Health and ICT

Title: Health and ICT- ICT Talk Online panel discussion

Date: 27 September 2020, 1:00PM- 3:00PM

Panelists:

  • Dr. Khin Khin Gyi (Director, Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health and Sports)
  • Dr. Htun Thura Thet ( Founder & CEO , Myanmar Information Technology Ptd Ltd.)
  • Dr. Tin Aung Kyaw ( Assistant Director , Yangon General Hospital)
  • Dr. Htet Zan Lin ( CEO , OnDoctor Company Limited)

Moderator: Ko Zayar Phyo ( Managing Director, Techno Visions)

Contact address: https://www.facebook.com/MCIA.Yangon/

Organizer: MICA-Yangon

Commerce ministry negotiates with Saudi Arabia for export potential, including fishery products

The Ministry of Commerce has called for export potential with Myanmar products to Saudi Arabia’s market. The ministry recently negotiated with Saudi Arabian ambassador to Myanmar concerning the items identified as export potential, including honey, fish, prawn, fishery products. At present, Saudi Arabia has received Myanmar’s answers to the queries they sent regarding the new regulations. Suppose the cold storages and processing companies are found to be in accordance with the fishery import standards of Saudi Arabia. In that case, Myanmar can resume exports of the fishery products to Saudi Arabia. Myanmar exports to Saudi Arabia accounted for 30 per cent of its farm-raised fish exports and 40 per cent of rohu exports and 60 per cent of river catfish. Earlier, Myanmar yearly earned estimated US$20-35 million from fishery products exports to Saudi Arabia.

Myanmar exports marine products, such as fish, prawns, and crabs, to markets in 40 countries, including China, Saudi Arabia, the US, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and countries in the European Union. Additionally, the wild-caught fish are sent to the UK, Italy, France, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Sweden, Greece, Belgium, and Germany markets. Export earnings from the fisheries sector during the period between 1 October and 11 September in the 2019-2020 financial year reached US$810.99 million, an increase of $119.8 million from the year-ago period, according to statistics released by the Commerce Ministry. Myanmar’s fisheries sector is hit hard by the coronavirus fallouts and the Ministry of Commerce is endeavouring to explore more fish and seafood foreign market to effectively mitigate the impacts caused by the pandemic, Yangon Region Fisheries Department stated. The MFF is making concerted efforts to increase marine export earnings by developing fish farming lakes which meet international standards and adopting advanced fishing techniques.

Myanmar’s economy is more dependent on agricultural sector to a large extent. Also, fisheries sector contributes a lot to the national gross domestic product (GDP). Its fishery production including shrimps and saltwater and freshwater fish are far better than the regional countries. If the country can boost processing technology, it will contribute to the country’s economy and earn more income for those stakeholders in the supply chain.There are 480,000 acres of fish and prawn breeding farms across the country and more than 120 cold-storage facilities in Myanmar. Myanmar exported 340,000 tonnes of fishery products worth $530 million in the 2013-2014FY, 330,000 tonnes worth $480 million in the 2014-2015FY, 360,000 tonnes worth $500 million in the 2015-2016FY, 430,000 tonnes worth $600 million in the 2016-2017FY, 560,000 tonnes worth $700 million in the 2017-2018FY, and over 580,000 tonnes worth $728.257 million in the 2018-2019FY, according to the Commerce Ministry. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

9-thilawa

Thilawa SEZ has invested more than $ 1,360 million in 47 months, the largest in the manufacturing sector with over $ 1,170 million

Thilawa SEZ has invested more than $ 1,360 million in 47 months, with the manufacturing sector accounting for more than $ 1,170 million, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration. According to the SEZ law, Thilawa SEZ received $ 1,366.621 million in foreign investment in 47 months and $ 1,177.451 million in the manufacturing sector. More than $ 1.9 billion has been invested by 111 international companies in Thilawa SEZ, 18 of which are expanding their business, according to Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings Pubilc Co., Ltd.

According to the Myanmar Investment Commission, a total of $ 116.557 million has been invested in the Thilawa SEZ under the SEZ law, including an increase in investment in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year. After COVID-19, there will be opportunities to attract more Japanese investment in addition to Japanese investment in Thilawa SEZ. In addition to Japanese investment in the Thilawa SEZ, there are potential opportunities for further international investment in the COVID-19 beyond. The activities of Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings Public Co., Ltd. in the post-COVID-19 rehabilitation program in our country will play a key role in solving the post-COVID-19 challenges and problems.

113 companies from 18 countries are currently investing in the Thilawa SEZ, which could employ more than 10,000 workers. Thilawa SEZ is currently one of the best industrial zones in Myanmar and is in a position to enjoy the opportunities and benefits of increased productivity. Thilawa SEZ will continue to invite investors as a perfect industrial zone. The industrial zone sector will not be affected by the COVID-19 crisis, but revenue may fall temporarily in the second half of 2020, according to the 2019 Annual Report of Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings Public Co. Ltd. The annual report and financial statements for this year are for the fiscal year 2019, which is from April to September 2019, for the six-month period instead of the regular 12-month period. The net profit for the current six-month period was 8.275 billion kyats, compared to 15.61 billion kyats in the previous 12 months.

Source: Daily Eleven

Myanmar trade volumes rise despite COVID-19

Myanmar’s foreign trade volumes have reached about US$34 billion as of August, a month before the closing of fiscal 2019-20 on September 30. The country registered higher trading activity despite COVID-19. Exports hit US$16.9 billion, while imports have exceed US$17.6 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of around US$1.5 billion for the fiscal year. In comparison, Myanmar recorded a trade of around US$950 million in fiscal 2018-19, with total trade volumes surpassing US$31.9 billion for the period.

The bulk of exports comprised of finished and manufactured goods, followed by agriculture produce and mined resources and minerals. Imports comprised of capital goods such as equipment, vehicles and machinery, as well as other raw materials and commodities. The country’s top trading countries are China, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, India, the US, Indonesia, Korea and Vietnam. The government received 28pc of total export revenues, while the remaining income was generated by the private sector. Private businesses also contributed to the bulk of total imports.

Border trade has taken a hit in recent weeks through. Trade at Tachileik, Shan State, the border town between Myanmar and Thailand, recently came to a standstill now that Thai authorities are allowing just six Myanmar vehicles to enter Mae Sai in Thailand. The move was announced and made effective by Thai authorities on September 17 as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Trade between Myanmar and China has also faced disruptions after Ruili was placed under lockdown on September 15 following the detection of COVID-19 in the city. Ruili is the major border crossing between China and Myanmar near Muse in Shan State.

Source: Myanmar Times