YANGON — Yangon lawmakers have criticized the industrial zone projects of the regional government as “unrealistic.” Lawmakers on Tuesday discussed the regional government’s plan to establish 11 new industrial zones on the city’s outskirts. It was announced by Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein last month on the sidelines of the Yangon Investment […]
USDP MP Urges Increase in Private Security Sector Training
In its first proposal to the Yangon Region Hluttaw, the Union Solidarity and Development Party called on the government to bolster the private security sector with better oversight and regulations. The proposal, submitted by MP U Tin Win (USDP; Cocokyun), the former regional minister for security and border affairs, asked the government to enact a […]
Myanmar sees record arrivals in 2015
MYANMAR attracted a record 4.2 million visitors in 2015, with at least 800,000 entering the country by air and ship, and over 2.2 million through border checkpoints, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. In Yangon alone, over 1 million arrivals were recorded, a 13.1 per cent increase from 2014. About 815,949 of the […]
GDP growth not enough for economic progress
The advent of new government is likely to provide a short-term boost to GDP, but long-term inclusive economic growth will be more difficult, said government officials and economists at a conference this week. The two-day conference, held on January 11-12 at the Yangon Economics Institute, was titled “New Myanmar beyond 2015: The need for a […]
Hotels Sprout Up to Accommodate Increasing Tourists
Hotels are sprouting up across Myanmar to provide adequate accommodation to the increasing number of tourists, sources with the Myanmar Hoteliers Association said. A total of 340 hotels are operating across the country in 2015, compared with 290 in 2014, according to U Tin Win, chairman of the Myanmar Hoteliers Association. The number of foreign […]
Hoteliers claim to face double taxes for liquor licences
Hotels that serve liquor are groaning under the burdens of taxation and red tape, hoteliers have complained, as police raided hotels in Bagan on suspicion of importing alcohol illegally. U tin win, chair of the Yangon hotel zone established by the Myanmar hoteliers’ association, said the raids were the result of a misunderstanding over conflicting […]
MPT to enter agreement with Japan’s KDDI
Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) aims to sign a partnership agreement with Japanese mobile services provider KDDI Corporation by the end of the month, according to government officials. KDDI will be the operator of state-owned MPT under the agreement, said U Than Tun Aung, a director from the Ministry’s Posts and Telecommunications Department. “The process […]
Internet providers mull a more competitive future
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) say they are preparing for competition as the sector liberalises to allow entrants in the future, though insiders say Telenor and Ooredoo’s emphasis on their mobile rollout may buy fixed-line ISPs some breathing room. With only state-run Myanmar Posts and Telecommunications (MPT) and Yatanarpon Teleport Company (YPT) currently licensed to provide […]