ASEAN senior economic officials meeting underway in Myanmar

YANGON, July 20 (Xinhua) -- A three-day ASEAN senior economic officials meeting is underway in Yangon to make preparations for an ASEAN economic ministers meeting scheduled for August, meeting sources said Sunday.

The ASEAN Senior Economic Officials Meeting, first hosted by Myanmar and began on Saturday, was participated by delegates from ASEAN countries and dialogue partners and the Deputy Secretary- General of ASEAN.

The Saturday meeting discussed matters related to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) , progress in integration of priority sector and reports which are going to be submitted to the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting, ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council Meeting, AEC Council Meeting and ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Council Meeting.

Myanmar to host 36th Asean ministerial meeting

Myanmar will host the 36th Association for Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry in September, officials said Saturday.

The meetings are scheduled to take place from Sept 20 to 26, Xinhua reported..

The topic on sustainable markets and financial investment in the agricultural sector will be discussed during the meetings for the sustainable development of agricultural production among the 10 Asean countries.

At a meeting in Nay Pyi Taw Friday, Minister for Livestock, Fisheries and Rural Development U Ohn Myint stressed on the importance of discussing methods to ease poverty in villages and improve nutrition of rural people.

Thai investors urged to move quick in Myanmar

Thai investors should invest more in Myanmar in a bid to take huge advantages in the rapidly-emerging market, speakers said at the the Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon last month.

"Myanmar's economic outlook is very promising. The country's strategic location also makes it more attractive for international businesses. Why don't you invest in such an emerging market with boundless opportunities?" asked Pattanapong Tansomboon, first senior vice president of Kasikornbank, which sponsored the networking event. Governmental agencies and private sector businesses should be getting involved in the newly-opened economy, Pattanapong added.

His views were echoed by Moe Min Kyaw, secretary-general of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI).

Myanmar entrepreneurs urged to compete for regional ‘Championship’ awards

MYANMAR companies have until June 30 to apply to compete in this year’s Asean Business Awards, which will be handed out in November in Nay Pyi Taw at the Gala Dinner of the 2014 ASEAN Business and Investment Summit.

Wai Phyo, a member of Asean Business Advisory Council, which organizes the awards, is urging Myanmar companies to apply this year as Myanmar is chair of Asean. “Myanmar entrepreneurs should participate in the competition to become the nation’s pride,” he said, adding: “there are many chances [to win].”

Myanmar calls for promoting socially responsible media for ASEAN community

NAY PYI TAW, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar Vice President Dr. Sai Mauk Kham on Thursday called for promoting socially responsible media for the ASEAN community, stressing that media is an important channel for ASEAN peoples to promote core values of ASEAN which is unity in diversity.

Addressing the opening of the 12th ASEAN Ministers Meeting Responsible for Information (AMRI), Sai emphasized the important role of ASEAN interconnectivity with media standing as a bridge between ASEAN people to enhance friendship and understanding.

EU-Funded Crisis Management Center Opens In Myanmar

The new EU-funded Myanmar National Crisis Management Center was inaugurated on Wednesday in Myanmar's capital city of Nay Pyi Taw, the European bloc said in a statement.

The ceremony was witnessed by Myanmar's Home Affairs Minister U Ko Ko, several other Union Ministers, Head of the EU Delegation in Myanmar, Ambassador Roland Kobia, and Agostino Miozzo, Managing Director for Crisis Response in the European External Action Service (EEAS).

Under the authority of the President of Myanmar, the National Crisis Management Center will support the capacity development of the national authorities to perform effective crisis- related early warning thereby better responding to crisis situations in Myanmar.

Myanmar hosts series of ASEAN meetings in Yangon

YANGON -- Myanmar hosted a series of ASEAN meetings in Yangon over the past three days which included ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Defense Officials Meeting, ARF Security Policy Conference and ARF Senior Officials Meeting.

According to a press release of the meetings published on Tuesday, the ARF defense officials' dialogue discussed the role of the armed forces in non-traditional security challenges as well as the role of the military in human security.

Myanmar Manufacturing Summit in May, Outlines Blueprint to Making Myanmar the Next Manufacturing Hub

Myanmar’s Ministry of Industry is supporting and endorsing CMT’s first Myanmar Manufacturing Summit scheduled on 26-27 May 2014, in Yangon. This event attracts top-notch manufacturers from across the FMCG, automotive, garment, industrial, packaging, pharmaceuticals industry players plus key officials from DICA, MIC & various Ministries.

An influx of FDI especially in manufacturing sectors, growing consumer base & low cost workforce has drawn investors seeking to establish a foothold in Myanmar. To prepare manufacturers for the challenges & potential in this frontier market, this premier event, to debut next month, aptly deliberates on ‘Transforming Myanmar into the next manufacturing powerhouse!’

Chinese investment standards pose challenge for ASEAN countries—People’s Forum

Chinese investment is a challenge not only for Myanmar but also for the entire ASEAN region, Premrudee Daoroung, vice chairperson of the ASEAN People’s Forum, said at a press conference held on Monday (March 24).

China does not set the investment standard for ASEAN countries. But their standards are lower than international norms, so this can pose a problem for ASEAN, the vice chair said.

Chinese companies do not have enough capital to invest in mega projects; nor can they obtain enough loans from private banks. So they have to borrow from the Chinese government. The standards set by the Chinese government, business people and companies are the same, she said.

Myanmar to host ASEAN leadership forum in May

Myanmar will host ASEAN Leadership Forum related to the 24th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Nay Pyi Taw in May, official media reported Sunday.

The annual forum is slated for May 11 to 12.

At the forum, heads of states and government, entrepreneurs and experts will focus on regional challenges, ASEAN cooperation in 2015 and progress of the region and globe, the report said.

ASEAN People’s Forum calls for abolition of six hydropower projects

Discussion at the ASEAN People’s Forum on Saturday focused terminating six hydropower projects to be implemented on Thanlwin River that activists fear will send 90 percent of the power generated to China and Thailand.

Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia participated in the discussions about the negative impacts on the rivers that are expected to result from the implementation of dam projects.

Myanmar spends the least for education among ASEAN countries: AAM

Myanmar is the lowest spender in the education sector and the third lowest in the healthcare sector among the ASEAN countries, according to a recent survey released by Action Aid Myanmar (AAM).

According to the government budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year, the government allocated only 11.8 percent of the entire budget for all ministries to the Ministry of Education, and only 6.5 percent for healthcare.

Myanmar embraces civil society

Myanmar is preparing for its largest regional civil society conference in decades, further evidence of its impressive engagement with the world.

The Asean Civil Society Conference/Asean Peoples’ Forum (ACSC/APF 2014) from March 21-23 in Yangon bears the theme “Advancing Asean Peoples’ Solidarity toward Sustainable Peace, Development, Justice and Democratisation”.

ASEAN-Japan comprehensive economic partnership meeting to be held in Myanmar

YANGON, March 14 (Xinhua) -- ASEAN-Japan comprehensive economic partnership meeting will be held in Nay Pyi Taw, the new capital of Myanmar, later this month, official sources said Friday.

The meeting, scheduled from March 17 to 21, will discuss a wide range of issues related to the implementation of a partnership agreement, as well as tax relaxation and commodities trade.

Kyaukphyu-Ruili Corridor construction to begin soon, summit told

A study of the Kyuakphu-Ruile Corridor project linking Myanmar and China is now complete, so construction will begin soon, delegates to the Myanmar Construction Summit were told on Wednesday (March 12).

“This summit is begin held to attract foreign investors to the transportation sector, including ASEAN and Asian highway systems. This also includes ‘friendship roads’ and bridge projects with Thailand and Laos,” Kyaw Kaung Cho, executive engineer for public works under the construction ministry, told the summit.

TRANSITION IN MYANMAR: REGIONAL IMPLICATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS – ANALYSIS

Are the changes underway in Myanmar revolutionary or evolutionary? Since the governmental structure and the methodology of governance in Myanmar since April 2012, when the transition began, represents an utterly drastic change from what had existed since 1982, the short answer would have to be that the changes are revolutionary.

However, a road map to democracy was announced in 2003 and meticulously followed, even if in an utterly arbitrary and non-transparent manner, till the actual transition started. But verbal semantics apart, the fact is that the political transition in Myanmar is utterly unique and very different from almost any other political transition anywhere ever.

‘Myanmar’s success is ASEAN’s success’

This is obviously a big year for Myanmar, which is hosting ASEAN for the first time. What are you expecting from it as the chair of the regional group in 2014?

This year is an instrumental turning year in deciding the success of ASEAN Community building process. The role of Myanmar as the ASEAN Chair in the delivery of key targets and priorities in 2014, and in the development of the ASEAN Community’s post-2015 vision, is therefore very significant.

Burma’s foreign minister meets his Seoul mate

Burma’s Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin met South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se in Seoul on Thursday to discuss bilateral ties.

They are expected to discuss economic cooperation and ways to boost ties between South Korea and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), among other issues.

Asean Economic Outlook Remains Robust In Medium Term, Say Asean Ministers

SINGAPORE, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Asean's economic growth in the past two years has been quite resilient due to the strong domestic demand and investment.

In a joint statement at the end of the 20th Asean Economic Ministers' Retreat here Thursday, the ministers said in the medium term, the grouping's economic outlook remained robust, anchored by rising domestic demand, particularly private consumption and infrastructure investment.

PM to visit Myanmar to attend BIMSTEC summit

He will also hold bilateral meetings with the prime ministers of Bangladesh and Thailand and the president of Sri Lanka

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will leave for Myanmar Monday to take part in the third BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) summit that will focus on increasing connectivity and establishing an architecture of subregional economic cooperation.