Myanmar Defence Forum

[Aung Zaya]

your country has a very impressive growth rate. over 8%. not too bad at all.

Myanmar attracts Vietnamese cos, bilateral trade to touch $500m in 2015 - DealStreetAsia

April 6th, 2015

Myanmar is considered “the last frontier of Asia”. The nation, which has abundant resources, opened its doors to the world economy after years of being held back by the military-run regime.

Taking advantage of the now open Myanmar economy, Vietnam has been actively promoting investment activities through both its public and private sector.

The year 2010 marked an important milestone in the development of cooperation between the two countries. Last year, two-way trade reached almost $480 million, increasing, by two times as compared to two years earlier.

The governments expect the figure to hit $500 million mark this year and plan to accelerate collaboration in sectors of agro-forestry, fisheries, finance, banking, telecommunications, transport, oil and gas, and tourism, among others.


Myanmar has agreed to allow the Bank for the Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) to open a branch, the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) to expand oil and gas exploration, and the military-run telecom provider Viettel to set up a joint venture with Yantanarpon Teleport of Myanmar.

It has also called for more support from Vietnam in its rubber and food production industries while seeking investment for its three new economic zones.

Myanmar, home to some 60 million people, is hungry for consumer goods and industrial products. However, most of the items are imported, generating plenty of opportunities for Vietnam, to plug the gaps in the supply.


Also read: London summit focuses on Myanmar’s investment opportunities

Latest data provided by Myanmar’s commerce and industry authorities showed that its trade deficit rose nearly 90 per cent in the 2014-2015 fiscal year ending March 31. It imported over $16 billion while exported some $11 billion in goods.


The nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) is anticipated to grow at 8.3 per cent in the 2015-2016 period, up from 7.8 per cent in the 2014-2015 fiscal year, according to the Asia Development Bank. To successfully integrate development policy framework for Myanmar, the bank said, it will need to consider comprehensive development and reform planning and phasing.

Also read: Myanmar opening banking doors

Vietnam is not alone in investing in Myanmar. One in four Asian enterprises are said to be planning to expand into Myanmar, this year, according to the United Overseas Bank’s Asian Enterprise Survey 2014. Meanwhile, nine foreign banks have been licensed in the country.

From the first days of investment


Taking the leading role in Myanmar investment, chairman of the BIDV Nguyen Bac Ha was appointed chairman of the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Myanmar (AVIM).

“Myanmar has enter a new area of innovation, opening its economy and encouraging more foreign investment,” Ha said.

Vietnamese companies, which have invested or are seeking investment in Myanmar, operate in a broad range of sectors including, finance, transportation, mineral, agriculture, telecommunications, real estate, pharmacy and manufacturing.

In 2012, property developer Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group planned a $400 million trading centre complex project in Yangon, the former capital city of Myanmar. It was the largest real estate project in terms of value in Myanmar. This is expected to be inaugurated in the third quarter of this year.

In the pharma industry, the $20 million joint venture between ASV Pharma Corp (Vietnam) and Myanmar Entrepreneur Investment Group produces antibiotic drugs, injections and infusions.

However, the most active sector might be the agriculture business, which has seen the forays of Viet Trang Import and Export (Viettranimex); VinaCapital, An Giang Plant Protection JSC, the Vietnam Rubber Group and the Vietnam National Coffee Corporation planning to develop rubber planting, etc.

New areas for exploitation


Up to date, Vietnam is among the 30 largest investors in Myanmar, taking the eighth place in terms of investment scale, having seven projects worth a total $513 million as of February.

The AVIM hopes that by the end of this year, the total investment of Vietnamese companies in the country will mount to $1.5 billion, bringing Vietnam to the fifth largest investor.

Earlier this month, Vietnam’s Hoa Binh Construction Corporation implemented the topping-out ceremony for the GEMS Apartment project in Yangon. The corporation plays as the construction management party of the project, while Myanmar’s Capital Development Limited is the project owner.

GEMS is the first realty project in Myanmar for which, a Vietnamese contractor provides construction management services.

“In fact, Myanmar is a promising market, but few Vietnamese construction or real estate firms, have a foothold in this country,” said Hoa Binh Corporation’s chairman Le Viet Hai.

As the Myanmar government has just opened its door, it is challenging to access this market, added Hai.

With GEMS project providing the initial foothold into Myanmar, Hai hopes that his company will expand further, by getting into larger projects involving high-rise building.

Prior to Hoa Binh Corporation, interior designing firm AA Corporation had received a number of interior design contracts from Myanmar firms, including the five-star Novotel Yangon Hotel, through its local-based subsidiary AA Interiors Myanmar Ltd, which was set up in 2013.

“Tourism, high-class restaurants and hotels will continue to grow in Myanmar, and we see this a great opportunity,” said the designing company chairman Nguyen Quoc Khanh.

In addition, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group’s magnate Doan Nguyen Duc said that the real estate market in Myanmar, particularly in Yangon, is still in a supply shortage.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promoting Centre, Myanmar is one of the target markets of Vietnamese businesses in the fertiliser, processed food, plastic and cosmetic sectors.

In addition to manufacturing products, Vietnamese companies have also forayed in the Myanmar service sector, including the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), Viettel, and FPT Group in the telecom and information technology fields.

Meanwhile, the new area for investment is in television/radio broadcasting, as Myanmar’s minister of information U Ye Htut, in an exchange with Vietnamese officials, has said to seek ways to let foreign investors partner with operators to provide more services to the domestic market. Vietnamese organisations are invited and can contribute up to 30 per cent of the joint venture. In the media and publishing area, Vietnamese enterprises will be able to own up to 95 per cent, while they can look to acquire an entire business in the education sector.

Related story:

Vietnam to build vessels in $175m deal with Mynama Shipyards

Vivo Mobile enters Myanmar market

Direct seller QNet enters Myanmar market

Viettel Global to invest $800m in Myanmar

Thz.. bro @Viet ..... Hoang Anh Gia Lai Myanmar Centre is currently popular project im Myanmar...
the latest news related this...

Rowsley, Vietnam partner terminate JV project in Myanmar
April 6, 2015 by Thiha


Singapore-based lifestyle real estate and investment company Rowsley Ltd, that is part-owned by billionaire Peter Lim, has called off its pact with Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company (HAGL) to jointly build and manage a $550-million (S$748-million) mixed-use development in Yangon, Myanmar.

The two companies had announced the deal in February this year, under which Rowsley was to invest $275 million for 50 per cent stake in one of the largest mixed-use developments in Yangon, while HAGL would have to make the remaining investments, and undertake construction of the entire project.

Rowsley and HAGL Land were initially to hold 50 per cent stakes in the joint venture, with the Singapore-based having the option to increase its interest in the joint venture in the future.

“The company will not enter into the proposed joint venture as the conditions precedent under the Heads of Terms Agreement have not been satisfied. The company will continue to explore other investment and development opportunities,” Rowsley said in a filing with the Singapore stock exchange.

Peter Lim holds a 49.55 per cent stake in Rowsley whose two key assets include RSP Architects and Vantage Bay, Iskandar in Malaysia.

Last month, the company had tapped the bond markets at an initial price guidance of 6.50 per cent coupon, in its debut three-year bonds issue.

Rowsley’s other investments include, Streamax International Holding Co Limited, a stainless steel recycling company in China that has a proprietary nickel bean manufacturing process; Auhua Clean Energy PLC, an environmental technology group based in the Shandong province of China that specialises in the development and application of green energy and energy efficient water heating solutions; FJ Benjamin Holdings Ltd, a mainboard listed co that is principally engaged in the business of luxury fashion and timepiece distribution and retailing and Epicentre Holdings Limited, that is listed on the Catalist board of Singapore Exchange and is a one-stop premium retailer specialising in the sale of Apple brand products and its complementary products.

Source: Deal Street Asia

Latest pics of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Myanmar Centre construction...

 

[Viet]

Thz.. bro @Viet ..... Hoang Anh Gia Lai Myanmar Centre is currently popular project im Myanmar...
the latest news related this...

Rowsley, Vietnam partner terminate JV project in Myanmar
April 6, 2015 by Thiha


Singapore-based lifestyle real estate and investment company Rowsley Ltd, that is part-owned by billionaire Peter Lim, has called off its pact with Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai Joint Stock Company (HAGL) to jointly build and manage a $550-million (S$748-million) mixed-use development in Yangon, Myanmar.

The two companies had announced the deal in February this year, under which Rowsley was to invest $275 million for 50 per cent stake in one of the largest mixed-use developments in Yangon, while HAGL would have to make the remaining investments, and undertake construction of the entire project.

Rowsley and HAGL Land were initially to hold 50 per cent stakes in the joint venture, with the Singapore-based having the option to increase its interest in the joint venture in the future.

“The company will not enter into the proposed joint venture as the conditions precedent under the Heads of Terms Agreement have not been satisfied. The company will continue to explore other investment and development opportunities,” Rowsley said in a filing with the Singapore stock exchange.

Peter Lim holds a 49.55 per cent stake in Rowsley whose two key assets include RSP Architects and Vantage Bay, Iskandar in Malaysia.

Last month, the company had tapped the bond markets at an initial price guidance of 6.50 per cent coupon, in its debut three-year bonds issue.

Rowsley’s other investments include, Streamax International Holding Co Limited, a stainless steel recycling company in China that has a proprietary nickel bean manufacturing process; Auhua Clean Energy PLC, an environmental technology group based in the Shandong province of China that specialises in the development and application of green energy and energy efficient water heating solutions; FJ Benjamin Holdings Ltd, a mainboard listed co that is principally engaged in the business of luxury fashion and timepiece distribution and retailing and Epicentre Holdings Limited, that is listed on the Catalist board of Singapore Exchange and is a one-stop premium retailer specialising in the sale of Apple brand products and its complementary products.

Source: Deal Street Asia


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Latest pics of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Myanmar Centre construction...

not a problem. the company just wants to descrease the investment risk by seeking a partner for the project. they have money to fund the instruction without a partner. the chairman of the group is one of the richest men in vietnam. his company alone puts $1b of investment in laos. vietnam is the second largest investor ($5b) in laos behind china.

Vietnam's Investment In Laos Surges Before AEC | Seeking Alpha

 

[Aepsilons]

Suzuki active in Myanmar !


Carmaker Suzuki to build second plant in Myanmar ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

 

[VALKRYIE]

Myanmar has huge potential to become one of the fastest growing nation in the world with its rich natural resources and untapped market. I wish you guys luck.

 

[Aepsilons]

Myanmar has huge potential to become one of the fastest growing nation in the world with its rich natural resources and untapped market. I wish you guys luck.

Correct. I would also like to say that by calming separatist forces in the country , would boost investor confidence. A win-win situation.

 

[Aung Zaya]

Suzuki active in Myanmar !


Carmaker Suzuki to build second plant in Myanmar ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion

Nissan also.. bro

Nissan and Tan Chong to Assemble Vehicles in Myanmar

• Nissan and Tan Chong Motors receive license for CKD production; to be the first global vehicle manufacturer in Myanmar after the market reopened in 2011
• Commits to play a leadership role in the development of the automobile industry in Myanmar, in alignment with the government investment plan
• First plant in the Bago region to start production in 2015; will generate 300 jobs

NAY PYI TAW, MYANMAR (September 20, 2013) – Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and Tan Chong Group today jointly announced the approval of a license to manufacture and distribute Nissan vehicles in Myanmar. The application was approved by the Myanmar Investment Commission on 15 August 2013, and grants Tan Chong Motor (Myanmar) Co., Ltd, the rights to assemble and distribute Nissan vehicles locally.

With this approval, the Tan Chong Group will embark on a three-year project to build a local manufacturing facility in the industrial area of the Bago region. With the capacity to produce over 10,000 units per year at full production, the new plant will initially employ 300 workers and start manufacturing the Nissan Sunny in 2015.

“This approval represents a key milestone in our global growth plan and is a clear demonstration of our commitment to “Mobility for All". We are confident that Myanmar will be an important economic engine for the region and are committed to help develop its automotive industry," said Carlos Ghosn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

“We are confident that Myanmar will be the next growth driver for the Indo-China region. Together with Nissan, our extensive experience in the manufacturing and distribution of Nissan vehicles will contribute towards the expansion of the Nissan brand in Myanmar. Moreover, the industry leading expertise and experience of both Nissan and the Tan Chong Group in the automotive sector will definitely assist the further growth of this country," said Tan Chong Group Executive Deputy Chairman, Dato' Tan Heng Chew.

The project, an 80 acre (324,000 m2) state-of-the-art industrial complex, will be the largest automobile manufacturing site in the country and the first in the Bago region. The plant will be constructed and operated by Tan Chong Motor (Myanmar) Co., Ltd.

not a problem. the company just wants to descrease the investment risk by seeking a partner for the project. they have money to fund the instruction without a partner. the chairman of the group is one of the richest men in vietnam. his company alone puts $1b of investment in laos. vietnam is the second largest investor ($5b) in laos behind china.

Vietnam's Investment In Laos Surges Before AEC | Seeking Alpha

Yeah.. i know..bro.. that's not a problem... but it show how Hoang Anh Gia Lai Myanmar Centre is popular in Myanmar.. It may be Biggest share taking project by foreign in Myanmar... Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group now preparing to start next new project... Congratz...!!


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Myanmar 2014/15 FDI swells to $8.1 bln – govt agency
April 2, 2015 by Thiha


(Reuters) – Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Myanmar has soared to more than $8 billion this fiscal year, $3 billion more than anticipated, owing to increased activity in the energy, manufacturing and telecoms sectors, a senior official said.

The investments reflect growing if cautious foreign interest in one of Asia’s last remaining untapped markets, which is offering tax breaks and export tariff perks to create urgently needed jobs for its 50 million people.

Myanmar received $4.1 billion in FDI in 2013/2014 and in September announced a target of $5 billion for fiscal 2014/2015 running to the end of March as foreign firms won oil and gas concessions and international hotel chains started moving in.

But Aung Naing Oo, head of the state-run Myanmar Investment Commission, told Reuters that FDI had easily beat that to reach $8.1 billion, thanks to the opening-up of its telecoms sector and the courting of manufacturers and energy firms.

“Thirty-five percent of total FDI went into the energy sector, while manufacturing and telecommunications attracted 25 percent each,” Aung Naing Oo said.

It was unclear if the total referred to pledges or how much had already been disbursed. Aung Naing Oo said the energy deals were “for mid-term in the initial stage”, without elaborating.

Myanmar’s investment surge follows reforms launched in 2012 by President Thein Sein, a former general who enlisted help from technocrats and global financial institutions to overhaul an economy that wilted under sanctions and inept policymaking during five decades of military rule.

The lifting of most Western embargoes has allowed foreign access to sectors from banking, property and tourism to factories, infrastructure, airports and agribusinesses.

The $8.1 billion in FDI is a staggering 25 times the $329.6 million received in 2009/2010, the year before the military ceded power.

It compares with an estimated $11.8 billion of disbursed FDI last year in Thailand, $12.3 billion in Vietnam and $4 billion in Cambodia, according to official figures.

Norway’s Telenor and Qatar’s Ooredoo launched Myanmar cellphone services last year while the manufacturing sector has attracted firms such as Gap Inc .

Oil and gas exploration has seen most investment activity, with Chevron’s Unocal announcing this week it had agreed a $277 million contract for offshore block A-5.

Britain’s BG Group and Australia’s Woodside Petroleum announced a $1 billion deal last week to explore in four blocks off Rakhine state in the west of the country.

Source: Reuters
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Latest Japan investment in Myanmar............ bro @Nihonjin1051 ... hope to catch up China's Investment in Myanmar after finishing the Thilawa SEZ....


YANGON, MYANMAR; TOKYO, JAPAN – Capital Diamond Star Group Limited (CDSG) and Mitsubishi Corporation (Mitsubishi) are pleased to announce the formation of a Joint Venture, Lluvia Limited (Lluvia) to engage in food manufacturing and distribution businesses throughout Myanmar and regionally.

CDSG is one of Myanmar’s most respected and prominent conglomerates. It is a leader in the Food and FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) businesses in Myanmar. In addition to being a top supplier of wheat flour and instant beverages, CDSG is also a major player in agricultural commodity trading, fertilizer and agro chemicals distribution, and retail businesses.

Mitsubishi Corporation is a global integrated business enterprise based in Japan with a long history of conducting food related businesses from global raw material sourcing to distribution and retail.

Lluvia is the current operating company for CDSG’s food sector businesses including wheat flour and beverages. CDSG has accepted an equity investment from Mitsubishi Corporation into Lluvia and plans to invest over US$200 million over the next 3 years in existing and new businesses throughout the food value chain in Myanmar.

The investments Lluvia intends to make across the food value chain in Myanmar will significantly benefit the country’s food and agriculture industries. In the upstream activities, Lluvia intends to work closely with farmers to facilitate better access to capital and enhance their farming techniques through knowledge transfer from Mitsubishi Corporation and its network of partners. Lluvia will also play a role in connecting the farmers to regional and international markets. In the downstream activities, Lluvia will also contribute to better food safety through technology transfer and help reduce Myanmar’s reliance on imports through local production of ingredients.

Lluvia aims to expand aggressively in the region and aims to be one of Myanmar’s first homegrown regional companies with a view towards being one of the leading food companies in Asia.

FACT SHEET

Lluvia’s flour milling facilities in Yangon, Myanmar

Premier Coffee and other products

 

[Aung Zaya]

Thilawa SEZ receives 40 firms from 11 countries
April 6, 2015 by Thiha


Myanmar’s attempts to become a manufacturing hub are likely to come true in a few years as 40 firms from 11 countries have so far signed an agreement to invest in its major special economic zone.
Thilawa SEZ is still attractive to international firms as 83.4 per cent of its Phase I implementation was completed as of March 28, said Yanai Takashi, president and chief executive officer of Myanmar-Japan Thilawa Development Ltd (MJTD).

Takashi said in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the Myanmar Infrastructure Summit on Thursday that Japan has proved its commitment to Myanmar by standing as the biggest investor in the SEZ so far. Among the 40 firms which signed the agreement with MJTD, 21 firms are from Japan followed by Taiwan and Myanmar with four firms each. Three Thai firms and two Singaporean firms joined the investors list with each firm from the United States, China, Sweden, Hong Kong, Australia, and Malaysia.

“These firms can be divided into two kinds — export-oriented and domestic-oriented. We have received similar number of firms in each category,” he said.

According to Takashi, export-oriented firms will mainly produce garments, shoes, toys, automobile parts, electric devices, wheelchairs, and wood crafts while domestic-oriented ones focus on producing construction materials, food, aluminum cans, lubricant oil, consumer products, plastic products, medicine, industrial machinery, and corrugated cardboards.

Although the SEZ is planned to be implemented in a land area of 2,400 hectares as a whole, both countries have been implementing Zone A area which has only 396 hectares. While 35 hectares are set for the residence commercial area, the industrial area is planned to be implemented in two phases — 211 hectares in Phase I and 150 hectares in Phase II.

The implementation of Phase I started on January 10, 2014 when MJTD was established. Before the establishment of MJTD, both countries signed the joint venture agreement on October 29,2013.

“We hope to complete the Phase I implementation by the end of June. At the same time, we have also been developing Phase II since October last year. So far, about 16 per cent of Phase II has been completed. Construction of the first factory started in December last year and is now underway,” said Takashi.

The JV firm head added that construction of new roads is 60 per cent completed and more than 70 per cent of power distribution lines have been installed. In an effort to prevent electricity shortage, a 50 megawatts power plant and a new substation are under construction, while using the power from the existing substation at the moment. For the water supply within the SEZ, Zamani Reservoir will be the main source of water, and a water treatment plant and a sewage treatment plant are being constructed.

As for telecommunication, the Myanma Posts and Telecommunication has been extending fibre optic cables to the SEZ. The government has also planned expansion of access roads to Thilawa SEZ and a new rail route from Yangon to the SEZ. Construction of a new port will also be carried out with the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency. To ease the environmental concerns, pollution control and monitoring water and air quality will be undertaken in line with international standards.

Takashi insisted that infrastructure is the major concern for foreign investors eyeing to set foot in the SEZ. He expressed optimism over the infrastructure development in the near future.

“If investors are really concerned, they will not come. So all the 40 firms proved they had only tiny concerns…I do not think there is no critical concern in Myanmar. That is why they decided to come,” he said, adding that a number of investors including some Western firms are on the verge of signing the agreement with MJTD soon.

According to Takashi, foreign direct investment will mainly drive the nation’s economic growth thanks to the inflow of investors and cash. Japanese firms will stand as one of the key players in the manufacturing sector which would receive investments around the world.

“I have no doubt that manufacturing is one of the key drivers of Myanmar’s economy as it can create a lot of job opportunities and earn a fortune of foreign currencies,” he said.

Takashi added that in Phase I alone, the SEZ could create 40,000-50,000 job opportunities and attracted export-oriented firms. Other benefits include technology transfer by foreign firms.

He did not see skills shortage as a constraint thanks to the establishment of a vocational training centre in the SEZ.

“We can provide education from now on. Companies can educate their workers. Twenty years back in Thailand, it was nearly the same as in Myanmar. Manufacturers know how to educate their workers,” he said.

He urged foreign investors to come and see the implementation of the zone.

“It is important to come and see the atmosphere in Myanmar and then they can understand the bright future of Myanmar. Without seeing Myanmar, it is a pity to judge,” he said.

Source: Eleven Myanmar

 

[Aung Zaya]

 

[Aung Zaya]

Mi 35P of Myanmar AF are equipped with both 9M120 Ataka ATGM and 9K 114 Shturm ATGM. Myanmar AF is currently operating 25 Mi 35P Atk Hptrs. Mi 35 P can carry up 12 Ataka ATGM. The Ataka missile's guidance is by narrow radar beam, and the maximum range of the missile is 8km. The average target range is between 3km-6km. The target hit probability of the Ataka missile is higher than 0.96 at ranges 3km-6km. The missile has a shaped-charge 7.4kg warhead, with a tandem charge for penetration of 800mm-thick explosive reactive armour. Myanmar AF Mi 35P use two types of 9K114 Shtrum; 9K114M HEAT warhead and 9K114K Thermobaric warhead.

T 72S of Myanmar Army are equipped with 9M119M1 (Invar-M) ATGM. Myanmar Army has three regiments of T72S (139 tanks). 9M119M1 (Invar-M) ATGM are fired from 125mm gun of T 72S , like a shell, but operate like a guided missile. The missile has a max range of 5,000 meters at a speed of 350 meters per second (17.69 seconds max flight time). The Invar M enables the tank to hit targets at twice the range of the 125mm shells. The tandem warhead can penetrate up to 900mm of armor (35.4 inches).

BTR 3U of Myanmar Army are equipped with two 9M113 M Konkurs M ATGMs. BTR 3U are assembled in Myanmar and currently Myanmar is operating more than 600 BTR3Us.

Myanmar Inf units are also using Konkurs M and Kornet E ATGMs....

credit
@dragunov87

 

[Aung Zaya]

57 security companies bid for Myanmar’s stock exchange service provider licenses
YANGON, April 10 (Xinhua) — Fifty-seven private security companies have so far bid for service provider licenses for establishing Myanmar’s first ever stock exchange in Yangon, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday.

The commission, chaired by Deputy Finance Minister Dr. Maung Maung Thein, has started inviting applications for service providers for the establishment since Jan. 19.

The commission has announced granting four kinds of services licenses — underwriters, dealers, brokers and consultants, prescribing different levels of capital requirement for each.

Specifically, a license for underwriting requires 15 billion Kyats (15 million U.S. dollars), for dealing 10 billion Kyats, for brokerage 7 billion Kyats and for consultancy business 30 million Kyats as paid-up capital.
The winners for the service licenses are expected to be announced in mid-April.

Myanmar has been making progress in preparation for launching the country’s first ever stock exchange market in Yangon scheduled for Oct. 1 this year in joint venture with two Japanese firms.

Under an agreement signed in Nay Pyi Taw, the Yangon Stock Exchange Joint Venture Co. Ltd will be set up in partnership among Myanmar Economic Bank (MEB) sharing 51 percent, Japan’s Daiwa Institute of Research Ltd 30.25 percent and Japan Exchange Group 18.75 percent.

Myanmar
Nepalese Phone Maker Color Mobile Eyes to Sell a Million Handsets in Myanmar
April 13, 2015 by Thiha


Nepal-based Colors Mobile announced that the company is expecting to sell over 1 million handset in Myanmar by the end of this year.

Color Mobile introduced its 14 smart phone models recently at Sedona Hotel in Mandalay including four featurephones (bar model) and 10 smart phone models.

The price of the featurephones range from K14,000 to 30,000 ($14-30) and the smartphones are between K40,000 and K160,000 ($40-160).

“Now mobile phones are not just used for talking. It provides a whole range of connectivity and communications options,” Rohit Gupta, co-founder of Colors Mobile, said.

The mobile phone company said it has started distributing its mobile in Upper Myanmar late last month and will start distributing in lower Myanmar within three months.

The company already planned to open Colors Mobile service centres in the cities of Upper Myanmar and will also open showroom and service centre at Mingalar Mandalay Compound.

The firm said it will expand its Myanmar market presence by selling 35 or 40 types of smartphones and tablets in the future.

Colors Mobile has been able to garner huge popularity in Nepal and Sri Lanka, and now is pushing for growth in other Asian markets. For now, the firm will sell 14 types of phone through a joint venture with UMT Distribution.

Source: Myanmar Business Today

 

[Aung Zaya]

Toyo-Thai to Invest $2.8 Billion for Myanmar Power Plant
April 22, 2015 by Thiha


Toyo-Thai Corporation Public Company Limited (TTCL) announced that it has entered into an agreement with the Department of Hydropower Planning under the Ministry of Electric Power to build and operate a 1,280 megawatt power plant.

The construction contract for the coal-fired plant at Ye township in Mon state is worth an estimated $2.3 billion, while the whole project is worth $2.8 billion, the Thailand-based construction firm said in a filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

Under the 30-year concession, Toyo-Thai is expected to import about 4 million tonnes of coal a year to supply the power plant. Construction is expected to take about four to six years.

The power plant, which will supply electricity to the national grid, will be funded 75 percent from debt and the rest from equity, the company said.

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Muse trade booms
April 22, 2015 by Thiha


Exports from April 2014 to March 31 this year through the Muse border exceeded US$3.6 billion, up more than US$1 billion from the previous year, according to Consumer Affairs Department under the Commerce Ministry.

Last year’s exports were US$2.2 billion, mainly from agricultural produce.
A total of 99 warehouses, 59 for exports and 40 for imports, have been built at Muse 105th-mile trade camp.

Myanmar Rice Federation is planning to build more warehouses in Muse to increase its storage capacity.
Muse, Loigyae, Chin Shwe Haw and Kanpiketi border camps are open for official trade. Muse sees more than 70 per cent of Myanmar’s legal exports to China. Trade for the 2014-15 fiscal year totals US$5.2 billion, with exports of US$3.6 billion and imports of US$1.6 billion.

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Myanmar to establish new ICT zone in eastern Yangon
April 22, 2015 by Thiha


YANGON, April 21 (Xinhua) — Myanmar is planning to establish a new information and communication technology (ICT) zone in Thanlyin, eastern Yangon, to boost development of ICT in the country, local media reported Tuesday.

Over 120 hectares of land plot have been designated for the new ICT zone and tender for developing the zone has been invited from both foreign and local IT companies, the Myanmar Computer Federation was quoted as saying.

The new ICT zone is also designed to create more job opportunities for local IT professionals and help develop Myanmar’ s ICT sector with the involvement of foreign ICT firms, the report said.
An ICT Park has been established in Yangon’s Hlaing township in 2004 on just eight hectares which accommodates 100 local and foreign ICT companies.

The government also built a cyber city called Yatanapon in Pyin Oo Lwin in northern Mandalay region in 2010.

In January 2013, Myanmar government invited public tender from local and international investors for two telecommunications operator service licenses. Norwegian company Telenor and Qatar company Ooredoo won the tender.

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UOB to finance new power plant in Myanmar
April 21, 2015 by Thiha


SINGAPORE: United Overseas Bank (UOB) announced on Monday (Apr 20) a financing agreement with Singapore-based company Royal GK – a company commissioned to help meet Myanmar’s rising demand for energy.

Royal GK, an engineering procurement and construction company, was contracted by the Myanmar Central Power Co (MCPC) to procure gas engines for the construction of a gas-fired electricity power plant in Hlawga, Yangon.

The Myanmar government has identified investment in the power sector as a priority to meet the rising demand for reliable sources of energy for households and businesses. According to the Asian Development Bank, only a quarter of Myanmar’s population of 51 million people currently has access to electricity.

Mr Ian Wong, Managing Director and Head of Group Strategy and International Management at UOB, said the bank’s business approach for Myanmar is to partner its clients in investing in industries that the country deems necessary to support its long-term economic growth.

“As Myanmar has prioritised the provision of power in the creation of new industries and job opportunities for the country, we are keen to finance companies such as Royal GK to help support the infrastructural needs of the country’s economic transformation,” he said.

The power plant is expected to start producing 175,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity per year when it is completed in June this year, said UOB.

Mr Zeya Mon, Director of Royal GK, said: “We are delighted to expand our operations here in Myanmar and to help serve the country’s increasing demand for electricity. This is a significant milestone for us, and UOB has been instrumental to this project by supporting us with funding from Singapore.”

OYAL GK DEAL JUST ONE OF SEVERAL

The signing of the financing agreement with Royal GK is one of several companies UOB has financed to provide electricity to Myanmar, the bank said.

Last year, it financed Singapore-based Asiatech Energy in building a combined cycle gas-fired power plant in Mon State, Myanmar.

The bank has also partnered US-based APR Energy in their construction of a 100 MW power plant in the Mandalay region of Myanmar. The APR Energy contract was the first power generation agreement signed by a US-based company with the government of Myanmar since the lifting of sanctions in 2013.

UOB is one of nine foreign banks to receive a Foreign Bank License from the Central Bank of Myanmar in October last year.

Source: Channel News Asia

 

[Aung Zaya]

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Two Japan Banks First Foreign Banks to Open Myanmar Branches




Two Japan Banks First Foreign Banks to Open Myanmar Branches

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Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.’s Myanmar branch in Yangon.
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.
Japan’s two top banks are set to open branches in Myanmar this week, becoming the first foreign banks to set up shop in the country: a place viewed by many as one of the “last frontiers.”

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. will open branches on Wednesday and Thursday in the center of Myanmar’s capital Yangon. Singapore’s Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp., which was also granted approval to open a branch, will start operations Thursday.

Last October, Myanmar awarded banking licenses to nine foreign banks including Mizuho Bank, Australia & New Zealand Banking. and Industrial & Commercial Bank of China.

For Japan’s top three lenders to each be granted banking licenses in the third world country is a big score for the Japanese government, which has been making great efforts to beef up its presence in Southeast Asia.

Since taking office in late 2012, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly traveled to the region, accompanied by large delegations of corporate executives. Japan’s financial regulators and top bankers have also made frequent trips to Myanmar over the past few years.

“We are confident that our bank can help transform Myanmar’s financial sector into one that is well-developed, and can effectively spur and drive sustainable economic growth,” Go Watanabe, the chief executive officer for BTMU’s Asia & Oceania said at opening ceremony for his bank’s branch in Yangon’s business district.

The Tokyo lender hopes to increase loans to Japanese and other foreign companies looking to do business in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, SMBC will open a branch Thursday in Pabedan Township in the center of downtown Yangon. The lender said it hopes to ramp up its transaction business and lending in foreign currencies. It can also provide online local currency money transfers through its local partner Kanbawza Bank, a bank spokesman said.

For Japanese companies, Myanmar is becoming a key area as the country has been controlled by military regimes and cut off from many things because of sanctions from western nations.

Companies such as Hitachi Ltd. and Marubeni Corp. have announced plans to expand their presence there as they see many investment opportunities in the country, which suffers from poor infrastructure.

For foreign banks, business is still limited as they are not allowed to operate a retail-banking business and are not permitted to lend money to local companies.

For the latest news and analysis,

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Myanmar's rice export up 40 pct in 2014-15

YANGON, April 21 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's rice export reached nearly 2 million tons in the fiscal year 2014-15 which ended in March, up 40 percent year on year, Chairman of Myanmar Farmers Association Dr. Soe Tun said here Tuesday.


Dr. Soe Tun, who is also joint secretary of the Myanmar Rice Association, told Xinhua in an interview that most of the rice export went to China, accounting for 1.1 million tons.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar exported 1.7 million tons of rice in 2014-15, earning 645 million U.S. dollars. The countries where Myanmar rice was exported during the year are China, Japan and other countries in Asia, Europe and Africa, totaling 64.

Statistics also show that Myanmar's rice export stood at 1.2 million tons in 2013-14 and 1.47 million tons in 2012-13. It is projected Myanmar's rice export would increase to 4 million tons in 2020.

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Lippo Group to Expand Businesses in Myanmar, Cambodia in $1b Move



Jakarta. Indonesia conglomerate Lippo Group plans to set aside as much as $1 billion in its investment budget for expanding its health, hospitality, education and banking businesses in Myanmar and Cambodia, in a move to increase profits.

Siloam International Hospitals, a listed health-care unit of Lippo, would open 12 new hospitals in Myanmar. One of the hospitals will be inaugurated in 1 to 2 months and another in late 2015.

“We will invest around $400 million to $500 million for the hospitals in Myanmar. Spending on each hospital will be around $50 million to $60 million,” Lippo chief executive James T. Riady said on Monday. He spoke on the sidelines of the 24th World Economic Forum on East Asia at the Shangri-La hotel.

In Cambodia, Lippo would invest $300 million to $500 million and evaluating the potential to open a new bank, or to acquire existing banks.

“Cambodia is in need of a transformation in human resources. That’s why we will expand our business there. We also plan to expand our business in the banking field. We hope that we can make the plan work this year,” James said.

Siloam aims for Rp 3.6 trillion ($2 billion) in operational net income in 2015, which would be up by 48 percent from Rp 2.4 trillion in 2014.

Investor Daily and the Jakarta Globe are affiliated with Lippo. The Jakarta Globe is a media partner of the WEF event.

Investor Daily

 

[Aung Zaya]

You are here: Home / Latest News / Two Japan Banks First Foreign Banks to Open Myanmar Branches
Two Japan Banks First Foreign Banks to Open Myanmar Branches
April 29, 2015 by Thiha


Japan’s two top banks are set to open branches in Myanmar this week, becoming the first foreign banks to set up shop in the country: a place viewed by many as one of the “last frontiers.”

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. will open branches on Wednesday and Thursday in the center of Myanmar’s capital Yangon. Singapore’s Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp.O39.SG +0.55%, which was also granted approval to open a branch, will start operations Thursday.

Last October, Myanmar awarded banking licenses to nine foreign banks including Mizuho Bank, Australia & New Zealand Banking. and Industrial & Commercial Bank of China.

For Japan’s top three lenders to each be granted banking licenses in the third world country is a big score for the Japanese government, which has been making great efforts to beef up its presence in Southeast Asia.

Since taking office in late 2012, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly traveled to the region, accompanied by large delegations of corporate executives. Japan’s financial regulators and top bankers have also made frequent trips to Myanmar over the past few years.

“We are confident that our bank can help transform Myanmar’s financial sector into one that is well-developed, and can effectively spur and drive sustainable economic growth,” Go Watanabe, the chief executive officer for BTMU’s Asia & Oceania said at opening ceremony for his bank’s branch in Yangon’s business district.

The Tokyo lender hopes to increase loans to Japanese and other foreign companies looking to do business in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, SMBC will open a branch Thursday in Pabedan Township in the center of downtown Yangon. The lender said it hopes to ramp up its transaction business and lending in foreign currencies. It can also provide online local currency money transfers through its local partner Kanbawza Bank, a bank spokesman said.

For Japanese companies, Myanmar is becoming a key area as the country has been controlled by military regimes and cut off from many things because of sanctions from western nations.

Companies such as Hitachi Ltd.HTHIY -0.81% and Marubeni Corp.MARUY +1.32% have announced plans to expand their presence there as they see many investment opportunities in the country, which suffers from poor infrastructure.

For foreign banks, business is still limited as they are not allowed to operate a retail-banking business and are not permitted to lend money to local companies.

 

[Chanakya's_Chant]

India's BEL Exports Three HUMSA-NG Hull Mounted SONARs To Myanmar

Export of Sonar by DRDO Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed sonars for Indian Navy and transferred technology to Indian Industries for manufacture and supply to Indian Navy. M/s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has exported three Hull Mounted Sonars to Myanmar based on the technology developed by DRDO.

Number of countries have shown their initial interest to acquire DRDO developed sonar systems. Some of the other DRDO developed products / systems, like radars, electronic warfare systems, AEW&C systems, bridging systems, missiles, torpedoes, decoys & fire control systems, etc. can be considered for export to our friendly countries.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Aayanur Manjunatha in Rajya Sabha today.

HH/RAJ

Source:- Export of Sonar by DRDO

@Aung Zaya Any idea on which naval vessels would they be integrated?

 

[Aung Zaya]

India's BEL Exports Three HUMSA-NG Hull Mounted SONARs To Myanmar

Export of Sonar by DRDO Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed sonars for Indian Navy and transferred technology to Indian Industries for manufacture and supply to Indian Navy. M/s Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) has exported three Hull Mounted Sonars to Myanmar based on the technology developed by DRDO.

Number of countries have shown their initial interest to acquire DRDO developed sonar systems. Some of the other DRDO developed products / systems, like radars, electronic warfare systems, AEW&C systems, bridging systems, missiles, torpedoes, decoys & fire control systems, etc. can be considered for export to our friendly countries.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Aayanur Manjunatha in Rajya Sabha today.

HH/RAJ

Source:- Export of Sonar by DRDO

@Aung Zaya Any idea on which naval vessels would they be integrated?

may be for our F12 frigate and 773 corvette .. bro..

coz these ones just compeleted the sea trial and in serviced currently..