Apartments in the Yuzana housing project, a low-cost residential complex in Yangon’s Dagon Seikkan township, first went on sale to the public in March 2016. The project was developed by the Department of Urban and Housing Development (DUHD).

Though apartments at the complex have been available for purchase and rent, many residents have complained about the quality of the buildings. Some of the newly-built apartments have problems with electricity and plumbing, given that electricity wires and pipes had been stolen.

Residents were also concerned about the strength and structural integrity of the buildings. Even though the foundations were constructed with reinforced concrete, some believe that the use of unqualified contractors has lead to fracturing in the walls.

“Many of the residents are permitted to stay, but we don’t feel comfortable without a proper electricity supply – a problem we thought would be resolved when the apartments first started to sell,” Daw Su Hlaing Htwe, who bought an apartment two years ago, told Metro.

“When we started living here, we didn’t have electricity. We only started to receive electricity about a month after moving in. Squatters started living nearby and many of our things were stolen. There are no effective measures for security in the housing so far,” said Daw Su Hlaing Htwe.

Potential buyers’ names were entered into a draw, and those whose names were selected were able to purchase the properties. Despite having their names selected, many of the apartments were still not ready when the buyers went to inspect the property. These apartments were agreed to be transferred only after the contracts had been signed, said the Department of Housing Development’s deputy director Daw Khin Theingi.

“We need to finish the apartments by the deadline. The buyers will have to sign the contract, and we guarantee that the rooms will be completed after the contract has been signed,” said Daw Khin Theingi.

Some apartments had been completed, but cracks in the façade had started to appear; other apartments’ interiors are still under construction.

Some of the buildings were built with interior steel frames and others with bricks. Most are four-storey buildings, and each floor includes six rooms – resembling housing for civil servants. Despite the different construction materials, the similar problems have emerged across the buildings.

“After I complained about the poor quality of the buildings, a woman at the housing department said “don’t take it if you don’t like it,” Daw Hnin Wai Tun, whose name was selected in the Yuzana Housing Part 1 draw, told Metro.

She continued, “We had the crack in the wall repaired twice, and even if we continued to make repairs nobody else will buy this apartment. When we informed the housing department, they said it will take about 6 months to prepare the contract before we buy the apartment.”

Daw Hnin Wai Tun rents an apartment at Yuzana Housing Part 1. As the repair work for the apartment is still unfinished, she continues to rent rather than purchase.

The government constructs the buildings and offers long-term installment plans for those willing to pay. Purchasers are not permitted to sell the apartments within a period of five years, though many are keen to sell via real estate brokers the very next week or month after signing the contract.

“We receive complaints almost every day, and although we’re not perfect most people understand the problems once we have explained them. There haven’t been any serious problems yet,” said Daw Khin Theingi.

Currently, the Urban and Housing Development Department’s engineers are repairing and decorating some of the buildings. “This work is almost complete,” she said.

“Wires were stolen from some of the buildings. As we need to work with the EPC there have been some delays. But during the repair period, we have allowed some people to move into the apartments without electricity,” Daw Khin Theingi confirmed.

Many people who have applied for the low-cost housing have taken out loans with the bank and, as they cannot move into the units, still have to pay rent on their current homes. As the repayments and the rents are weighing them down, some are struggling financially, said Daw Hnin Wai Tun.

“Our rent is due. But as we don’t know when the units will be finished, we can’t estimate how much more future rent we need to pay. We have to make the bank payments too, so we are in trouble,” she said. – Translated

Source: Myanmar Times

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The Sagaing Region government will generate more income for development work if it starts issuing more permits to businesses engaged in quarry industry for construction purposes, said U Kyaw Tin, the chairman of the Construction Stone Sellers’ Association, Sagaing Region.

“Although the association has been registered since 2018, only 20 per cent of the entrepreneurs are operating with an official license. Therefore, the regional government is losing revenue and thus, earning much less than it should be. So, the government must issue business licenses to those who have already applied for it,” said U Kyaw Tin.

There are 319 businesses carrying out quarry on 691 acres in Monywa, Sagaing, Yinmabin, Kalay, Kanbalu, Katha, Shwebo, Tamu, Mawlaik, and Khamti districts in Sagaing Region. Of them, only 72 have obtained official licenses, while the remaining have submitted their applications.

“If we are granted official licenses, we will have to follow environment conservation rules and regulations, and we would be able to create job opportunities for local people officially,” said U Kyaw Tin.

The Sagaing Region Construction Stone Sellers’ Association received a license from the regional Directorate of Investment and Company Administration on 27 April, 2018. — Myo Win Tun (Monywa)

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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The Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Modernization of Public Finance Management Project

ICT: Supply of Software: Lot 1:VMware for DR Site of JPAC, Lot 2:Security for DR Site of JPAC

Ref No: MPFMp-JPAC-D1-GS-604

1. This Invitation for Bids is for ICT supply of software – a total of two packages – Disaster Recovery Site for Data Center of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Office.
2. The Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar has received financing from the World Bank and a Grant from UK and Australian governments towards the cost of Modernization of Public Finance Management Project (MPFMp) and intends to apply part of the proceeds to payments under the agreement(s) resulting from this Invitation for Quotations:

Supply of Software –
Ref no:MPFMp-JPAC-D1-GS604
Lot1 :VMware for DR Site of JPAC
Lot2:Security for DR Site of JPAC

3. The Ministry of Planning and Finance now invites sealed bids from eligible Bidders for the two packages of ICT supply of software.
4. Bidders are required to meet the following minimum key qualification criteria and shall furnish documentary evidence that meets the following requirement(s):
   • Have completed within the last 3 years at least one contract of a similar nature of at least 50% of the value of the bid or have sold similar goods of at least twice the volume /quantity required
   • Have company registration in Myanmar
   • Have authorization or dealership from the manufacturer to sell the goods
   • Have shops or offices in Myanmar to provide after sales services
   • Demonstrate that they are paying taxes to the Government.
   • Not be under any notice of suspension or debarment issued by the Government, or the World Bank
5. Bids for Supply of Software – Ref no.: MPFMp-JPAC-D1-GS604 Lot1: VMware for DR Site of JPAC, Lot2: Security for DR Site of JPAC must be delivered to the address given below at or before 3pm of July 30, 2019. Late bids will be rejected.

6. The Purchaser shall award the Contract to the Bidder whose offer has been determined to be the lowest evaluated bid and is substantially responsive to the Bidding Documents, provided further that the Bidder is determined to be qualified to perform the Contract satisfactorily.
7. All bids must be accompanied by a bid securing declaration as described in the bidding documents, any bid not accompanied by a bid securing declaration will be rejected as non-compliant.
8. Firms interested in bidding for the packages may write quoting the package reference number and requesting the bidding document. The address where bidding documents may be obtained is:

Project Office, Modernization of Public Finance Management Project
Ministry of Planning and Finance
Project Office Room, Building No.26, Nay Pyi Taw
Email: mmt.budget@gmail.com,
Cc zawnaing652011@gmail.com, kyawkyawsoe@pds.hluttaw.mm, ict.dept@pds.hluttaw.mm
Telephone: 067-591191, 067-410575

Source: Ministry of Planning and Finance

The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) is the entity charged with managing and providing many of the services, such as planning, cleaning, transportation, and infrastructure development, among others, that keep a modern city humming.

As such, the YCDC’s performance of its duties directly affects the lives of some five million people living in the city.

In return for those services, city dwellers pay taxes and fees to the YCDC.

However, some experts question whether people in Yangon receive good value for the money they give.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Myanmar Democracy Research Network (MDRN), some 40pc of Yangonites don’t believe in the YCDC’s performance.

“It is roughly seen in the survey that less than half of Yangonites are unsatisfied with YCDC’s performance, however, people’s trust in the YCDC is found to be quite weak,” commented Kyauktada No. 1 Constituency MP Daw Kyi Pyar on the results of the survey.

In the survey, people were asked questions on several facets of issues in Yangon such as stray dogs, taxes, waste management, water supply, roads electricity, markets, and public parks.

MDRN worked with seven civic organisations to conduct the throughout April, which involved 510 respondents in 85 wards of 16 townships in the Yangon municipal area.

For a more in-depth report on the survey and its findings, check out the Metro section of the Myanmar Times over the coming days.

Source: Myanmar Times

To see the original article click link here

Villagers who live near a 10-inch pipe that discharges wastewater from factories in the Mandalay Industrial Zone in the Dotehtawady River have suffered health and social problems for years.

Adults and children who rely on the river for bathing and household water because they can’t afford clean water are suffering from skin disease, according to some residents of Myo Pyin Gyi village in Amarapura township of Mandalay.

“Many people are itching because of the wastewater. Those who have money can dig wells for household use and bathing, and buy drinking water, but poor people and those living along the river have to use the river water, and they are always itching,” said U Win Saung a 10-household leader in Myo Pyin Gyi.

The village of more than 300 houses and about 1000 people is a half mile from the sewage pipe. In the past, residents used the river water for bathing and drinking, but the water has been undrinkable for about a decade, he said, and now two-thirds of the houses in the village have wells.

“I have worked as a washerwoman at the river for years. I didn’t suffer any disease before they started dumping sewage. Now I can’t stop scratching. I have to rub my skin with salt because of the itching. I can’t avoid it because I have to wash clothes every day. White substances are everywhere in the river,” said Daw San Ngwe, 67.

The wastewater pipe goes through Nyaung Ni Bin village and discharges into the Dotehtawady above the villages of Myo Pyin Gyi, Myo Thit, Myit Nge, Nyaung Bin Sauk and Sar Toe. When the river level is low, the river gives off foul smells and there are more mosquitoes, some Myo Pyin Gyi villagers said.

In late June, the villagers held a meeting about the problem. When the wastewater gets to the middle of river, it turns into crystals and settles, U Wunna Aung of Primary Color Civic Education Network told the meeting.

“People who bathe in the water can get diseases. If they drink it, the water can cause stomach and intestinal diseases. The crystals don’t flow into the Ayeyarwady River but pile up in the Dotehtawady. They reach up to your waist if you go diving in the middle of the river. Wastewater has been discharged there for about a decade and could seep into the underground water, so it is very dangerous. Children shouldn’t swim or bathe in it or eat fishes from it,” he said.

Residents plan to submit a complaint about the wastewater to the Mandalay’s chief minister soon, said U Tun Myant of Nyaung Bin Sauk.

They don’t want the factories to be shut down, but they want to know why they violate the fixed time of 6pm to 5am to discharge wastewater, and why they dump it in the river without any treatment, he said.

According to the 2015 National Environmental Quality guidelines of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, wastewater should have a maximum Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) value of 50 milligrams per litre. But wastewater from the Mandalay Industrial Zone tested in late 2016 by the regional government was found have a BOD value of 17,000 to 20,000mpl, said Regional Environmental Conservation Department Assistant Director Thant Zin Tun.

Daw Hla Kyin, 71, of Nyaung Ni Bin, said, “We don’t want wastewater discharged in the river. I have really strong feelings about this. I want to kill whoever’s doing it. If it continues, I will probably get a disease and die.”

Tenders were invited for a central wastewater processing plant and accumulation project on a build-operate-transfer basis in the Mandalay Industrial Zone. Although Hydrotek plc of Thailand won the contract for two years of construction and 50 years of operation, the agreement had to be modified many times, and the project hasn’t been started yet, said U Myint Htwe, MP for Amarapura.

“We’ve been embarrassed so many times by this project. We want it to be implemented as soon as possible,” U Myint Htwe told a hluttaw session last April. However, as no clear solution to the wastewater problem has been found, and it will take years before starting the project, the suffering of the local people is expected to continue.

U Tin Myint, 53, of Myo Pyin Gyi, said, “In the past, the water was drinkable, but now it’s heavily polluted and smells. We are poor, so we have to ask for drinking water from those people who have water tanks. We don’t have enough money to buy drinking water, and we no longer let our children bathe in the river.”

Source: Myanmar Times

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Myanmar: U Aung Kyaw Thu, the Hluttaw representative of Mon State Parliament and chairperson of the public budget scrutiny, finance planning and economics matters review committee has warned that cement plant projects granted licenses by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) that have not implemented their plans will not be granted permission to extend their licenses. During a meeting with legislators, local farmers from Kaw Won Village, Kyaikmaraw Township in Mon State complained that the Myanmar-Korea Cement Group should not be allowed to extend its permit, as they had not implemented anything yet, according to the Mons News Agency. Normally companies that have received a permit are allowed to build at the site for three years. They can then extend this by up to three years if they provide a legitimate reason.

The June Cement Industry project has reportedly finished 15% of its construction and the Myanmar-Korea Cement Group project has finished 10% of its construction. The companies have blamed operational difficulties on the delays. They were granted permits by the MIC in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Source: Global Cement

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No decision has been made on a proposal by Gold Coast KTMG Development, a company with Malaysian owners, to develop a new city near Sittwe, capital of Rakhine State, says a senior minister in the state government.

“We have not decided on it and there have been no detailed discussions other than the presentation of the proposal. The company needs to submit details to the Myanmar Investment Commission as this is a large project,” U Kyaw Aye Thein, the state government’s Minister of Finance, Revenue, Planning and Economy, said.

Gold Coast KTMG representatives met with Rakhine State government officials in June to present the proposal on the so-called “Sittwe New City” project, to be developed on 7,000 acres of land with an estimated cost of US$38 billion.

Gold Coast KTMG registered as a company in the country this past February but has no known track record, in Malaysia or Myanmar, for multibillion-dollar development projects.

U Kyaw Aye Thein said the “Sittwe New City” project as shared by the Gold Coast KTMG representatives involves building residential and industrial zones with a port on farmland not owned by the state government.

The state government has been trying to woo investors, holding an investment forum in February attended by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The only foreign investment in real estate so far has been from South Korea’s BXT International, in a joint venture with the state government to develop the Sittwe waterfront project on 90 acres of reclaimed land.

According to state government data, foreigners have invested US$9 billion in the state, mostly in the oil and gas industry. The state government has invited foreign investors to participate in projects such as the Ponnagyum Industrial Zone, Ka Nyin Chaung Trading Zone, Kyaetaw-Mingan Development in Sittwe, Mrauk-U New City and Airport, the upgrading of Ngapali Airport and development of Man Aung Island- Eco Tourism Development Project.

Source: Myanmar Times

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MYANMA TIMBER ENTERPRISE

EXPORT MARKETING & MILLING DEPARTMENT

INVITATION FOR OPEN TENDER

Myanma Timber Enterprise will sell teak & hardwood round logs and swan timbers by open tenders in US dollars. Particulars of the open tender sales are as follows:

• Date & Time

• Commodities & Volume

• Place – Taw Win Hall, Gyogone, Insein Township, Yangon

For further detailed information, please contact
Myanma Timber Enterprise Head Office and also visit Myanma Timber Enterprise web-site  (www.mte.com.mm)
Contacts Office Ph: 01-528771, 01-377296
Email: marketing1ppy@gmail.com

Source: Myanma Timber Enterprise

Myanmar and Japan have reportedly revived negotiations to form a joint venture (JV) for the construction of Hanthawaddy International Airport.

The airport will be built in the Bago Region of Myanmar and is likely to entail an investment of around $1.5bn.

Authorities from the Myanmar and Japanese governments have already met several times to prepare the blueprint of the airport project, The Myanmar Times reported.

The Myanmar Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) will provide nearly 3,600ha of land for the new airport. The design of the airport will be upgraded to include a connection to the railway network.

An express highway will be linked to the proposed airport in the first phase, while an express railway will be connected to the airport in the second phase.

Myanmar Ministry of Transport and Communications deputy permanent secretary U Aung Ye Tun and DCA deputy director general U Ye Htut Aung told the publication that the airport project has the backing of the government and has been given the priority to start as soon as possible.

U Aung Ye Tun said: “Both sides are negotiating to implement Hanthawaddy International Airport supported by Japanese loans. After negotiations are complete, the next is conducting surveys at the grounds.”

U Ye Htut Aung added: “If the tender is successful, we can sign contracts in early 2020 and construction can begin immediately.”

Narita International Airport Corporation is expected to participate in the tender process.

Yangon International Airport is expected to reach its full capacity by 2020, making the development of the Hanthawaddy International Airport vital to meet future demands.

Myanmar Bago Region finance and planning minister U Nyunt Shwe told the publication: “Presently, as about 700 airplanes fly over Bago each day, Myanmar will benefit from having an airport in Bago and this will also help to improve transportation networks between Bago and Yangon.”

Source: Airport Technology

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On July 6, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designated Bagan as a World Heritage Site, marking Myanmar’s second entry to the list after World Heritage Status was granted to the ancient Pyu cities of Sri Ksetra, Halin and Beikthano in 2014.

The ancient city has more than 3500 surviving stupas, temples, monasteries, fortifications and other monuments, according to the Department of Archaeology and National Museums. It also has archaeological sites and the remains of an ancient water-management system.

Now, the government and the public have to cooperate to conserve the archaeological site, including removing all hotels to a dedicated hotel zone by 2028, failing which its newfound status will be revoked, said U Arkar Kyaw, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs and Culture.

According to UNESCO rules, the distance between a pagoda and building must be 120 feet and the public cannot dig deeper than six feet underground. “In issuing those rules, UNESCO is looking at how to preserve Bagan and to ensure it does not deteriorate further from its current condition,” U Arkar Kyaw said.

Removing the hotels though, could prove to be easier said than done. There are over 300 hotels in Bagan but most of them are small family businesses with only 30 to 50 rooms, according to data from Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

“The prices of the hotels are worth hundreds of millions of dollars and these are properties sitting on land owned by the local people. If they are removed, it will be difficult to compensate them for the land,” said U Lin Htut Oo, deputy director of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

“The total land area of five hotels in the zone is around 300 acres, which is larger than the New Bagan Area. It isn’t even possible to compensate,” he added.

In total, there are about 4500 guest and hotel rooms in Bagan, including municipal guest houses, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. The hotels are built on land owned by locals, land leased from the government as well as developed under permits by the Myanmar Investment Commission.

Meanwhile, the government and private sector is expecting a higher number of tourists to the area, now that Bagan has achieved its new status. Several airlines, such as Bangkok Airways, have already shown interest in operating direct routes to Bagan. The site has drawn an average total of 300,000 tourists per year since 2011. This year so far, a total of 200,000 tourists have visited the Bagan.

As such, the possible displacement of the hotels in the Bagan Zone now depends on negotiations between the government and UNESCO as well as with local hoteliers and investors.

So far, the government has not issued any directives or held discussions with hoteliers yet, businesses said.

Source: Myanmar Times

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Question: “First and foremost, what is in store for the future of transportation in Yangon? What are some of the goals of these proposed large scale projects and expressways?”

Answer: “The Ministry of Construction, with goals to create new networks of transportation, plans to build two elevated highways: one within and one encircling Yangon city. The elevated expressways within the Yangon city is to be called the Yangon Inner Ring Road (YIRR). While a highway which circles outside the city is to be deemed Yangon Outer Ring Road (YORR). These roads both have very important goals:

The Inner Ring Road, of course is a way of alleviating congestion. It is meant to connect parts of the city divided by far winding roads, impossible traffic without destroying existing neighborhoods.

The Outer Ring Road serves a much greater purpose: it connects GMS East-West Economic Corridor. Meaning if a proper highway is built, the corridor that flows from the Da Nang ports of Vietnam, through Laos, and Thai industrial and economic zones, will arrive at the ports of Yangon. This will flow in trade and commerce into Yangon and nearby economic zones like Thilawa SEZ. If this highway is built, South China Sea and the Indian Ocean will become connected by land. Exports from the country can flow easily towards the lucrative and swarming trading ports of Da Nang by South China Sea. And trading from the South China Sea can transport through the GMS corridor to the Indian Ocean. Japanese investors also benefit from connecting their economic and industrial zones in Thailand to the Japanese-dominated economic zone of Thilawa.

Actually, the YIRR and YORR are simply part of a larger project. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications have set forth a large scale project—a master plan— called the YUTRA. This project can be divided into three separate sections each with different government agencies in command. The first section, the Urban At-grade Networks, is meant to upgrade and repair existing roads in Yangon city. While the second section consists of the Urban Expressway Networks and Urban Transportation Networks, which is meant to create new efficient and effective modes of public transport across Yangon region. Lastly, the third section of the YUTRA concerns two mass transport systems: Yangon Bus Service (which the Yangon Regional Government supervises) and the YUMRT or rapid railway transit system (monitored by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications).

According to the constitution, the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) will preside over the first phase the Urban At-grade Networks, while, we, the Ministry of Construction will supervise the creation of new modes of transport.”

Question: “Of these two beltway projects, which one will begin first? Can they start construction by 2020?”

Answer: “The Inner road will be constructed by a joint private and national committee called the PPP. What this means is that private firms who seek to invest in the beltway will work under government regulation and will aim to meet its demands for the city. The final decision of the operating firm will be made in October of 2019 and construction will begin in 2020.”

Question: “As of now, it is a ‘Tinder Process.’ Companies submit their project proposals to the ministry, and the ministry will decide whom to grant permit to, is that correct? Currently, 10 firms have proposed plans to the ministry, most of them being Chinese companies. How does the ministry decide which firm to give the reins to?”

Answer: “We aim to choose a firm that best benefits the people in Myanmar. We are not choosing by the nationality of the company. Our primary focus is choosing a project that will sustainable development to the economy and the living standards for the people of Myanmar. It does not matter if the company is Korean or Chinese, we will select the most beneficial, ethical, and sustainable project.

We are also working together with the IFC on this matter. The International Finance Corporation offers investment, advisory, and asset-management services to encourage private-sector development in less developed countries. The IFC’s valuable advisory helps us decide the locations of the projects, management, and of course, which proposal to select. But ultimately, our goal is to select a choice that benefits the people of Myanmar.”

Question: “How far does the outer ring go, does it encircle the city area entirely? What are the plans for this?”

Answer: “There are four parts of the Outer Ring Road. The Eastern region connects the Thilawa SEZ all the way to Hlegu. This section is about 65 kilometers. The Northern section connects Hlegu to Hmawbi to Shwepyithar. The Western section would connect Shwepyithar to Hlaingtharya to Twante. From Twante, the southern section would continue to Dala, then connects back into Thilawa. The entire ring road would be approximately 140 kilometers.”

Question: “Approximately how much money will this massive infrastructure require? Will the entirety of the investment be from private pockets? If the government were to invest as well, will it use ODA Loans?”

Answer: “The two highway systems, inner and outer, are fundamentally different. They serve different needs and for this require different strategies of funding. The outer region, like I previously said, is nationally beneficial. It will not only connect the entire nation to the commercial center of Myanmar but also to the GMS corridor. This increased accessibility opens doors to increased exports and will decrease structural unemployment caused by geographical immobility. Which is why the government will be investing directly into the outer ring project, using development loans and funds. This fiscal spending injects large flows of money into the economy, increasing aggregate demand and improving the economy overall. This investment strategy will bring back much more to the nation in the long run.

The inner road, however, is a more commercial project. The Yangon population have been long demanding an express highway that cuts through heavily congested parts of the city. This significant demand for these roads have called for firms to close the disequilibrium. The inner road will be funded by private sector investment, whether it be foreign or domestic, under the supervision of the PPP. This strategy is also another way of bringing large scale foreign investments, which will create new jobs, decrease congestion, increase standards of living in the city, and generally make Yangon a better city to live in.”

Question: “What is the situation for the investment?”

Answer: “The inner ring road, is the first step. As of now, we are still in the process of negotiation with different companies. All firms are looking for stable governance and a committee that can and will provide their needs to build this project. Investors want to make sure they can have exclusive licenses, infrastructure, etc. and some we cannot provide. So, we are taking our time to get the best possible deal for all parties, but we are sure contracts can be finalized by October of this year.”

Question: “How long will the construction of the Inner Ring Road take? how does the ministry plan to prevent heavy road congestion during this construction phase?”

Answer: “The ministry estimates the construction of IRR will take about two to three years, from 2020 to 2022–23. To alleviate congestion within this period, we plan to increase the width of affected roads. Our goal is to keep the lane width of streets the same during the period as before. Traffic during these years will not be affected noticeably.”

Question: “If the roads are built on loans and debts, how does the government aim to earn back the investment? Approximately how much the toll of these express highways cost?”

Answer: “Now, we are still in the process of project proposal so it is still very hard to say. Different companies will of-course have different costs and the ministry will have to set the price accordingly. What we are certain about is that we will have surveys to approximate the prices of the toll gates. We want to make sure the costs of the highways are accessible to all walks of life. We built these roads for people to use, not to earn money. So, although we cannot give an estimate now, the ministry will make certain it is accessible to everyone.”

Question: “How will the inner and outer roads serve the nation in the long run?”

Answer: “As we all know, Yangon is Myanmar’s commercial and economic center. It is where all the major ports and companies lie. By building inner and outer express highways, it will bring in flows of national and international currency into the city. When foreign investment increases, aggregate demand in the nation increases boosting the entire economy. Like I mentioned before, many workers and laborers in Yangon have to commute for long hours to get to their workplaces. A shortened commute time will allow the labor force to work overtime, part time jobs, or work at places they couldn’t before. Geographical immobility is a large problem in Yangon, and increased accessibility can give higher wages. Not to mention new jobs created by the construction and maintaining the toll highways.

Investment into the highways, will directly and indirectly benefit the economy and the entire nation. The ministry has full confidence in these large scale projects, for the benefits far outweigh the costs in the long run.’

Question: “Would you like to add anything else?”

Answer: “I just would like to say to all citizens that nothing good comes without patience. This project will cost plenty of time and resources, but I assure you it will be very beneficial.”

Source: Eleven Myanmar

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Chinese budget carrier Spring Airlines on Monday commenced scheduled operations at Terminal 1 of the Yangon International Airport (YIA).

Spring Airlines will operate direct flights between Yangon and Shanghai using an Airbus A320 aircraft, which has the capacity to carry 186 passengers. The carrier offers flights from YIA four times a week.

The move comes just a month after China Eastern Airlines launched a direct Shanghai-Yangon full service flight using Airbus 320 aircraft. This route offers flights from YIA three times a week.

It was China Eastern Airlines’ ninth route connecting China and Myanmar, making it the airline with the most flights between the two countries, and it expects to transport around 360,000 passengers on those flights in 2019, the airline said.

With the addition of Spring Airlines, there are now 32 international airlines operating at YIA, connecting Myanmar to 33 destinations across Asia, Yangon Aerodrome Company Limited, which operates YIA, said in a statement. At least ten are Chinese airlines, the Myanmar Times understands.

To date, 15 cities in China, including Shanghai, are connected with Yangon.

More than 3.5 million tourists visited Myanmar in 2018, 40 percent of whom came from China. Some 650,000 Chinese visitors arrived in the first four months of 2019, an increase of 30pc from the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

The number of Chinese tourists has increased since Myanmar started giving visa exemptions. On June 21, the ministry formed groups comprising regional tourism officials in Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan to monitor Chinese tourists.

“We need to check how tourism companies are managing these big groups to make sure that both the country and the businesses are making money,” the Hotels and Tourism Ministry said in a statement.

Source: Myanmar Times

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The News and Periodicals Enterprise (NPE) has opened their advertising section for Nay Pyi Taw at office No 7 of the Ministry of Information yesterday.

The section will accept advertisements to be put in Myanma Alinn, Kyemon, The Global New Light of Myanmar and Myanmar Digital News.

Deputy Minister U Aung Hla Tun, Permanent Secretary U Myo Myint Maung and other officials cut ceremonial ribbons to open the new section and toured the interior of the building.

Interested persons can also submit advertisements at the Kyemon and Myanma Alinn offices on Khayaepin junction in Zeyathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw.

In addition, there are also advertising sections at the Myanma Alinn office in Nat Mauk lane 1, Bahan Township, Kyemon office on 52nd Street, Pazundaung Township, NPE book store on Pansodan Street, Kyauktada Township, and Myanma Alinn printing house on Shwegondaing Junction, Bahan Township, for Yangon Region.

Similarly, advertising sections exist in the sub printing houses of Mandalay, Taunggyi, Magway, Kengtung, Kalay, Myitkyina, Sittway, Lashio, Myeik, Mawlamyine and Monywa, as can be submitted at the Information and Public Relations Departments in various townships. The new advertising policy guarantees business, social, obituray and other advertisements sent in today will be featured the next day and is open to submissions throughout the entire week.

For further information, please contact 01-559118 for Myanma Alinn (Yangon), 01-397330 Kyemon (Yangon), 01-8604530 for The Global New Light of Myanmar (Yangon), and 067-3412118 for NPE’s advertising department (Nay Pyi Taw).

Source: Global New Light of Myanmar

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TOKYO — Daiwa Securities Group will set up a venture capital fund in Myanmar, in a first for a major Japanese financial institution.

The Southeast Asian country’s economy is growing at a roughly 6% clip, and information technology startups are emerging. This makes Myanmar an attractive market for Japanese institutional investors seeking relief from persistently low interest rates at home.

Taiyo Life Insurance has already decided to contribute to the fund. Daiwa is thinking about launching more such funds, depending on how the first one performs.

The fund is likely to amount to $30 million, with an investment period of about 12 years. The plan is to invest around $1 million in each promising Myanmar startup the fund targets.

Daiwa hopes to help the companies grow for a few years, ushering them toward initial public offerings — from which it would reap profits. The listings would be supported by the Myanmar Securities Exchange Centre, a joint venture between Daiwa and state-run Myanma Economic Bank.

Myanmar is hungry for foreign investment, especially after the total authorized in the year through March fell 37% on the year to $3.6 billion. Money inflows slowed after the military crackdown on the country’s Rohingya Muslim minority made global headlines.

Daiwa, an early entrant into the Myanmar market, aims to take advantage of its deep local knowledge. Daiwa and Japan Exchange Group were among the investors that backed the Yangon Stock Exchange when it opened in 2015.

The securities house started to invest its own money in Myanmar startups in 2017. So far, it has injected a combined $25 million or so into five companies, including an internet service provider and an online travel service.

Source: Nikkei Asian Review

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Dong Hai Airlines has launched a direct B738 route between Shenzhen and Nay Pyi Taw. The flight commenced operations yesterday and will run twice a week, according to Pioneer Aerodrome Services Company, which operates the Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.

Dong Hai Airlines directly connects Myanmar’s capital to its second international destination. A number of other international airlines as well as locally-owned Myanmar National Airlines currently service the Nay Pyi Taw- Bangkok route.

Last week, Chinese budget carrier Spring Airlines commenced scheduled Airbus A320 operations between Yangon and Shanghai at Terminal 1 of the Yangon International Airport (YIA). The carrier offers flights from YIA four times a week.

The move comes just a month after China Eastern Airlines launched a direct Shanghai-Yangon full service flight using Airbus 320 aircraft. This route offers flights from YIA three times a week.

China is raising efforts to woo Myanmar travellers after the country relaxed visa requirements for incoming Japanese, Koreans and Chinese tourists in September last year

Since then, China has increased the number of flights to Myanmar and tourism between the two countries has expanded. “After the visa exemptions, there are more Chinese coming to the Myanmar .Now, you can see daily flights between China and Myanmar.’’ said U Myo Min Zaw, a local tour guide.

There are now direct flights from Myanmar to ten Chinese cities, including Wuhan, Sichuan, Shanghai, Xi’an, Chengdu as well as Shenzhen.

Over 3.5 million tourists visited Myanmar during in 2018 year, 40 percent of which were from China.

A total of 650,000 Chinese visited Myanmar in the first four months of 2019, an increase of 30pc from the same period last year, data from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism showed.

Source: Myanmar Times

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The Yazagyo Dam, which received reduced water supply from the Nerinjara River this summer and was in danger of drying up, resumed power generation at its 2MW plant and began supplying electricity to the national grid on 9 July according to Staff officer U Myo Tun, incharge of the dam. The dam, located in the northern part of Kalay, Sagaing Region, has a storage capacity of about 52,000 acre feet. It has been filling up with silt and logs ever since a naturally formed landslide dam on Chin Hill collapsed in 2015.

The authorities have been working to provide sufficient irrigation water for plantation and electricity generation since ever water began flowing into the dam this rainy season. The dam has also begun providing irrigation water to fields through channels.

A step-by-step process was implemented and power transmission to the national grid began on 9 July, he said.

The volume of water fed into the dam by the Nerinjara River, which originates in Chin State, had decreased from over 60,000 cubic feet per second in the rainy season to 70 cubic feet this summer. — Shin Nay Min (Gangaw)

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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MANDALAY—Seven companies have submitted expressions of interest (EOI) to develop Mandalay Palace, the last royal palace of the last Burmese monarchy, as a historical park, according to the Mandalay regional government.

EOIs were invited for submission beginning June 17 and the regional government received seven EOI applications through the first week of July. The deadline for submitting an EOI application is July 22, Mandalay Regional Planning and Finance Minister U Myat Thu told The Irrawaddy.

EOIs are also welcome in the development of Inwa, or Ava, the ancient royal capital of successive Burmese kingdoms from the 14th to 19th centuries, as an archaeological park as well. Inwa is in Tada-U Township, Mandalay Region.

The historical park will include bike paths, pedestrian walks, resting places, landscaping, restaurants and souvenir shops, along with sightseeing tours and bike rental services for visitors. Any company, local or foreign, can submit an EOI, according to the Mandalay regional government.

Mandalay Palace was built in 1857 by King Mindon of the Konbaung Dynasty, a line of kings that ruled from 1752 to 1885. Their reign was ended by the British colonial forces, which abolished Burma’s monarchy and sent Mindon’s heir, King Thibaw, into exile in the late 19th century.

Mandalay Palace was largely destroyed by an Allied bombing campaign during World War II, leaving only the moat and city walls remaining. The palace complex was reconstructed in the late 1980s.

Much of the buildings that survive today are in serious need of care, said Ko Hteik Tin Aung of the Descendants of Konbaung Dynasty group, which plans to submit an EOI soon.

“The palace is decaying and the government has budget constraints in maintaining it, so it has invited EOIs. We decided to submit an EOI because we are concerned that a potential tender winner will not be able to restore the palace according to royal customs. But then, a lot will need to be negotiated as Myanmar army troops are stationed in the palace compound,” he said.

Source: The Irrawaddy

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The Republic of the Union of Myanmar

National Community Driven Development Project (NCDDP)

Invitation for Price Quotations

The Republic of the Union of Myanmar has received financing from the International Development Association (IDA) towards the cost of the National Community Driven Development Project (NCDDP). The IDA N° of the financing agreement is N° H814MM. The Department of Rural Development (DRD) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, in its role as implementing agency of the NCDDP, intends to apply a part of the proceeds of this financing towards eligible payments under the Purchase Order/ Contract for the following packages. DRD now invites eligible suppliers to express their interest in supplying the following items:

Expressions of Interest for one or both Quotation must be submitted in a written form to the email address below and clearly indicate the reference number above. Eligible bidders having expressed interest will receive an INVITATION TO QUOTE (ITQ) by return email procurement@ncddpmyanmar.org They will be invited to a pre-bid meeting at the address by corresponding date and time stated in respective ITQ. Sealed Quotations will be submitted to the address by corresponding date and time stated in respective ITQ too, after which no Quotations will be accepted.

The goods will be contracted on lot-by-lot basis. Suppliers will be selected following the Shopping Method as per the “Guidelines for Procurement of Goods, Works and non-Consulting Services under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers” dated January 2011.

Please submit your Expression of Interest for receiving the Invitation to Quote (ITQ) to the NCDDP, Procurement Unit: Attention to U Kyaw Swa Aung, Director, Procurement and Logistic Section, Department of Rural Development, Office No.36, Nay Pyi Taw.

For detailed information please contact
Mobile phone: 0943434333 or
Office phone: 067418637.
Email: : procurement@ncddpmyanmar.org. please also visit Website: www.cdd.drdmyanmar.org.

Source: Department of Rural Development

While the oil and gas industry has the seen the most interest from investors, banking and financial services, telecommunications and the manufacturing industries are expected to be the focus in the years ahead as the country’s economy grows.

Data from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) shows that since 2016, the manufacturing industries and telecommunications have seen the most interest from foreign investors.

DICA data showed that the manufacturing industries have seen between US$1 billion and US$2 billion in investments per year while telecommunications have received US$2 billion per year in the last three years.

U Aung Naing Oo, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, is expecting investor interest in the services, manufacturing industries and telecommunications to continue improving in the coming year.

YGA Capital managing director U Thura Ko Ko concurred that telecommunications and financial services will be areas that attract investor interest. “It’s about whether the government has sound policy; telecommunications has good policy backing,” he said.

U Aung Naing Oo noted that banking and financial services, and in particular insurance, will be one industry to watch since the country liberalised the insurance market by granting licenses to five foreign players in early April.

“The insurance sector is one of the hot sectors that will surely grow in the coming year and this will facilitate capital flows into the country and create many new job opportunities,” U Aung Naing Oo said.

U Myint Zaw, managing director of AYA Bank, reckons the banking sector as a whole is looking more competitive and promising now that foreign banks have been allowed to open branches and provide financial services in the country.

“The banking sector has been undergoing reform and is now stronger than before, which is important for growth and development in the country,” he said.

In comparison, although the oil and gas industry continued to rank at the top in terms of total investments from foreigners, there have been no large-scale investments in the last three years.

According to DICA, investments in oil and gas peaked at US$9 billion in the 2015-16 fiscal year. However, the total value of investments in the industry has been stagnant, with 154 businesses registering investments worth US$22.41 billion in May this year compared to the same number of businesses and investment value in May 2016.

U Kyaw Kyaw Hlaing, chair of the Smart Group of Companies, pointed out that oil and gas remains an important industry and should investments fall, the country’s revenue may be affected. “Its been quiet but we expect to see interest as tenders have been invited,” he added.

The Ministry of Electricity and Energy recently announced that it plans to invite tenders for 33 oil and gas blocks this year.

Industry watchers believe the electricity sector also has growth potential following the recent tariff hikes, which took effect on July 1. While investors have shown interest in electricity generation in the past, they had been reluctant to make commitments because electricity rates were lower than the production cost. Now, businesses are betting that interest may return.

In order to speed up economic development, the government has also committed to a higher spending budget in the coming 2019-20 fiscal year, including on electricity and transport.

U Aung Naing Oo said adequate physical infrastructure remains the immediate need in Myanmar. “Without the necessary infrastructure, we are going to struggle to grow and that is why private sector investors are needed as the government cannot afford to build this infrastructure on its own,” he said.

Source: Myanmar Times

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LONDON – The tin market is under greater pressure from an economic slowdown and falling demand than supply issues, where lower production from countries such as Myanmar is likely to be offset by a new project in central Africa.

Tin prices on the London Metal Exchange at around $18 000 a tonne are down 15% since hitting one-year highs at $21 800 a tonne in February, when the market was fretting about record low stocks in LME approved warehouses.

The prolonged trade dispute between the world’s two largest economies, the US and China, are behind deteriorating prospects for demand from electronics companies which use tin as solder, chemical and battery industries.

“The likelihood of tin demand contracting this year, particularly in China, is high,” a fund manager focusing on industrial metals said, adding that too much had been made of a study showing tin to be a major beneficiary of new technology.

“There’s no doubt tin demand will grow from things like electric vehicles, but we don’t have any detail as the study doesn’t give any timelines or tonnages.”

The study carried out by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) , commissioned by Rio Tinto’s Venture Group shows tin heading a list of metals expected to benefit from new technologies including electric vehicles and robotics.

MIT did not respond to requests for comment.

Rio said the study was presented at a conference in March 2018 to “give a guide to some of the commodities that are required for new technologies and an indication of the types of areas that Rio Tinto Ventures was looking for opportunities”.

Estimates of global tin supply, including recycling, mostly range between 350 000 and 380 000 tonnes this year and expectations are for a small deficit to a balanced market compared with shortfalls around 5 000 tonnes in 2016 and 2017.

“On the supply side, we’re expecting things to be remain tight but potentially stable over the next few years,” said James Willoughby, analyst at the International Tin Association, adding that interest in recycling was rising.

Tin stocks in LME approved warehouses at 6 450 tonnes after falling to 20-year lows below 1 000 tonnes earlier this year and at 6 910 tonnes in warehouses monitored by the Shanghai Futures Exchange provide cover for a larger deficit.

Supplies from Myanmar peaked in 2016 at 48 000 tonnes, according to consultancy firm Roskill, which estimates that 29 000 tonnes and 22 000 tonnes of contained tin was mined by the country in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

“The emergence of Myanmar a few years ago took the tin market by surprise, volumes increased quite rapidly and pretty much all of that was going into China,” said Roskill analyst Jessica Roberts.

“Falling production from Myanmar is a trend. Definitely the tin market needs some new large scale mines to be developed. The most promising at the moment is Bisie.”

Bisie is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the province of North Kivu and is owned by industrial miner Alphamin. It is ramping up and expected to produce an annualised 10 000 tonnes of tin in the second half of this year.

Disruptions from a strike at Peruvian miner Minsur’s San Rafael mine had fuelled concern about supply, but the strike ended quickly. San Rafael produced more than 18 000 tonnes last year.

“Established producers such as Brazil and Peru are working hard simply to maintain production as mines age and ore grades decline,” said Societe Generale analyst Robin Bhar.

“An incentive price of $25 000 a tonne is required for many new mine projects to proceed, but the pipeline is thin.”

Source: Mining Weekly

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