Burma Business Focus 20th November, 2012 - EBM Consulting

Burma Business Focus

A digest of key business news & information regarding Burma / Myanmar

20^th November, 2012

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A selection of key articles, information and links of interest from the last 7 days regarding the business and risk environment of Burma / Myanmar compiled by analysts at EBM Consulting ( www.ebmconsulting.com.hk ). We specialize in providing pre M&A, pre JV, enterprise risk due diligence and competitive business intelligence services in frontier markets across Asia including Burma / Myanmar.

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Sections:

• Business & Economy
• Burmese Language Media News
  • Politics
  • Security
  • Upcoming Events

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Business & Economy

Myanmar, Thailand Invite International Investors To Engage In Dawei SEZ Project

(Ref: Bernama, 20 Nov, 2012) Myanmar and Thailand have invited capable international investors to engage in Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) project being implemented in Myanmar?s southern Taninthayi region, China?s Xinhua news agency said citing official media?s report on Tuesday.

Myanmar-focused Yoma raises $82 million from placement

(Ref: Financial Asia, 20 Nov, 2012) Yoma Strategic Holdings, a Singapore-listed company focusing on real estate, agriculture and car sales in Myanmar and China, has raised S$101.2 million ($82 million) from a placement of new shares.

Japan to loan Myanmar US$615 million

(Ref: SCMP, 18 Nov, 2012) Japan is to provide Myanmar with US$615 million in government loans, a report said on Sunday, just days after the United States scrapped a ban on most imports from the long-isolated Southeast Asian nation. Myanmar nominally ended nearly half a century of military rule last year and rapid changes have sparked a widespread lifting of sanctions and a scramble to tap a potentially lucrative market.

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Myanmar Airways resume flights to Cambodia

(Ref: Mizzima, 16 Nov, 2012) After a three-month suspension of services, on December 1 Myanmar Airways International (MAI) will resume regular flights between Yangon and Cambodia. The airline started a twice-weekly flight to Siem Reap in late February but suspended the service due to low demand, according to Lav Heng, a sales agent for MAI in Cambodia and the Chairman of VLK Royal Tourism.

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Cheap Cooking Oil Imports Hit Burmese Producers

(Ref: Irrawaddy, 14 Nov, 2012) A sharp increase in palm oil imports from Malaysia over the past two years is causing more Burmese consumers to switch from relatively costly peanut oil, dealing a serious blow to domestic peanut oil millers.

SCB enters Myanmar

(Ref: Bangkok Post, 13 Nov, 2012) Siam Commercial Bank will open its first representative office in Myanmar?s capital late this month. The move is part of its plan to broaden its business in the region ahead of the upcoming Asean Economic Community (AEC).SCB is focusing on expanding its services in Asia, starting with Asean and then East Asia.

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PepsiCo opening bottling plant in Burma

(Ref: Mizzima, 13 Nov, 2012) PepsiCo Inc is in the process of signing a bottling agreement in Burma, Reuters reported on Thursday, quoting Saad Abdul-Latif, the company?s chief executive for Asia, the Middle East and Africa. In August, PepsiCo signed an agreement with a Burmese firm to distribute its Pepsi-Cola, 7-Up and Mirinda brands in the country. At the time, it said, it was exploring the option of setting up production there.

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Burmese Language Media News

News article translated from the original Burmese by EBM researchers.

MasterCard connects with Myanmar?Welfare Bank

(Ref: Yoyarlay, 15 Nov, 2012) The worldwide financial service provider- MasterCard networks and Myanmar Welfare Bank have confirmed a legal cooperation and were officially connected on 15th November 2012.

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The General Manger of the Myanmar Welfare Bank- U Thein Myint, stated that ? ?Mr.Antonio Corro, who is the MasterCard Worldwide representative, will make a presentation alongside the Managing Director of the Myanmar Welfare Bank, demonstrating how to use the MasterCard on November 16th?.

Recently Visa Card has already connected with some of the local banks in Myanmar and people will be able to use Visa? Card service in a few months.

Politics

Myanmar or Burma? Obama Uses Both

(Ref: Irrawaddy, 20 Nov, 2012) Officially at least, America still calls this Southeast Asian nation Burma, the favored appellation of dissidents and pro-democracy activists who opposed the former military junta?s move to summarily change its name 23 years ago.

Ma Xiaotian meets with Myanmar guest

(Ref: People?s Daily, 19 Nov, 2012) Ma Xiaotian, member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and commander of the Air Force of the Chinese People?s Liberation Army (PLA), met with Soe Win, the visiting deputy commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Defense Force and commander of the Myanmar Army, on the afternoon of November 15, 2012 in the Air Force Headquarters of the PLA.

Myanmar to deepen relations with China

(Ref: China Daily, 18 Nov, 2012) Myanmar cherishes the ?special? links it has had with China since ancient times and will further strengthen and deepen its ?time-honored and time-tested? friendship during the country?s current reforms, the top political adviser to the Myanmar president told China Daily in an exclusive interview during a recent visit to China.

Burma?s Aung San Suu Kyi returns to India college

(Ref: BBC News, 16 Nov, 2012) Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has visited the Delhi college from which she graduated with a degree in politics nearly 50 years ago. As she entered the packed auditorium, where she had performed plays as a young college student, she was greeted with rapturous cheers.

Burma frees more than 450 prisoners before Barack Obama?s visit

(Ref: the Guardian, 15 Nov, 2012) Burmese authorities have freed more than 450 detainees in a goodwill gesture before a historic visit by the US president, Barack Obama. But human rights campaigners said the list of released prisoners did not include any political dissidents.

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Security

Myanmar to sign new nuclear safeguards

(Ref: Channel News Asia, 19 Nov, 2012) Myanmar said on Sunday it would agree to new atomic safeguards that allow inspections of suspected clandestine nuclear sites, ahead of a milestone visit by US President Barack Obama. The news comes hours after the White House said Myanmar has taken ?positive steps? to reduce its military relationship with North Korea.

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Burma troops accused of backing attacks

(Ref: San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Nov, 2012) In this Nov. 9, 2012 file photo, a Myanmar soldier prepares to get off a truck to provide security in Sittwe, Rakhine state, western Myanmar. A leading international rights group on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012 accused Myanmar security forces of supporting some of the brutal anti-Muslim violence last month that forced 35,000 people from torched homes.

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UN welcomes Myanmar?s move for Rohingya

(Ref: the Nation, 18 Nov, 2012) UNITED NATIONS ? UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed Myanmar?s president pledge to consider new rights for the stateless Rohingya Muslims ahead of a landmark visit by President Barack Obama, but stopped short of a full commitment that citizenship and other new freedoms would be granted.

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Burma?s president condemns Rakhine violence

(Ref: Radio Australia, 17 Nov, 2012) A spokesman for the United Nations, Martin Nesirky, says President Thein Sein?s remarks were made in a letter to the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.

Three Burmese Soldiers Abducted by Border

(Ref: Irrawaddy, 13 Nov, 2012) Burma?s Border Security Force (Nasaka) and Bangladeshi Border Guards are searching for three Burma Army soldiers who disappeared after an attack by an unknown armed group in northern Arakan (Rakhine) State last week.

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Burma earthquake: At least 26 now dead and 10 missing

(Ref: BBC News, 13 Nov, 2012) At least 26 people have been killed and 10 are still missing following an earthquake that struck central regions of Burma on Sunday, the Burmese Red Cross has said. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed or damaged by the quake, it said. It caused the collapse of a partially-built bridge over the Irrawaddy river. The authorities have said they are sending aid, but communication problems have made it hard to fully assess the damage.

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Upcoming Events

Myanmar Mining Investment Forum 2012 (3-6 Dec, 2012)

Touted as the next hotspot for resources, Myanmar is ushering in rapid changes to draw investment into its economy. Featuring top Government decision makers and miners investing in the country, the Myanmar Mining Investment Forum will bring to you the latest insights on mining policy, reserves assessment and market potential, partnership opportunities and success factors for investing in Myanmar.

Venue: Grand Copthorne Waterfront, Singapore

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INTO MYANMAR: Mobile Telecom / Internet Infrastructure / Cloud Computing Global Summit 2012 (3-4 Dec, 2012)

The inaugural summit, ?INTO MYANMAR Mobile Telecom, Internet Infrastructure & Cloud Computing Global Summit 2012? will be held in Yangon, Myanmar from 3 ? 4 December 2012. Hot topics to be discussed at this Summit include: ? Myanmar?s latest Telecom Market Openings ? Myanmar?s Telecom/ICT Infrastructure ? Cloud Opportunities ? Tariffs, Pricing, Telecom Contracting ? Value-Added Services.

Venue: Inya Lake Hotel / Yangon / Myanmar

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OC Myanmar (16-18 Jan, 2013)

OC Myanmar 2013 Overview Myanmar has just announced an offering of 23 offshore blocks for hydrocarbon exploration, inclusive of 17 deepwater blocks and 6 shallow water blocks in the Rakhine, Mottama, and Tanintharyi offshore areas in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. The government?s determination of promoting the domestic offshore E&P sector to the international investors makes Myanmar the next exploration hotspot in the Southeast Asia region.

Venue: Traders Hotel Yangon / Yangon / Myanmar

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Myanmar Private Sector Investment Summit (28-29 Jan, 2013)

It is one-stop event that provides essential information and relevant contacts for Myanmar investment and doing business in Myanmar. From Myanmar investment law and trade policies to Myanmar taxation laws and currency reform; from how to set up company in Myanmar to Myanmar import, export and employment law; from financing options to repatriating profit, and foreign exchange and banking reforms, MPSIS aims to provide guidance and clarity in the uncharted waters of the Myanmar market.

Venue: Yangon, Myanmar

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Myanmar Hospitality and Tourism Congress 2013 (26-28 Feb, 2013)

Myanmar Hospitality and Tourism Congress 2013 is the gateway for investors, owners, developers and operators of hospitality and tourism products to explore, evaluate and capitalize on the opportunities available in Asia?s last frontier. Gain firsthand knowledge about Myanmar?s tourism masterplan and identify business gaps that need immediate attention.

Venue: Yangon, Myanmar

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About ?Burma Business Focus?
Burma Business Focus is a periodic compilation of news and enterprise risk related articles associated with Burma / Myanmar. The articles are compiled by EBM Consulting?s in-house team of risk analysts. EBM Consulting are specialists in the provision of due diligence and risk management services in frontier markets, including Burma / Myanmar, through our international network of associates located in 55 countries worldwide.

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EBM Consulting contacts:

Tel ???? (852) 3621 0980

Email ? ebm@ebmconsulting.com.hk

Web ?? www.ebmconsulting.com.hk

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Source: http://www.ebmconsulting.com.hk/ebm-news/burma-business-focus-20th-november-2012/

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