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Over the last five fiscal years, Myanmar has allowed more than 11,290 billion kyats in investment, the largest in the real estate sector

In the last five fiscal years, more than 11,290 billion kyat was allowed to be invested by Myanmar nationals, the largest in the real estate sector, according to figures released by the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). From the 2016-2017 financial year to 2021; As of the end of April, 623 Myanmar citizens were allowed to invest in the field, with a total investment of 11,290.723 billion kyats. Myanmar citizens have access to invest heavily in 12 business sectors: real estate sector, services sector, manufacturing sector, transportation and communications, hotel and tourism, electricity sector, industrial zone sector, livestock and fisheries, construction sector, mining sector, agriculture sector and oil and gas sector.

During that period, 41 businesses were allowed to invest more than 3,070 billion kyats in the real estate sector. It is the largest with over 27% of total Myanmar investment. In the manufacturing sector, 228 businesses are the second largest investors with over 2,570 billion kyats. In the service sector, 147 businesses invested nearly 1,880 billion kyats, the third largest. 17 investments in transportation and telecommunications over 1,150 billion kyats; More than 1,130 billion kyats in 115 businesses in the hotel and tourism sector; 17 projects in the electricity sector over 440 billion kyats; Investment in three industries in the industrial zone sector is over 320 billion kyats. 

In the livestock and fisheries sector, 30 businesses have invested more than 350 billion kyats. About 230 billion kyats invested in the construction sector; Investment in the mining sector is over 75 billion kyats. More than 40 billion kyats invested in agriculture; The investment in the oil and gas sector is over 13 billion kyats. According to the annual investment volume of Myanmar citizens, in the 2016-2017 financial year, 1566350.282 million kyats; 36733485.671 million in the 2017-2018 financial year; In the 2018-2019 financial year, 1744585.199 million kyats. 546,039.124 million kyats between April 2019 and September 2019 (budget period); In the 2019-2020 fiscal year, it was 2619395.628 million kyats, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration.

Source: Daily Eleven

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Muse border market sees a dip in rice export price

The prices of rice and broken rice exported to China via the Muse land border are falling, said Vice-Chair U Min Thein of the Muse Rice Wholesale Centre. In early April, the broken rice fetched 120 Yuan per bag. The low-quality rice was priced 137-142 Yuan per bag depending on varieties (Ngasein, Thukha and Shintong). Over one month later, the price dipped to 117 Yuan for broken rice and 128-137 Yuan for other rice varieties in May, according to Muse Rice Wholesale Centre. China Customs granted licences to 47 Myanmar companies on 26 February 2021 to legally export the rice to China through Muse land border this year.

The authorized companies for rice export to China increased this year as against last year. However, the permitted volume of rice for exports has not been confirmed yet, he added. Myanmar traders are delivering rice to China through the Muse border under new permits at present. Nevertheless, limited money withdrawal permitted by the private banks is disrupting the rice exports. Myanmar shipped more than 720,000 tonnes of rice and broken rice to foreign countries over Q1 (1 October and 15 January) of the current financial year 2020-2021 and earned over US$275 million, Myanmar Rice Federation stated. The border trade handled over 308,000 tonnes of rice, while maritime trade covered over 418,000 tonnes in Q1.

This year, Myanmar has shipped rice to 31 foreign markets so far. China is the leading buyer of Myanmar rice (with 340,000 tonnes), followed by the Philippines (36,000 tonnes) and Poland (14,000). Meanwhile, Myanmar exported broken rice mainly to China (210,000 tonnes), followed by Belgium (46,000 tonnes) and Thailand (6,300 tonnes). Broken rice was placed in 16 foreign markets. Weather changes affected irrigation water resource availability in agriculture. Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) Chair U Ye Min Aung said that as a result, Myanmar set rice export target at only 2 million tonnes in the current FY as summer paddy growing acreage drops. Myanmar generated over $800 million from rice exports in the previous FY2019-2020 ended 30 September, with an estimated export volume of over 2.5 million tonnes. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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Sesame seeds export tops US$272.79 mln in five months

Myanmar’s sesame seeds export has earned US$272.79 million in five months (Oct-Feb) of the current financial year2020-2021, according to data released by Myanmar Customs Department. The price of sesame seeds is rising a bit for now owing to the appreciation of the dollar. At present, the black sesame seeds (Samone variety) fetched K120,000-148,000 per bag, and white sesame seeds were priced at K115,000-120,000 per bag, Mandalay depot stated.
Last year, the sesame prices dropped by over 20 per cent compared with the prices in the previous years due to the COVID-19 negative impacts. Consequently, the growers do not make a large profit this year, said a trader from the Mandalay market.

Typically, Myanmar exports about 80 per cent of sesame production to foreign markets. China is a leading buyer of Myanmar sesame. It is also shipped to markets in Japan, South Korea, China (Taipei), the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, and Poland, among the EU countries. The EU markets prefer organic-farming sesame seeds from Myanmar, said an official from the Trade Promotion Organization. Japan prefers Myanmar black sesame seeds, cultivated under good agricultural practices (GAP), and purchases them after a quality assessment. Black sesame seeds from Myanmar are also exported to South Korea and Japan. Meanwhile, China buys various coloured sesame seeds from the country. This year, Japan has not purchased Myanmar’s sesame yet.

Sesame is cultivated in the country throughout the year. Magway Region, which has gained a reputation as the oil pot of Myanmar, is the primary producer of sesame seeds. The seeds are also grown in Mandalay and Sagaing regions. Of the cooking oil crops grown in Myanmar, the acreage under sesame seed is the highest, accounting for 51.3 per cent of the overall oil crop plantation. The volume of sesame exports has registered over 96,000 metric tonnes worth $130 million in the financial year 2015-2016, $100,000 tonnes worth $145 million in the FY2016-2017, 120,000 tonnes worth $147 million in the FY2017-2018, 33,900 tonnes valued at $43.8 million in the 2018 mini-budget period, 125,800 tonnes worth $212.5 million in the FY2018-2019 and over 150,000 tonnes of sesame worth $240 million in the previous FY2019-2020. 

Source; The Global New Light of Myanmar