Myanmar
Capital: Nay Pyi Taw, GDP growth (annual %) 2016 : 6.5 %-
Myanmar steps up reforms to entice investors
A combination of market reform and a rebound in foreign investment is expected to underpin stronger increase in Myanmar’s economy this year and into 2018.
The process of opening up the economy to private sector and overseas involvement took a key step forward in mid-June, with the Ministry of Commerce announcing further liberalisation of trade and import regulations.
Under the new rules issued in mid-June, foreign companies are presently permitted to trade and import fertilisers, seeds, pesticides, hospital equipment and construction materials, in accordance with the Myanmar Harmonised System commodity code. Trade of these products was formerly limited to domestic firms, or those working in partnership with overseas companies.
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Myanmar expands electricity access through small grids
Investment in off-grid solutions is increasing in Myanmar, as the country seeks to boost connectivity and move towards providing universal access to electricity within 15 years.
In mid-May the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation announced it was accelerating its programme for off-grid power projects in rural areas. Under these plans, 10 villages will be linked to standalone power sources as part of a pilot programme to improve connectivity in remote regions.
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Myanmar President arrives in China for visit
Myanmar President U Htin Kyaw arrived in Chengdu, capital of the southwestern province of Sichuan, on Thursday to start his six-day trip in China.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, U Htin Kyaw will pay a national visit to China from April 6 to 11, according to China's Foreign Ministry.
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- Key Facts
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Official name: Republic of the Union of Myanmar (previously Union of Myanmar; Union of Burma )
Population: 50.5 million (UN, 2010)
Largest city: Rangoon (Yangon)
Area: 676,552 sq km (261,218 sq miles)
Major languages: Burmese, indigenous ethnic languages
Major religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam
Life expectancy: 64 years (men), 68 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 kyat = 100 pyas
Main exports: Teak, pulses and beans, prawns, fish, rice, opiates, oil and gas
GNI per capita: n/a
Internet domain: .mm
International dialling code: +95
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Climate change laws around the world
2017/05/14There has been a 20-fold increase in the number of global climate change laws since 1997, according to the most comprehensive database of relevant policy and legislation.
The database, produced by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Sabin Center on Climate Change Law, includes more than 1,200 relevant policies across 164 countries, which account for 95% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
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Asia Economic Roundup: July 2016
2016/07/18Without a doubt Britain’s decision to abandon the European project will be remembered globally as a wake-up call for political elites around the world. It seems the people chose to go against immediate economic interest and accept an extra financial turmoil in order to address deeply seated social and identity issues.
Although Asia’s exposure to the UK is relatively limited and this is not exactly a “Lehman Moment”, nonetheless we can expect a lively debate as policymakers in Asia look for an appropriate response to address the needs of vulnerable households.
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Towards A Transboundary Haze-Free ASEAN By 2020: Prevention And Collaboration
2015/11/16To sustain the efforts of a transboundary haze-free ASEAN, it is significant to remain vigilant and be prepared early enough to prevent any occurrence of fires. This calls for better early warning systems and swift deployment of fire-fighting resources even before the fires starts.
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Myanmar Year in Review 2014
2015/02/14A surge in foreign investment , together with solid domestic request, helped Myanmar achieve a strong increase in 2014. However, the year as well brought challenges, which contributed to a widening in the trade deficit as the country relies heavily on imports to support skyrocketing domestic request.
Official increase forecasts for the 2014/2015 fiscal year stand at 9.1%, slightly higher than the IMF and the World Bank estimates of 8.5%, with FDI for the same period on course to rise 70% year-on-year.
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Adjusting for growth in the financial sector in Myanmar
2014/08/16Authorities in Myanmar are determined to foster economic evolution and have placed financial inclusion on their inventory of priorities. In an attempt to tackle request for increased financial services, Myanmar has taken numerous steps in the completed 24 months, such as the adoption of a floating currency, liberalisation of the insurance industry and the independence of the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM). Following these adjustments, 2014 is set to see the CBM grant operating licences to foreign banks, while 2015 has been set as the target date for the establishment of the Yangon Stock Exchange.
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Myanmar’s development in 2013,
2014/01/05The confused usage of ‘Myanmar’ and ‘Burma’ helps to portray some of the uncertainty surrounding Myanmar’s development in 2013, and was most obviously on display during the visits of President Thein Sein and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to Australia at the beginning and end of the year.
- Myanmar News
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- BANKING / INVESTMENT: Myanmar steps up reforms to entice investors
- ENERGY: Myanmar expands electricity access through small grids
- BUSINESS / TRADE: Myanmar President arrives in China for visit
- INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: Rakhine airport in Myanmar to be built by tender
- EDUCATION: Higher earning Why a university degree is worth more in some countries than others
- LOCAL GOVERNMENT: Lessons for Myanmar in Indonesian politics
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