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Relief cash fund of Social Security Board given to insured workers, employees

The Social Security Board is providing its COVID-19 fund to the insured employees from the private owned factories, workplaces and businesses. As the 1st Wave of COVID-19 fund , the number of (825,106) insured workers and employees are given K20,763.866 million as the benefit from social security fund from 13-5-2020 to 19-1-2021. For the 2nd Wave, the number of (704,652) insured workers and employees are given K44,574.801 million from 2-10-2020 to 19-1-2021.

Moreover, for (796) insured persons in quarantine centre have received K67.586 million from 28-3-2020 to 19-1-2021. Besides, (3,620) insured pregnant employees have received K555.515 million from 22-4-2020 to 19-1-2021. In total, the Social Security Board has given a total of (1,534,174) insured workers and employees to K65,961.768 million.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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In November 2020, the second wave of COVID-19 closed car showrooms and car factories, leaving no brand new car sales and production

In November 2020, the second wave of the COVID-19 epidemic closed car showrooms and manufacturing plants in Myanmar, leaving no brand new car sales or production, according to regional car sales and production data released by the ASEAN Automotive Federation. The ASEAN market as a whole saw sales of 256,158 new cars in November 2020, down 13.9 percent from the same period last year, with Myanmar down 100 percent. In 2017, 8225 brand new cars were sold in Myanmar, more than 97% more than in 2016. In 2018, there were 9,299 vehicles compared to the same period in 2017. Sales increased by 113% to 17,524 vehicles in 2018.

In the Myanmar market, 4,392 vehicles were sold in 2019 compared to 2018, with 21,916 new cars (an increase of 25.1%). In January 2020, 2034 new cars; In February, 2,286 vehicles; 1979 were sold in March, and showrooms closed in April due to the first wave of COVID-19. 1253 in May; 1985 in June; 2258 vehicles in July; In August, 2,238 vehicles were sold. Due to the second wave of COVID-19, only about half of the showrooms opened in September, selling only 1,112 units, and closed again in October and November. In 2016, 4,168 new cars were sold in Myanmar. In 2018, more than 17,000 new cars were sold, and in 2019, nearly 22,000 new cars were sold. 

Myanmar is an emerging market for the sale and production of new cars, and growth is expected to continue year on year. Despite the continuous growth of new car production in Myanmar, as well as the growth of new car sales, car assembly production declined during the COVID-19 period. In January 2020, 1,459 vehicles; 1388 in February; In March, 1214 units were produced, and in April, the first wave of COVID-19 shut down car factories. 703 in May; 1313 vehicles in June; In July, 1,438 vehicles; In August, 1,558 vehicles were produced. Due to the second wave of COVID-19, the plant was operational for about half a month in September, producing only 1,587 units, and in October and November, the second wave of COVID-19 shut down car factories. 

Six ASEAN countries, including Myanmar, are involved in the production of new car assemblies. Myanmar will increase by more than 320% in 2017; In 2018, it will be close to 150 percent. In 2019, it increased by more than 24%. The Asean market as a whole saw 325,242 new car assemblies in November 2020, down 4.6 percent from the same period last year, and Myanmar was down 100 percent from the same period last year. The number of new cars assembled in Myanmar in 2017 was 4,930, an increase of 3,788 units from 2016, an increase of 328%. In 2018, 12,292 cars were assembled, an increase of 7,362 from the previous year, an increase of 149%. In 2019, 15,496 cars were assembled, an increase of 3,204 from the previous year, an increase of 26%.

Source: Daily Eleven

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Chinese traders buying Myanmar cattle on black market

According to the Mandalay Region Cattle Exporters Association, China has been purchasing cattle from Myanmar on the black market. Chinese traders are buying cattle on black markets (Lweje, Chinshwehaw and Wa border areas). However, about 15,000 heads have stranded in Muse for shipment to China through a legitimate route. Chinese traders keep purchasing cattle through illegitimate channels via Lweje, Chinshwehaw and Wa border areas. They do not want cattle in Muse, which is a legitimate trade route. This action is like supporting the black market instead confirmed by the Chairperson of the Mandalay Region Cattle Exporters Association.

Around 2,000 heads of cattle are daily traded on black markets, he continued. As a result of this, some traders brought the cattle from Muse back to their home owing to the burden of high feedstuff cost and labour wages. However, some are still waiting for a positive outcome from the bilateral negotiation on cattle export, which will be held in January-end. Moreover, some intentionally stated that they would return to the original designated place but conduct illegal trade in border areas. Some traders from Muse turn to black-market instead of going back to home. Regarding cattle exports via Muse, the trading system needs to be changed. Failure to do so cannot avoid a similar event in future. Price manipulation and financial fraud problems will keep arising, said by Myanmar Livestock Federation’s vice-chair.


Such kind of problems will happen as they are carrying out trade in the border area without having trade agreement. They should have made the deal in advance like goat exporters. This can avoid the scam and goods stuck in the border area. The trade hub should have been in Mandalay or Shan State rather than Muse border. It’d be better if the department concerned grants licence for delivering goods to the border after trade deal. About 15,000 heads of cattle, owned by 150 companies, are now stranded in Muse border as China stopped purchasing cattle. The labour wages and feedstuff cost burden them. It costs K400,000-600,000 to take care of 100 heads of cattle every day. For legitimate trade, China permits live cattle import only after ensuring the cattle is free from 20 diseases including Foot and Mouth Disease, along with vaccination certificates, health certificates, and farming registration certificates.

Therefore, the officials concerned from the two countries are negotiating this. Earlier, 1,500-2,000 heads of cattle were daily traded through Muse border. China halted cattle trade with China stepping up border control as precautionary measures for the COVID-19 and other reasons, the association stated. Additionally, Myanmar’s live cattle export relies heavily on the China market due to a reasonable price. However, Myanmar has other external markets such as Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Bangladesh.
The Ministry of Commerce grants a permit to each company for 100 cattle export, and the pass is valid for three months. The companies can be taken legal actions if they do not sell the cattle during a three-month period.
Live cattle export was allowed in late 2017, to eradicate illegal exports, creating more opportunities for breeders and promoting their interests.
Myanmar can yearly export around 500,000 heads of cattle beyond domestic consumption, the association stated.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar’s first-ever Yangon Waste to Energy Plant generates 760 kW of electricity daily

Myanmar’s first-ever Yangon Waste to Energy Plant has been built with minimal environmental impact, and the plant generates 760 kilowatts of electricity per day, according to the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC). In May 2015, the Pollution Control and Cleaning Department of YCDC cooperated with the JFE Engineering, which is commissioned by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, to build the plant. The plant is located on 15 acres of land near Hlawkar Road in Shwepyitha Township, Yangon, and the project cost US$16 million. The plant uses the heat generated by burning the garbage (waste) to generate electricity. Since 7 April 2017, the plant received about 60 tonnes of waste from Mingaladon Township. It incinerated the waste, generating 760 kilowatts of electricity daily.

Out of the 760 kilowatts, about 400 kilowatts of electricity have been used to operate the plant and the remaining 360 kilowatts are fed into YESC’s National Grid. The Yangon Waste to Energy Plant employs 91 workers including officials, engineers and garbage collection workers. For annual maintenance, the plant usually stops its operations for about 40 days a year, said by a member of the YCDC. It is the first-ever Waste to Energy Plant in Myanmar, and air pollution will be kept to a minimum. The air pollution indicators are in line with international air pollution standards. The Waste Yard can handle about 200 tonnes of waste in three days. However, the plant can only incinerate 60 tonnes of waste a day. Hence, the plant handles only 60 tonnes of waste from Mingaladon Township.

In fact, Yangon produces about 2,500 to 2,700 tonnes of garbage daily, so we are working hard to build more Waste to Energy Plants to generate more electricity. They wanted to send their engineering staff to Japan to receive technological training there. But it would be more expensive to send our staff to Japan. So, they brought in Japanese experts to work in the plant and to help their staff gain technological knowledge. Over the past four years, the skills and knowledge of their staff have improved significantly. Garbage collection workers are always on duty in the stinking factory environment, so they are constantly encouraging them to be motivated. Only then, they will be able to work in the plant for the long term. Up to 90 per cent of the waste can be disposed of at the Yangon Waste to Energy Plant, and 10 per cent of the waste is properly disposed of at Kyu Chaung Cemetery in Shwepyitha Township, according to YCDC.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar