• Burmese
Saturday, July 19, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
29 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home Business

Burma Business Roundup (May 24)

William Boot by William Boot
May 25, 2013
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0 0
A A
5.1k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Many Naypidaw Business Deals still ‘Secretive and Closed’ to Scrutiny

An NGO monitoring Burma’s oil, gas and mining industries said that despite international praise being heaped on the government many of its deals with companies remain “secretive and closed off from public scrutiny”.

“Not one company has ever disclosed their contracts or payments to the [Burma] government, so the people … have no idea if their country is getting a fair deal, and if some of those billions in income are being misused,” Earth Rights International (ERI) campaigns director Paul Donowitz told The Irrawaddy.

RelatedPosts

The Nation Where Brave Hearts—and Martyrs—Dwell

The Nation Where Brave Hearts—and Martyrs—Dwell

July 19, 2025
125
Conjuring an Election Illusion in War-Torn Shan; Raiding Offshore Gas to Stay Afloat; and More

Conjuring an Election Illusion in War-Torn Shan; Raiding Offshore Gas to Stay Afloat; and More

July 19, 2025
150
Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Protecting Irrawaddy Flotilla Kill 20

Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Protecting Irrawaddy Flotilla Kill 20

July 18, 2025
1.2k

The Washington-based ERI campaigns for human rights and environmental protection in many countries. In Burma it has been active in drawing attention to complaints of land and homes loss and little or no compensation suffered by communities living along the route of the oil and gas pipelines being built through Burma from the coast to China.

“The concept of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), which is gaining acceptance as a best practice in extractive developments, is totally absent in [Burma],” Donowitz said. “There has not been one legitimate example of a company practicing FPIC in [Burma], where the recent norm has been local communities informed that pipelines, mines, dams, and special economic zone projects will be displacing them just prior to their displacement.”

Foreign companies are still entering into joint ventures in Burma with little or no prior consultation with local communities or public risk assessments.

“The results have been environmental pollution and severe livelihood impacts, as we’ve seen around Thai operated mining sites in Dawei, and communities living along the Shwe gas and Myanmar-China crude oil pipelines,” Donowitz told The Irrawaddy.

IMF Forecasts 6.75 Percent GDP Growth, But 5.5 Percent Inflation

The International Monetary Fund said it will open an office in Burma “soon” to give technical help to the country’s economic development.

The offer was made at the end of a two-week assessment visit to Burma by an IMF team, led by the deputy head of the bank’s Asia and Pacific region, Matt Davies.

The team estimated that Burma’s economy would grow 6.75 percent during the current financial year, led by production and sale abroad of natural gas from offshore fields, said Davies at a media conference in Rangoon.

That would be slightly up on last year’s growth rate of 6.5 percent.

However, the downside is a prediction that inflation will grow by 5.5 percent, driven by money growth, real estate prices and wage increases.

The IMF said it anticipated progress on economic reform to continue this year, including a new law governing the role of the central bank.

“The authorities’ ambitious reform program is bearing fruit, with macroeconomic stability and high investor interest,” said Davies.

However, the IMF made no comment on the Naypidaw government’s continuing high expenditure by the Army, which this year will be around 12 percent of total government spending at US$2.4 billion.

Thais Top Nationality in Rangoon Airport Visitor Surge

More than a quarter of a million visitors landed at Burma’s biggest airport, in Rangoon, in the first four months of this year, said the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

The biggest single nationality group visiting via the airport was Thai, followed by Japanese.

And this is a trend likely to continue with a third Thai airline, Nok Air, planning to begin flights to Burma from September. Almost 15percent of the Rangoon arrivals, over 37,000 came from Thailand.

The total arrivals figure at Rangoon Airport of 253,136 is almost 44 percent more than for the same four-month period of 2012, said the ministry this week.

About 60 percent of the total came from within Asia but European arrivals In Rangoon in January-April numbered 67,460 visitors.

These figures exclude visitor arrivals at other airports and land border crossings, which for the whole of 2012 topped 1 million.

The total number of visitors in 2013, business as well as tourist, could well reach 1.5 million, according to the chairman of the Union of Myanmar Travel Association, Aung Myat Kyaw.

‘Task Force’ to Be Formed to Streamline Import-Export Rules

The Naypidaw government is planning to establish consultation groups with private businesses and the general public to gather ideas of cutting bureaucracy and red tape in import and export trade.

The groups will be formed by a “task force” to be set up by President Thein Sein’s Office Minister, Tin Naing Thein.

“Working groups will be formed between government departments and the private sector. The groups will discuss what needs to change and will report to the respective ministries,” Tin Naing Thein said in a statement.

“The ministries will evaluate and publicize the reports in newspapers to solicit the public’s opinions.”

The objective is to streamline export and import regulations to reduce delays. However, Eleven Weekly quoted management consultant Aung Tun Thet saying Burma “usually lays excellent plans, but is weak in implementation”.

No timetable for this process has been announced yet.

Foreign Fast Food Chains Jostle for Rangoon High Street Outlets

Visitors to Burma’s two biggest cities hoping for some original local cuisine face the prospect of finding the same fast-food as back home as more giant chain companies vie for main street outlets.

“Travellers who think they will be able to beat the fast food chains to [Burma] will need to think again. If the fast food chains are not already there they are clamouring at the door to set up shop as fast as possible,” said the travel trade magazine TTR Weekly.

It reports that chains from Singapore, South Korea, and Malaysia have either already opened shops or plan to soon. And they are expected to be followed by KFC, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut.

Competition for outlets in Burma is tipped to intensify after the country’s hosts an international annual fast-food industry fair, in November in Rangoon.

Your Thoughts …
William Boot

William Boot

Similar Picks:

Exodus: Tens of Thousands Flee as Myanmar Junta Troops Face Last Stand in Kokang
Burma

Exodus: Tens of Thousands Flee as Myanmar Junta Troops Face Last Stand in Kokang

by Hein Htoo Zan
November 28, 2023
98.5k

Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army troops are opening roads and pathways through forests for people to flee Kokang’s capital as...

Read moreDetails
Burning Alive in Myanmar: Two Resistance Fighters Executed in Public
Burma

Burning Alive in Myanmar: Two Resistance Fighters Executed in Public

by The Irrawaddy
February 7, 2024
90.4k

People’s Defense Force says junta troops told every household in the village to send one member to witness the double...

Read moreDetails
Another Entire Junta Battalion Raises the White Flag in Myanmar’s Northern Shan State
War Against the Junta

Another Entire Junta Battalion Raises the White Flag in Myanmar’s Northern Shan State

by The Irrawaddy
November 29, 2023
87.1k

Brotherhood Alliance member says it now has complete control of Kokang’s northernmost section after the junta’s Light Infantry Battalion 125...

Read moreDetails
Depleted Myanmar Military Urges Deserters to Return to Barracks
Burma

Depleted Myanmar Military Urges Deserters to Return to Barracks

by The Irrawaddy
December 4, 2023
59k

The junta said deserters would not be punished for minor crimes, highlighting the military’s shortage of troops as resistance offensives...

Read moreDetails
As Myanmar’s Military Stumbles, a Top General’s Dissapearance Fuels Intrigue
Burma

As Myanmar’s Military Stumbles, a Top General’s Dissapearance Fuels Intrigue

by The Irrawaddy
April 19, 2024
47k

The junta’s No. 2 has not been seen in public since April 3, sparking rumors that he was either gravely...

Read moreDetails
Enter the Dragon, Exit the Junta: Myanmar’s Brotherhood Alliance makes Chinese New Year Vow
Burma

Enter the Dragon, Exit the Junta: Myanmar’s Brotherhood Alliance makes Chinese New Year Vow

by The Irrawaddy
February 12, 2024
44.8k

Ethnic armed grouping says it will continue Operation 1027 offensive until goal of ousting the junta is achieved. 

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
Singapore Forum Seeks Spratlys Options

Singapore Forum Seeks Spratlys Options

Pathein Air Force Officer Charged After Attack on Couple

Pathein Air Force Officer Charged After Attack on Couple

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

What the ‘Snake Charmer’ Analogy Gets Wrong About Myanmar

What the ‘Snake Charmer’ Analogy Gets Wrong About Myanmar

4 days ago
1.5k
Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

1 week ago
3.5k

Most Read

  • Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Protecting Irrawaddy Flotilla Kill 20

    Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Protecting Irrawaddy Flotilla Kill 20

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • More Than 20,000 Displaced As Myanmar Junta Burns Homes Around World Heritage Site

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Using Conscripts as Cannon Fodder, Defectors Say

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Indian Top Brass Visit Myanmar After Cross-Border Drone Attack

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta’s Recapture of Nawnghkio Shows Strategic Missteps by TNLA

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.