the Yangon International Gems and Jewellery Fair 2020 will exempted from paying a 5 percent commercial tax, according to Daw Nyunt Nyunt Khine, joint-treasurer at the Gems and Jewellery Entrepreneurs Association (GJEA).
— Myanmar Times

Car production up over 29% in 2019
Production of brand new cars in Myanmar showed an increase of 29.3 per cent in the 11 months from January to November in 2019, as per statistics released by the ASEAN Automotive Federation.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Displaced Population in Myanmar’s Rakhine State Reaches 100,000
The number of civilians displaced during the past year amid an uptick in armed conflict in Myanmar’s northern Rakhine state has reached more than 100,000, a regional relief organization said Monday, as authorities continue to limit area access to groups providing aid.
— Radio Free Asia

Paths out of poverty in Myanmar: Haircuts, textiles, rice and more
You may have heard about CWS and the ACT Alliance before. ACT is a coalition of churches and faith-based organizations that work in countries all over the world. It’s a platform for its members, including CWS, to coordinate our programs to be as efficient and effective as possible.
— Reliefweb

Myanmar labour group to propose increase in minimum wage
Labour organisations will propose an increase in the country’s minimum wage when the National Committee for Minimum Wage holds meeting later in the year.
— Myanmar Times

Today’s top tech news: PLDT exiting Rocket Internet by selling US$50M worth stake this year
PLDT exiting Rocket Internet by selling US$50M worth stake this year [DealStreetAsia] Philippine-listed telecom and digital services firm PLDT is selling its remaining stake in German e-commerce investor Rocket Internet worth $50 million to finance its capital expenditures this year.
— e27

Myanmar Tips for First Time Travelers
If traveling to Myanmar for the first time, well, you have many reasons to get excited about it. Myanmar is the second-largest country in Southeast Asia and is enjoying an increased tourist tide every year.
— Chart Attack

Car permits for politicians and ministers – a question of corruption for U Aung Kyi
During the fourth year of National League of Democracy (NLD) administration, an order regarding motor vehicle permits was issued in the beginning of 2020.
— Eleven Myanmar

MPT supports Myanmar National League for third consecutive year
Myanmar operator MPT reports it will support the Myanmar National League (MNL) for the third consecutive year. MPT signed a 3-year partnership agreement with MNL in 2018, to promote the development of Myanmar’s next generation of youth football players, as well as support the long-term success of this sport on the local market, and help create a healthy lifestyle among the children and young people.
— Telecompaper

Extractive businesses asked to disclose ownership information
Companies and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) involved in Myanmar’s oil and gas production and transportation, mineral and gemstone industries are required from January 1 onwards to publicly disclose information on beneficial ownership and politically exposed persons.
— Myanmar Times

Imports up $270 mln as of 20 Dec, MOC reports
The value of Myanmar’s imports between 1 October and 20 December in the current financial year stood at US$4.27 billion, an increase of $270 million from $4 billion registered in the year-ago period, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar health experts seek ban on e-cigarettes
Ko Thura Aung was very happy that he was able to buy an e-cigarette for K3000 (US$2), much lower than its normal price of about K25000, from a roadside shop in Tarmwe Township on his return from work.
— Myanmar Times

Wisdom and Grace: Asia bound – Myanmar and Hong Kong
Everything seemed to be going pretty well. Because of the recent protests and riots, I was nervous about traveling by myself to Hong Kong (population 7.400,000).
— havredailynews

External trade increases $1.23 billion
Myanmar’s external trade between 1 October and 20 December in the current fiscal year 2019-2020 reached US$8.36 billion, an increase of $1.23 billion compared to the corresponding period of the 2018-2019 fiscal, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
— Mizzima

‘Growing Together Campaign’ launches Rohingya children’s art exhibition
The Earth Society organised an eight-day exhibition with drawings made by Rohingya children, aged between nine and twelve.
— The Daily Star

How to Promote Tolerance in Myanmar, a Country that Recently Experienced a Genocide
In 2017, hundreds of thousands of Rohingya muslims were driven from their homes in Myanmar.
— Undispatch

Myanmar set to host Xi Jinping
The Myanmar government is setting the stage for the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the country.
— Nenow

Mandalay city government makes big strides
Three years since the current Mandalay city government led by Mayor Ye Lwin took, residents and officials noted a big change in the country’s second largest urban area.
— Myanmar Times

Foreign Head of State sends felicitations to State Counsellor
From Dr. Lotay Tshering Prime Minister, Bhutan Excellency, On behalf of the Royal Government of Bhutan, I would like to convey our warmest felicitations to the people and the Government of Myanmar on the Independence Day of Myanmar.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar-Bangladesh border security conference starts
A high-profile border conference between the border security forces of Bangladesh and Myanmar began in the former’s capital Dhaka on Sunday, according to a report by the Anadolu Agency.
— Mizzima

Rakhine IDPs receive relief aid of Disaster Management Department
Internally displaced persons who are taking shelters at the three monasteries in Sittway Township got relief aid of Department of Disaster Management under the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement through Rakhine State Government yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Group decries Tatmadaw action against Kayah farmers
A farmers group has decried the Tatmadaw for filing trespassing charges against its members who were tilling land confiscated by the military decades ago.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar edutech startup 360ed wins Nikkei products award
An app developed in Myanmar that uses augmented reality to help change the way people learn in one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia is this year’s winner of the Nikkei Asian Review Award for Excellence.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Foreign buyers prefer raw gemstones to finished products: association
By Nyein Nyein There is greater demand for raw gemstones than finished products among foreign buyers, said Daw Myint Thet Naing, vice chair 4 of the Gems and Jewellery Entrepreneurs Association (Yangon).
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Govt officials allowed to import vehicles on favourable terms
The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) announced on January 2 that it will grant car importing permits to government officials and public service personnel, said U Aung Htoo, deputy commerce minister.
— Myanmar Times

Government focuses on durable solution for resettlement of IDPs, camp closures
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement discussed the Strategic Plan for Resettling Internally Displaced Persons-IDPs and Closing IDP Camps with Kachin State Government, local communities and social organizations yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Building a comprehensive city in Myanmar, a trash alley at the same time
For years, Yee Lay kept the back door of her apartment on the first floor tightly closed to keep out both stains from debris that other tenants would dump carefully out of the building and hordes of mice that fed on it.
— The Media times

Myanmar Ethnics Culture Festival makes second return
Myanmar Ethnics Culture Festival is making its second appearance at Kyaikkasan Sports Ground on East Race Course Road, Yangon, from 1 to 7 February, according to a press conference by its organizers yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Int’l conference commemorates YGN University centenary
AN international conference to commemorate Yangon University’s centenary was held at the university yesterday and Union Minister for Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi delivered the opening speech.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

The Big Bad Wolf book sale returns to Yangon
The Big Bad Wolf book fair, said to be the world’s biggest book sale, is scheduled to be held in Myanmar for the third time at Myanmar Expo Hall at Fortune Plaza from January 10 to 20.
— Myanmar Times

Phandeeyar invests in Myanmar restaurant booking, discount app
Local innovation incubator Phandeeyar has pumped in US$25,000 into restaurant booking and discount app platform Resdi.
— Myanmar Times

Conservationists to conduct census of migratory birds in Myanmar wetlands
Conservationists are set to conduct next week a census of migratory birds taking refuge in the country’s wetlands to escape the biting winter in their natural habitats.
— Myanmar Times

Over 100,000 donors flocked to National Blood Centre in 2019
The National Blood Centre received 194,508 units of blood and blood products from a total of 105,191 donors in Yangon Region in 2019, the centre said in a statement.
— Myanmar Times

Feature photo Aditi Mittal

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on street food throughout Asean.

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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About Myanmar morning news.

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