New Light of Myanmar (3 Jan 2013 - Thursday)

The Mirror Daily (3 Jan 2013 - Thursday)

Myanma Alinn Daily (3 Jan 2013 - Thursday)

Dos and Don'ts for Tourists

Myanmar parliament to approve some important laws in next session

Myanmar's parliament has earmarked some important laws to be approved in the sixth session of the parliament set for Jan. 9, official media reported Wednesday.

These laws include a new national plan, a national budget, a taxation law, a Special Economic Zone Law, a national investment law and other important pieces of legislation, Speaker of the House of Representatives USwe Mann was quoted by the New Light of Myanmar as saying.

On Tuesday's coordination meeting in preparation for holding the forthcoming parliament session in Nay Pyi Taw, USwe Mann called on every stakeholder and citizen to participate in legislation.

Japanese deputy PM arrives in Myanmar

YANGON. Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso arrived in Yangon Wednesday evening to begin a four-day visit to Myanmar, according to official sources.

Aso's visit represents the one to Myanmar of a highest-ranking Japanese official since Myanmar President U Thein Sein made a historic tour to Tokyo in April 2012 which opened up a new chapter of bilateral friendly relations.

Electricity to be cut in Yangon’s industrial zones

Yangon Electricity Supply Board will start cutting power in several industrial zones in the Yangon Region starting Jan 1, 2013, chairman Aung Khine of YESB said at a media conference on December 30.

The electricity requirement for the whole country is 2,060 MW in the summertime. The generation of power is 1,551 MW at present, accounting for 75 per cent of total generation, the chairman said.

Singapore tops investment in Yangon’s high-rise buildings

Singapore remains the largest foreign investor in high-rise buildings of Yangon, Than Myint, chairperson of the Committee for Quality Control of High-rise Building Projects Construction (CQHP) said.

Construction of high-rise buildings in Yangon has slowed down since mid-2012, but more are now underway with foreign investment, and most of the project designs come from Singapore.

Legal businesses boost trade

Myawady border trade zone near Myanmar-Thailand border was reopened on Dec 5, 2011 after it temporarily closed for 17 months.

Trade between Myanmar and Thailand in December 2011 was about US$2 million, but the total trade amount between the two countries as of Dec 18, 2012 was at US$22 million. Sources accounted the increase to legalised businesses.

40,000 new cars on Burma’s roads

Import permits were issued for 120,000 cars coming into Burma between September 2011 and December 7, 2012.

“Of the 116,695 cars, nearly 76,000 are imported as substitutions, while 40,000 are being imported as brand new purchases,” said Minister Win Myint from the Ministry of Commerce at a meeting hosted by Myanmar Automobile Association (temporary) in Yangon Region Government office on December 24.

Lawmakers support sustainable tourism in Myanmar

Myanmar's government is aiming at developing tourism in the country - but not at any cost. It has drawn up plans to ensure economic, ecological and social sustainability in the sector.

Since President Thein Sein has come to power, Myanmar - also referred to as Burma - has been on a course of liberalization and democratization. The positive changes can be seen in - among other things - the increasing number of tourists flocking to the country. The slow opening up of the country has whetted international interest. In the first half of 2012, 30 percent more tourists travelled to Myanmar as compared with the previous year.

Semen Gresik to build factory in Myanmar in 2013

After acquiring cement producer Thang Long Cement from its Vietnamese owners, Indonesia's cement maker PT Semen Gresik (SMGR) plans a new plant in Myanmar by the end of 2013.

SMGR president director Dwi Soetjipto said on Tuesday that the company was now approaching local partners in Myanmar with a view towards a joint venture and the new cement plant in Myanmar should be finished by the end of 2013.

The Rocky Road to Recovery - Interview

Since joining the Brookings Institution in 2002, Rieffel, a former US Treasury Department staff economist, has made Myanmar’s economic transition a focus of his policy research work. He was in the country in October and November to assess foreign aid to Myanmar.

New Light of Myanmar (2 Jan 2013 - Wednesday)

The Mirror Daily (2 Jan 2013 - Wednesday)

Myanma Alinn Daily (2 Jan 2013 - Wednesday)

New Light of Myanmar (1 Jan 2013 - Tuesday)

The Mirror Daily (1 Jan 2013 - Tuesday)

Myanma Alinn Daily (1 Jan 2013 - Tuesday)

Chairman of Myanmar Financial Commission President U Thein Sein addressed the commission meeting (3/2012)

Chairman of Myanmar Financial Commission President U Thein Sein addressed the commission meeting (3/2012) at the Presidential Palace this morning. It was also attended by Vice-Chairmen Dr Sai Mauk Kham and U Nyan Tun, Union ministers, the Union attorney-general, the Union auditor-general, the chairman of Union Civil Services Board, Region and State chief ministers, deputy ministers and officials.

The President said in his opening speech that the Union government would submit 2013-2014 budget approved by the meeting to the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.