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Myanmar receives 1 million doses of Sinovac vaccine donated by China

The People’s Republic of China donated one million doses of the Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine to Myanmar yesterday. The donation ceremony was held through videoconferencing and attended by Union Minister for Health Dr Thet Khaing Win, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Chen Hai and officials.

The Union Minister expressed words of appreciation for the donation at the ceremony and it was concluded in the evening after discussions on issues such as cooperation for COVID-19 immunization, increased monitoring and deployment of health workers along the border, including in Shan State and Kachin State, to reopen the border trade posts and to ensure timely treatment, and implementation of the Myanmar Centre of Disease Control supported by China and the establishment of a training school for healthcare workers.

With the donated one million doses of the vaccine and another one million doses purchased from China, which both arrived yesterday, the vaccination against COVID-19 will be continued for the students over the age of 12 across Myanmar. These vaccines will be distributed to regions and states based on the requirement, via road transport or with the helpof the Tatmadaw (Air) and Myanmar airways by maintaining the cold chain.

As of 11 November 2021, 9.3 million people have been fully vaccinated while 5.1 million people have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Myanmar, making the total dose 23.7 million. As a measure to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19, The Ministry of Health is administering the COVID-19 vaccines to the target groups. The people are urged to receive the COVID-19 vaccines, and those who have already received the first dose are encouraged to go to the nearest immunization centre and receive the second dose on the scheduled immunization date or near the due date, as well as to actively participate in the vaccination activities.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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YRIC endorses 2 foreign projects, 2 domestic projects to create 2,753 jobs

The Yangon Region Investment Committee (YRIC) endorsed two foreign enterprises and two domestic businesses in the manufacturing sector, with an estimated capital of US$6.099 million and K8.64 billion. Those enterprises are to create 2,753 jobs for the residents, as per the YRIC’s video conferencing convened recently. Yangon Region Chief Minister U Hla Soe, who also acts as chairman of YRIC, the committee members and the investors joined the video conferencing to ensure the foreign capital inflow during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Those enterprises will execute manufacturing of freshwater and saltwater fish and prawn on contract processing system and normal system, and manufacturing of garment and production of plastic on Cutting-Making and Packaging (CMP) basis. Furthermore, the committee members met with 16 companies to discuss the general matters of investment proposals. To simplify the verification of investment projects, the Myanmar Investment Law allows the region and state Investment Committees to grant permissions for local and foreign proposals, where the initial investment does not exceed K6 billion, or $5 million.

The investors can inquire about the investment and submit the proposal by dialling (01-658263 and 01-658264) of YRIC located on Kaba Aye Road, Yankin Township. The proposals worth above K6 billion can contact the Myanmar Investment Commission located on Thitsar Road, Yankin Township via 01-658102 and 01-658103, YRIC stated. The manufacturing sector has attracted the most foreign investments in Yangon Region, with enterprises engaging in the production of pharmaceuticals, vehicles, container boxes, and garments on a Cutting, Making, and Packing (CMP) basis. To date, foreign investments from China, Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Viet Nam, India, China (Taipei), Malaysia, the British Virgin Islands and Seychelles are arriving in the region.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Ministry of Health

Order No 483/2021

8th Waxing of Tazaungmon 1383 ME
11 November 2021

The Ministry of Health hereby announced the order by exercising the authority stipulated in Sub-Section (b) of Section 21 of the Prevention and Control of Communicable Diseases Law.

  1. The Ministry of Health has taken preventive measures against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in real-time. Therefore, the orders were issued for the people from some townships of Nay Pyi Taw, regions and states to stay at home in order to more effectively control the infection of the pandemic.
  2. However, as the people from these townships exactly abide by the disciplines of preventing the COVID-19, further finding of confirmed patients within 14 days, declining of group-wise infection among the patients, the emphasis of the relevant governments, organizations and people in raising the health awareness during the stay-at-home period, further finding of confirmed patients and contact persons in laboratory tests within 14 days, and active participation of township administration bodies, health staff, those from relevant departments and organizations and volunteers as well as the people in the prevention and control of the pandemic were seen.
  3. Hence, the people residing in the following townships of the respective regions and states were removed from the list of Stay-at-Home programmes as of 4 am on 12-11-2021.
    (a) Taninthayi Region
    (1) Dawei Township
    (2) Myeik Township
    (b) Bago Region
    (1) Ottwin Township
    (2) Kawa Township
    (3) DaikU Township
    (4) Pyay Township
    (5) Nattalin Township
    (c) Magway Region
    (1) Pakokku Township
    (2) Salin Township
    (d) Mandalay Region
    (1) Wundwin Township
    (e) Mon State
    (1) Mawlamyine Township
    (2) Thanbyuzayat Township
    (f) Yangon Region
    (1) Hmawby Township
    (2) Dagon Township
    (g) Ayeyawady Region
    (1) Kangyidaunt township
    (2) Kyonpyaw Township
    (3) Thaboung Township
  4. The people must strictly abide by the disciplines related to the prevention and control of the COVID-19 issued by the Ministry of Health after deleting these townships from the list of stay-at-home programmes.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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Announcement of COVID-19 diagnostic programme for domestic passengers

The third wave of the COVID-19 outbreak has been brought under control due to the rapid pace of treatment, and the restrictions on disease control have been gradually eased. For the convenience of domestic passengers, RDT can be used to detect the presence of the COVID-19 virus within 48 hours prior to departure at the time of check-in:
(A) No more than 48 hours before departure, COVID-19 will be screened daily from 9:00 am to 11:00 am and from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the offices of the relevant Township Public Health Department where the airport is located.
(B) In addition, laboratory tests can be performed at fixed rates at private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres permitted by the Ministry of Health in line with the procedures.

Ministry of Health
Date: 10 November 2021

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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Republic of the Union of Myanmar

Central Bank of Myanmar
Notification No 46/2021

7th Waxing of Tazaungmon 1383 ME
10 November 2021

The Central Bank of Myanmar has amended paragraph 35 of the Foreign Exchange Management Regulations exercising the power stipulated in Section 49-A of the Foreign Exchange Management Law with the approval of the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar as follows: –
“Paragraph – the holder of a foreign currency trading licence shall inspect whether the exporters receive export earnings within three months from the date of the shipment of the goods accordingly to the evidence of the actual exports.”

Than Nyein
Governor
Central Bank of Myanmar

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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Imports down by $120 mln last month, reports MoC

The value of Myanmar’s imports between 1 and 29 October of the current mini-budget period 2021-2022 (October-March) sank to $1 billion, which reflects a drop of $121.98 million compared to the year-ago period, the Ministry of Commerce’s data indicated. The import value stood at US$1.12 billion the last FY2020-2021. The imports of capital goods declined last month, while the other import groups (consumer, intermediate goods, and CMP businesses) witnessed a slight increase.

Last month, capital goods, such as auto parts, vehicles, machines, steel, and aeroplane parts were brought into the country. Their import value was estimated at $170.18 million. The figurewas over $229.5 million lower than those values registered in the same period of the previous FY. Meanwhile, Myanmar imported consumer products worth $262.38 million, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and palm oil. The imports of consumer products showed a slight decrease of $3 million compared with the same period in the previous FY.

Intermediate goods make up the largest share of Myanmar’s imports, with petroleum products and plastic raw materials being the main import items. This year, imports of raw materials climbed up to $413 million from $326.4 million registered during the year-ago period. During the same period, raw materials worth over $153 million were also imported for the Cut-Make-Pack (CMP) garment sector, showing an increase of $26.48 million compared with last FY. The top 10 import countries to Myanmar are China, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Viet Nam, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the US, as per data of the Ministry of Commerce.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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Rubber price unlikely to fall on rising demand, Kyat depreciation

The price of rubber is unlikely to drop as long as there is a steady demand and Kyat devaluation against the US dollar continues, according to rubber traders. The rubber was offered at a minimum price of K700-K800 per pound in the previous years, whereas it is priced at about K970-K980 per pound at present. The price hit above K1,000 per pound in early October 2020. Then, it dipped slightly owing to the Kyat revaluation in the local forex market. Despite the drop in rubber price, the prices of cement, acid and other inputs used in rubber processing are rising, traders said.

Chinese authorities from Yunnan Province, which is close to Myanmar’s Chinshwehaw border in Shan State, gave the go-ahead to import the four industrial crops from Myanmar, including sugarcane, rubber, tragacanth gum and cotton. As a result of this, the trade channel is reopened again. The rubber price is possible to fluctuate around K1,000 per pound. China usually purchases Local 3 and RSS 5 varieties which are mainly produced in Myanmar, a trader shared an opinion. The rubber-tapping season started in September and the natural rubber is flowing into the market.

However, the price is not possible to fall to K700-K800 per pound on account of growing demand and Kyat depreciation on the US dollar. Rubber is primarily produced in Mon and Kayin states and Taninthayi, Bago, and Yangon regions in Myanmar. As per the 2018-2019 rubber season’s data, there are over 1.628 million acres of rubber plantations in Myanmar, with Mon State accounting for 497,153 acres, followed by Taninthayi Region with 348,344 acres and Kayin State with 270,760 acres. About 300,000 tonnes of rubber is produced annually across the country. Seventy per cent of rubber produced in Myanmar goes to China. It is also shipped to Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Viet Nam, the Republic of Korea, India, Japan, and other countries, according to the Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association. Myanmar’s rubber export generated more than US$425.25 million as of August (October-August) of the financial year 2020-2021.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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Trade deficit shrinks to US$46.6 mln over eight months

Myanmar’s trade gap has significantly narrowed to US$46.6 million between 1 and 29 October of the current mini-budget period 2021-2022 (Oct-Mar) from just $63.05 billion registered in the corresponding period of the 2020-2021 FY, according to data provided by the Ministry of Commerce. The decrease in trade deficit is attributed to the drastic drop in imports in October 2021. Last month, Myanmar’s external trade plummeted to $1.95 billion from $2.18 billion recorded in the year-ago period. While exports were estimated at $953.37 million, imports were valued relatively high at $10 billion this mini-budget period.

Compared to the FY 2020- 2021, exports showed a drop of over $105.59 million, while imports fell by $121.9 million. Myanmar witnessed a slump in exports and imports triggered by the coronavirus impacts. Myanmar’s maritime trade climbed up yet the country witnessed drop in border trade amid the coronavirus impacts and political changes. The neighbouring countries tighten the border security and restrict the trading in certain border areas. Myanmar exports agricultural products, animal products, minerals, forest products, and finished industrial goods, while it imports capital goods, raw industrial materials, and consumer goods.

The country’s export sector relies much on the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. The Ministry of Commerce is trying to reduce the trade deficit by screening luxury import items while boosting exports. The country mainly imports essential goods, construction materials, capital goods, hygienic material and supporting products for export promotion and the import substitution. Myanmar’s trade deficit was pegged at $1.3 billion in the 2019-2020 FY, $1.14 billion in the 2018-2019 FY, $1.3 billion in the previous mini-budget period (April-September, 2018), $3.9 billion in the 2017-2018 FY, $5.3 billion in the 2016-2017 FY, and $5.4 billion in the 2015-2016 FY, according to statistics released by the Central Statistical Organization.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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4 million doses of Sinopharm vaccine in sixth batch from China arrives in Yangon

OF 24 million doses of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines purchased from the People’s Republic of China, the last 4 million doses arrived at the Yangon International Airport yesterday and were received by the team led by the head of Yangon Region Medical Services/ Public Health Departments. These vaccines will be distributed to regions and states based on the requirement, via road transport or with the help of the Tatmadaw (Air) and Myanmar airways by maintaining the cold chain.

With the newly arrived COVID-19 vaccines and the existing ones, about 50 per cent of the target groups will be fully vaccinated twice by December 2021, and it is also reported that arrangements are being made to get more vaccines available to the remaining population. As of 6 November 2021, 8.24 million people have been fully vaccinated while 5.65 million people have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in respective regions and states in Myanmar, making the total dose 22.15 million.

As a measure to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19, the Ministry of Health is administering the COVID-19 vaccines to the target groups. The people are urged to receive the COVID-19 vaccines, and those who have already received the first dose are encouraged to go to the nearest immunization centres and received the second dose on the scheduled immunization date or near the due date, as well as to actively participate in the vaccination activities.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Fuel oil imported with CBM exchange rate to distribute at reasonable price

US$53.4 million worth of fuel oil has been imported with the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) exchange rate to distribute at a reasonable price, according to the Consumer Affairs Department. The CBM has already sold $53.4 million to our Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association (MPTA). But, they still have some dollars to withdraw from the bank. Currently, the retail stations are still selling the $20 million worth of fuel oil. They are also making effort to sell the remaining over $33 million worth of fuel oil through the retail stations. They are also carrying out the distribution plan, said an official from the Consumer Affairs Department.

MPTA, in cooperating with the Ministry of Commerce has sold fuel at a fair price since 22 September, which is equivalent to the amount that the oil importers directly purchased the foreign currency from the Central Bank of Myanmar. The Consumer Affairs Department stated that more than 51 million litres of fuel oil were sold at a reasonable rate between 22 September and 2 November 2021. Out of them, the association ended over 19 million litres of 92 Ron, over 12 million litres of diesel and over 18 million litres of premium diesel. The fuel oil at the fairer price is available at 229 petrol-filling stations in Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw cities and Mon, Shan, Kachin, Kayin and Rakhine states and Sagaing, Bago, Magway and Ayeyawady and Taninthayi regions.

If the consumers find the shops that are not being sold at the fixed price, they are urged to report to the Working Committee on Ensuring the Smooth Flow of Trade and Goods, calling 09-664075683, 09-664596327 and 09-676320816, to Yangon consumer affair department 01- 250270 and Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association 09-421006794. The fuel oil was pegged at around at K590 per litre for diesel, K605 for premium diesel, K590 for Octane 92 and K610 for Octane 95 in early February 2021 in the domestic retail market. Then, it strangely climbs up to K1,340 for diesel, K1,355 for premium diesel, K1,420 for Octane 92 and K1,4850 for Octane 95 at present. There is a significant price gap of K700-800 per litre, according to the local fuel oil market. The devaluation of the local currency is the main reason for the oil price hike in the domestic market. At present, a dollar is worth around K1,900 in the domestic foreign exchange market. Normally, Myanmar yearly imports around 600,000 tonnes of fuel oil from external markets, the Ministry of Commerce stated.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar