In some industrial zones in Yangon Region, electricity will only be available from 9 am to 5 pm and there will be no power outage at night

Some industrial zones in Yangon Region will only have electricity from 9 am to 5 pm and there will be no power outages at night, according to the industrial zone committees on March 17. An official from the Shwelinban Industrial Zone Committee said that the power supply will be cut off from 9 am to 5 pm and the power will be cut off from 5 pm to 9 am the next day. It will be paid regularly from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and will be canceled from 5:00 pm to 9:00 am the next day. During the day from 9 am to 5 pm. It is coming to us tonight, said an official from the Shwelinban Industrial Zone Committee.

An official from the Hlaing Thar Yar Industrial Zone said that the fire would be lit from 9 am to 5 pm and it was not yet known whether the fire would be extinguished from 5 pm to 9 am the next day. An official from a company in Thaketa Industrial Zone told the company that the township electricity would be turned off from 5 pm to 9 am the next day. Our company will be turned off from 5 pm until 9 am the next day. The electricity will be available from 9 am to 5 pm only. So I asked him if he would like to work full-time for eight hours, and he said he was not sure if he would do so, said an official from the company.

At present, most of the townships in Yangon have more power outages than the power outage. The fire did not come regularly. Rising fuel prices have led to higher fuel costs in most factories in industrial zones and reduced overtime for workers. Hlaing Thar Yar Industrial Zone in Yangon Region; Shwe Lin Ban Industrial Zone, Shwe Thanlwin Industrial Zone, Shwe Pyi Thar Industrial Zone, Shwe Paukkan Industrial Zone, South Dagon Industrial Zone 1, 2, 3, South Okkalapa Industrial Zone North Okkalapa Township There are 29 industrial zones such as Thaketa Industrial Zone.

Source: Daily Eleven

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China to temporarily halt imports of seven items including rice

The COVID-19 Preventive Task Force in Ruili city notified Muse district-level task force to prevent the
spread of COVID-19 of the temporary suspension on the importation of seven items from Myanmar, including rice, according to the Muse-Namhkam Border Trade Chamber of Commerce. The importation of seven items; rice, broken rice, fresh chilli, goods shipped in the cold chain, frozen goods, fishery products, daily goods, and packaged food commodities will come to a halt through the Wanding-Mangman checkpoint.

This action is a temporary plan of the working group to prevent the cross-border spread of COVID-19, to prevent the infection with science-based tactics according to China’s FDA Law and a rule on export and import food safety, and resumption of the trade flow via Wanding-Mangman point, according to the notification. Amid the closure of cross-border posts with China and China’s policy changes, the value of border trade through a major trading hub Muse border post plunged to US$579.48 million as of 4 March 2022 of the current mini-budget period (Oct 2021- Mar 2022), Myanmar Customs Department’s statistics indicated.

The figure significantly dropped from $2.49 billion recorded in the corresponding period of last Financial Year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Between 1 October 2021 and 4 March 2022, Myanmar’s exports to China through the Muse land border were valued at $555.5 million, while imports are worth $23.96 million. The trade showed a slump in both exports and imports against the year-ago period. China shut down all the checkpoints linking to the Muse border amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The checkpoints next to the Muse border are Nantaw, Sinphyu, Man Wein (Kyalgaung), Kyinsankyawt-Wanding and Panseng- Wanding. Of the checkpoints, Kyinsankyawt has resumed trading activity from 26 November on a trial run.

Myanmar delivers rubber, various beans and pulses, dried plum, watermelon, muskmelon and other food commodities to China through Kyinsankyawt with the use of a Chinese short-haul trucking service. Myanmar trucks are restricted to enter China side. However, there is a shortage of Chinese truck drivers. As a result of this, the cost of Chinese short-haul trucking tremendously rose. Only when China eases the restriction can the trucking rate drop, a trader engaged in Muse trade zone elaborated.

Additionally, China’s new Customs Regulation and mandatory quarantine process posed some hurdles in the border market. Traders cannot expect trade facilitation according to the changes in China’s policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Myanmar normally exports agricultural products including rice, beans and corns, and fishery products such as crab, prawn, etc. Furthermore, Myanmar’s natural gas export to China is also conducted through the Muse-Ruili border. The raw CMP materials, electrical appliances and consumer goods are imported into the country. The Muse border post witnessed $4.057 billion worth of Sino-Myanmar border trade last financial year2020-2021, including exports worth $2.9 billion and imports worth $1.15 billion.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

CBM sells $160 mln for fuel oil sector

The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) has sold US$165.62 million for the fuel oil sector, according to the Consumer Affairs Department. Between 15 September 2021 and 4 February 2022, $147.90 million were sold to the oil-importing companies at the CBM’s reference rate, while the Central Committee on Ensuring Smooth Flow of Trade and Goods directly sold $7.72 million for the oil industry and $10 million to Myanmar International Freight Forwarders Association. The CBM sold those foreign currencies multiple times at the exchange rates of K1,753 in minimum and K1,820 in maximum.

Additionally, the Ministry of Commerce in coordination with the Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association carried out a scheme to distribute fuel oil at a fairer rate through the government-sponsored petrol station chains starting from 22 September 2021. The total volume of fuel oil that are sold at very cheap rates is equivalent to the amount that the oil importers directly purchased the foreign currency from the CBM. The companies imported $147.90 million worth of 226 million litres of fuel oil.

Of them, over 224 million litres have been distributed so far and over a million litres are left for sales, said an official of the Consumer Affairs Department. Those oils have to be sold at the reference rate set by the Petroleum Products Regulatory Department. The consumers can complain about overcharging for fuel oil which is sold at the subsidized rate under the public distribution system, the Ministry of Commerce stated. If any overcharging is found, the consumers can complain about it through the Central Committee, Consumer Affairs Department and Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association.

Following the crude oil price rally in the global market and Kyat depreciation against US Dollar at over K2,000, the oil prices hit a peak of K1,830 per litre for diesel, K1,845 for premium diesel, K1,855 for Octane 92 Ron and K1,930 for Octane 95 Ron. The fuel oil was pegged at around K590 per litre for Octane 92, K610 for Octane 95, K590 for diesel and K605 for premium diesel in early February 2021 in the domestic retail market, while the exchange rate stood at K1,330 then. Therefore, Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association is offering special prices for those fuel oil in the regions and states. The special price of fuel in Yangon on 16 March stood at K1,613 per litre for premium diesel and K1,549 per litre for diesel. Normally, Myanmar yearly imports 6 million tonnes of fuel oil from external markets, the Ministry of Commerce stated.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

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MNA, Air India to repatriate Myanmar nationals in India by relief flights in April

Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) and Air India will fly relief flights in April to help Myanmar nationals who are having difficulties returning home for various reasons, according to the Myanmar Embassy in New Delhi, India. MNA has been operating monthly relief flights to repatriate Myanmar nationals who have been stranded in India for various reasons due to COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

For returnees, relief flights of MNA will fly on 5 and 26 April and Air India will fly on 6 and 20 April respectively to Myanmar. The embassy has announced that those who would like to fly with MNA can send an email to callcenter@flymna.com, contactus@flymna.com and reservations@flymna.com, as well as can make a call to + 951378603-04-06 and +951377840-41-42.

Passengers are required to have a negative RT PCR test result, and those whose visas are about to expire must extend their visas at the https//indianfrro.gov.in/frro/, the official website of the Foreigner Regional Registration Office of the Immigration Bureau of India. If the visa cannot be extended, exit permit applications must be made in advance, according to the statement of the Myanmar Embassy in New Delhi. Regarding Myanmar citizenship issues, +91 852788 3562 and +91 26578822 can be reached, the statement said.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar