In Myanmar, agriculture contributes to a third of the country’s GDP, a quarter of its exports and creates the bulk of job opportunities. Yet, the sector’s true potential remains restricted by poor access to finance and technology, limited infrastructure, complex land tenure and quality issues as well as weak supply chains. Nevertheless, demand for products […]
Myanmar MPs Vote to Regulate, Tax Chinese-Backed Banana Trade
December 18, 2019 by
NAYPYITAW – The Upper House of Myanmar’s Parliament on Monday approved a proposal to regulate China-backed banana plantations and levy a tax on the industry. Earlier this month, parliamentarian Dr. Khun Win Thaung of Kachin State submitted the proposal to the Upper House, saying tissue-culture banana plantations operated by Chinese companies are threatening the community’s […]
Agriculture as an economic driver
December 18, 2019 by
It’s common to see roads in Shan State full of trucks loaded with vegetables. The state produces 60 percent of all vegetables consumed within the country. Some of the crops are even exported to neighbouring countries. The state government now says that it is making moves to place more emphasis on developing agriculture over tourism […]
Protecting livelihoods and nature on Inle Lake
December 9, 2019 by
The fear that haunts Ko Than Htoo, who is the main breadwinner for his five-member family, is that Inle Lake will one day dry up. He has been a boatman for over 25 years. Only two years ago he had to leave nearby Pekon Lake after the water level went down to the point of […]
Singapore’s Wilmar opens facilities in Thilawa
October 31, 2019 by
Wilmar Myanmar and its partners, National Infrastructure Holdings Co, First Top Group and Riceland International, on Sunday announced the opening of a new flour mill and consumer pack edible oil processing plant in Thilawa Special Economic Zone, Yangon. The mill will have the capacity to produce 530 tonnes of wheat flour per day, while the […]
Myanmar, S’pore ink investment promotion and protection deal
October 1, 2019 by
YANGON—Myanmar inked an agreement with Singapore on Tuesday to promote and protect investment between the two countries, paving the way to boost trade relations. As of February, Singapore is Myanmar’s largest source of foreign investment. The city-state has invested more than US$22 billion (33.6 trillion kyats), nearly 30 percent of total foreign investment in Myanmar, […]
Broad coalition to ramp up food safety in Myanmar
September 17, 2019 by
Myanmar’s food safety advocacy groups plan to bring around 400 stakeholders from the food industry together to discuss food safety issues and challenges in the country. Myanmar Innovative Life Sciences (MILS), Myanmar Consumers Union and Food Science and Technology Association (FoSTA Myanmar) told the media at a press conference on Wednesday that they will organize […]
