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MCC ready to provide COVID treatment for 250 patients

Myanmar Convention Centre (MCC) has the facilities made ready to provide treatment for 250 COVID-19 patients on Mindhamma Road in Mayangon Township, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. In order to provide the cure for COVID-19 patients, MCC has already prepared the beds and supplies for the patients. The necessary medical team will also be assigned by the joint medical coordinating team of COVID-19 Prevention, Control and Treatment, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports.

Further, the authorities have supplied necessary things after monitoring the COVID-19 vaccination of the educational staff at MCC. At present, two hospitals are also carrying out preparation measures to hospitalize the COVID-19 positive patients. These two hospitals are the People’s Hospital in Hlinethaya township and the People’s hospital in Shwepyitha township. Hlinethaya township hospital will be able to accommodate 100 patients and has made ready the essential things such as oxygen for 50 patients while Shwelinpan civil hospital will be able to accommodate 50 patients.

The authorities are also having the medical examinations conducted on all the visitors who will come from the stay home townships to the Yangon region to make sure whether they have COVID-19 or not. Currently, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 has increased in Lashio. With the essential further control of spreading of COVID-19, the instructions, orders and notifications of the union level organizations and the relevant ministries released on 31 May 2021 was extended to 30 June 2021. So far, Myanmar has reported a total of 148,617 cases, with 3,265 deaths and 133,753 recoveries as of 22 June 2021.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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Japan ranks second-largest foreign investor in Myanmar

Following the UK moving up a rank with the largest investments made last month, Japan became the second-largest source of foreign direct investments into Myanmar in the past eight months (Oct-May) of the current financial year 2020-2021, according to data released by the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). Last month, the UK-listed enterprise brought in large investments of $2.5 million and became the top source of FDI in Myanmar in the past eight months, DICA’s statistics indicated.

Japan stood as the second-largest investors this FY with an estimated capital of $518.76 million from three projects, followed by Singapore investing $428.336 million in Myanmar. Japan focuses more on responsible businesses. Therefore, it thoughtfully considers and learns before they make investments, DICA stated. Additionally, Thilawa Special Economic Zone is a symbol of development in Japan’s investments in Myanmar. Besides, Japan is a development partner of Myanmar.

Japan has been providing comprehensive support in developing the infrastructure including railway, road, and research in Myanmar through the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Since 2016-2017FY, the FDI of over $449.367 million has flowed into the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) from 15 Japanese businesses, under the Special Economic Zone Law. Japan’s investment in Myanmar stood at $768.456 million in the last FY2019-2020, $42.77 million in the 2018-2019FY, $134.5 million in the 2018 mini-budget period (April-September), $384 million in the 2017-2018FY, $60 million in the 2016-2017FY and $219.79 million in the2015-2016FY, respectively, the DICA’s data showed.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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Thailand remains Myanmar’s top trading partner among regional countries in H1

Neighbouring Thailand is Myanmar’s major trading partner, which accounts for US$2.45 billion in the first half (October-March) of the current financial year 2020-2021, the statistics issued by the Central Statistical Organization under the Ministry of Planning and Finance indicated. The ministry reported that exports surpassed imports in trade with Thailand, with exports reaching over $1.55 billion and imports valued at over $901 million. Thailand has been Myanmar’s largest trade partner among the regional countries, followed by Singapore and Malaysia.

Thailand accounted for 18.48 per cent of total trade in 2016-2017 FY with an estimated trade value of US$4.6 billion, 19.17 pc in 2017-2018FY with a trade value of $5.57 billion, 40.38 pc in 2018-2019FY with $5.46 billion and over 40 pc in 2019-2020 FY with $5.117 billion respectively. Exports of natural gas from the Taninthayi Region contributed to the enormous increase in border trade with Thailand in the previous years. Last year, corn exports to Thailand also rose significantly as well, the Ministry of Commerce stated. Myanmar primarily exports natural gas, fishery products, coal, tin concentrate (SN 71.58 per cent), coconut (fresh and dry), beans, corns, bamboo shoots, sesame seeds, garment, footwear, plywood and veneer, broken rice and other commodities to Thailand.

It imports capital goods such as machinery, raw industrial goods such as cement and fertilizers, and consumer goods such as cosmetics, edible vegetable oil and food products from the neighbouring country. Myanmar is carrying out border trade with the neighbouring country Thailand through Tachilek, Myawady, Myeik, Mawtaung, Hteekhee, Kawthoung and Meisei border areas respectively. Among them, Myawady performed the largest trade in border trade with Thailand, followed by Hteekhee. Nevertheless, the trading activity via border is sluggish for now amid the coronavirus resurgences. Consequently, the trade via land border sharply fell in the current FY (2020-2021) as against last year. Apart from its main trade partner China, Myanmar’s external trade was mostly carried out with the regional trade partners.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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Myanmar exports about 20,000 bags of rice to China via Bhamo-Lwejel route

Myanmar daily ships about 20,000 bags of rice to China through the Bhamo-Lwejel route, said U Min Thein, vice-chair of Muse Rice Wholesale Centre. Man Wein, a major border crossing between Myanmar and China for rice exports, came to an abrupt halt from 30 March, following the COVID-19 detection in the border.

As a result of this, the export channel was shifted to the Bhamo-Lwejel route, he continued. The rice is delivered from Mandalay to Bhamo, Kachin State by ship and sent to Lwejel, which is 59 miles away from Bhamo by truck. Lwejel border is next to China, U Min Thein said. Previously, it took about a month to China via the Mandalay-Muse route due to traffic congestion.

This new trade channel cut both the shipping time as well as the cost, he added. Man Wein border post has remained close even after two and half months. At present, Myanmar has been conducting border trade with China through Muse, Lwejel, Chinshwehaw, Kampaiti and Kengtung border posts. Muse border performed the best among them, according to the statistics released by the Trade Department under the Ministry of Commerce. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar