Myanmar Matters Volume 19 : September 2017 by Myanmar Matters

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Vol 19 : SEPT 2017

WIN IN MYANMAR

INDIA AND MYANMAR SET TO STRENGTHEN DIPLOMATIC AND COMMERCIAL TIES

WIN IN MYANMAR

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Table of Contents

FOREWORD

Longwa Village One House, Two Countries

COVER STORY

PM Modi visits Myanmar: A Gateway to Southeast

Spain and Myanmar engage in bilateral development plans

UK interested in boosting Myanmar’s transport infrastructure

Myanmar could lead maritime trade of Asia

Myanmar Prioritizes Ten Areas for Investment

WORLD BANK EXTENDS AID TO MYANMAR BY TWO YEARS

Dentons Law Firm expands its presence in Yangon

CEVA BEGINS OPERATIONS FROM ITS OWN OFFICE IN YANGON

WORLD BANK APPOINTS ELLEN GOLDSTEIN AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF MYANMAR, CAMBODIA AND LAO PDR

Investment

Business

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First foreign company set to build oil and gas supply base in Myanmar Nation News

Mr. Set Aung returns to Myanmar Government as Deputy Minister of Planning and Finance

REFLECTIONS

A Quest like No Other: Myanmar's Grand Peace Project

WIN IN MYANMAR Myanmar caught in the trap of Climate Change

ENVIRONMENT

For contributions, feedback & inquiries on advertising opportunities in Myanmar Matters, please contact : editor@myanmarmatters.com www.myanmarmatters.com Profiled & published by Globally Managed Services - www.gms.net.in

Advisory Board Members: l Nicholas Claxton

PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE

From the Land of Shan State

TOURISM

Bagan: A jewel of Southeast Asia

IFFCO SIGNS MOU WITH SIKKIM TO DIVERSIFY ITS BUSINESS

North-East’s largest ISBT ready to be operational

Mizoram Embarks on Solar Power Projects

Japan to aid North-East India’s Infrastructural interests

North-East India builds energy cooperation mechanism with Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal

BAMBOO TECHNOLOGY PARK INAUGURATED BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF ASSAM IN GUWAHATI

China to bolster Bangladesh‘s development projects

World’s first floating LNG terminal to be constructed in Bangladesh

India and Bangladesh to construct a bridge over Khawthlangtuipui River

Myanmar - India Connect - North East - Business Myanmar - India Connect - North East-TECHNOLOGY

Myanmar India Connect - North EastINFRASTRUCTURE

l Kamal Nain Pandya l Kalpesh Popat l Kaustuv Bhadra l Akash Chandra

Bangladesh

l Prabudha Barua l Varsha Wadhwani

MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

New and improved conservatory methods adopted for coral structures abounding Myeik Archipelago

Founding Chairman : Ranjit Barthakur Editor in Chief : Tanya Taneja

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Vol 19: Sept 2017

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FOREWORD WIN IN MYANMAR

MYANMAR MATTERS

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FOREWORD

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LONGWA VILLAGE ONE HOUSE, TWO COUNTRIES

The state of Nagaland in India is home to a wondrous phenomenon that one would rarely see anywhere else in the world. In this state lies a village called Longwa which has a house that can be considered to spread over two countries - India and Myanmar. Towards Myanmar, this house falls in the Mon state as the boundary between India and Myanmar passes across this village and divides this house into two parts which fall into two parts. This house is owned by the hereditary chief or the king of the Konyak Naga tribe known as “The Angh”. The Angh of Longwa village has 60 wives and he rules over more than 70 villages extended up to Myanmar.

dialect with every village having a self-modified version. Some people speak another version too which is known as the Nagamese language and is a mixture of Naga and Assamese.

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The Konyak tribe is very famous

TRADITIONAL NAGA TRIBAL BEADS and has helped them to refrain from constant fighting with each other.

TRADITIONAL NAGA TRIBAL BEADS The people living in this village move freely between India and Myanmar and do not need a visa. Even one of the sons of this village’s chief has joined the army of Myanmar. So, technically these villagers have dual citizenship for both India and Myanmar. Besides the chief, some other Konyak families have their kitchen in Myanmar while they sleep in India. The Konyak tribe, which lives in Longwa village, holds the largest numbers among the sixteen officially recognized tribes in Nagaland. The Konyak Naga speaks the Tibetan-Myanmarese MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

A CHIEF OF KONYAK TRIBE IN HIS TRADITIONAL OUTFIT for their tattooed inked faces and they always wear some traditional jewelry. Most of the men wear a brass skull necklace and they still use hornbill beaks, elephant tusks, horns, and skulls to decorate their houses. The arrival of Christian missionaries has somewhat helped to bring the people living in this region closer to each other. The religion has now become the cohesive bond between the Nagas (5)

In the village of Longwa, there is a feeling of oneness among people and boundaries between two different countries seem to have dissolved. The emotional connect between the Nagas living on both sides of the border is very strong. We all know that boundaries were not created by God but are a human intervention. This village shows that it is possible to create a world where boundaries do not create any conflict. This is a very important lesson that we can learn from Longwa village. - Ranjit Barthakur Founding Chairman Myanmar Matters Vol 19: Sept 2017

Cover story

PM Modi visits Myanmar: A Gateway to Southeast Asia

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By Arun Arora

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The recent visit by the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to Myanmar underlined Modi’s ‘Act East’ policy and highlighted the significance that India attaches to fostering good relations with Myanmar. With Myanmar set to walk on the path of development and liberalisation, on the back of the first democratically elected government in 2016, PM Modi’s first official bilateral visit sought to place India as the leading partner of Myanmar and give a much-needed impetus to the relations between the two countries. MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

India and Myanmar have long shared historical, ethnic, cultural and religious ties. The geographical proximity (India shares a long land border of over 1600 km and a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal) has helped develop cordial relations and people-to-people contact. Ever since the two countries signed a Treaty of Friendship in 1951, there has been a steady rise in the level of engagement and cooperation between them, especially in areas of infrastructure development, trade, security, energy, health, transportation and (6)

culture, to name a few. India realises the importance of Myanmar, not only as a gateway to South-East Asia but as a crucial partner in the fight to end insurgency in India’s north-east. Myanmar is also a crucial member of the ASEAN bloc and it is in India’s interest to have a strong and prosperous Myanmar. Myanmar, too, recognises the potential of this relationship with India and received the Indian Prime Minister with great gusto. The bilateral meeting, though marked by serious hurdles in the form of the Rohingya Vol 19: Sept 2017

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Cover story

WIN IN MYANMAR Map depicting India-Myanmar-Thailand Highway

crisis, turned out to be mutually beneficial, as eight Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and three agreements were signed by the two sides, covering important areas of security, infrastructure health, energy, capacity building and culture. India realises the importance of Myanmar, not only as a gateway to South-East Asia but as a crucial partner in the fight to end insurgency in India’s north-east. Myanmar is also a crucial member of the ASEAN bloc and it is in India’s interest to have a strong and prosperous Myanmar. Myanmar, too, recognises the potential of this relationship with India and received the Indian Prime Minister with great gusto. The bilateral meeting, though marked by serious hurdles in the form of the Rohingya crisis, turned out to be mutually beneficial, as eight Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and three MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

agreements were signed by the two sides, covering important areas of security, infrastructure health, energy, capacity building and culture. Infrastructure PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to support Myanmar in building infrastructure and developing human resources capacity. Some of the projects, which directly involve India are:

and Myingyan • Myanmar is a key component of India’s strategy to bridge South and South-East Asia through Bimstec, the Bay of Bengal Inititative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation • Upgradation of Yagyi-Kalewa road for Rs 177 crore • Upgradation of the Women’s Police Training Centre at Yamethin

• The Trilateral Highway (India, Myanmar and Thailand), which will link India to the ASEAN bloc

• Upgradation of Yangon Childrens’ Hospital and Sittwe General Hospital

• The Kaladan Multi-modal and Transport and Transit Project, which aims to link Kolkata to Sittwe in Myanmar and from Myanmar’s Kaladan river to India’s north-east

• Construction of Monywa General Hospital

• Development of Industrial Training Centres at Monywa and Thaton, following the successful completion of centres at Pakokku (7)

• Operationalizing the Advanced Centre for Agricultural Research and Education set up at the Yezin Agricultural University and the Rice Bio Park set up at the Department of Agricultural Research Vol 19: Sept 2017

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Cover story

WIN IN MYANMAR Kaladan Multimodel Project

• Commitment to construct a new hospital in Nay Pyi Taw Along with these, several other projects have been agreed upon by both the countries in IT, health, entrepreneurship, language training and small border area development projects in Chin and Naga areas of Myanmar. India has also extended $750 million in soft lines of credit for other infrastructure projects. Investment India’s trade with Myanmar grew by 6 per cent from US $2.05 billion in 2015-16 to US $2.18 billion in 201617. Both countries sought to work closely with each other to realise the tremendous potential, especially given the favourable environment for investment offered by the new democratically elected regime in Myanmar. In their joint statement, the two countries acknowledged the importance of pulses in the bilateral MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

trade basket. India imports around a million tonnes of pulses, $1 billion in value, from Myanmar. It is vital to Myanmar’s farmers, therefore Myanmar requested India to lift all restrictions imposed on imports from Myanmar. Myanmar has also welcomed India’s participation in its energy sector and invited Indian companies to take part in tenders for petrochemicals and petroleum products, marketing infrastructure and setting up of LPG terminals. The agreement between Numaligarh Refinery of India and Parami Energy Group of Myanmar on supply of diesel to Myanmar across the land border will give people of north Myanmar cheaper and more reliable access to petroleum products. In the energy sector too, India offered its technical and project specific assistance, for instance, it offered to conduct a solar radiation resource assessment in Myanmar, it shared its experiences in power trade and (8)

discussed ways to cooperate in the field of energy efficiency between the two countries. India’s increasing investments in Myanmar also assume importance, in the light of Chinese interest in Myanmar. China has, in recent times, increased its presence in Myanmar and is even pushing for a special economic zone at KyaukPhyu among other projects. Cultural Engagement Given the close cultural and religious ties the people of the two countries share, culture is bound to be an important thrust area, as was highlighted in the visit of PM Modi. The two sides signed the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for the period 2017-20 and expressed confidence that this would promote cultural exchanges between Myanmar and the North-Eastern states of India. PM Modi also visited Bagan, where the Archaeological Vol 19: Sept 2017

Cover story Survey of India has restored the Ananda Temple and is involved in the restoration and conservation of 92 pagodas and structures damaged by the 2016 earthquake. Religion forms a big part of the cultural heritage of the two countries. Bodh Gaya in India remains a place of pilgrimage for the people of Myanmar. Myanmar welcomed India’s efforts in preserving the stone inscriptions and temples of King Mindon and King Bagyidaw of Myanmar in Bodh Gaya.

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Another gesture that was praised and welcomed by both the Government and the people of Myanmar, was India’s decision to grant special pardon to 40 Myanmar nationals undergoing imprisonment for various crimes in India. Former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on his visit to Myanmar in 2012, observed that “India and Myanmar are natural partners, linked by geography and history.” With PM Modi’s emphasis on developing relations with India’s neighbours, both countries are likely to work in unison to ensure enhanced people to people contact and a healthy environment for development. Security The 1643 km long land border that the two countries share and the belligerent posturing by China necessitates close cooperation between India and Myanmar, visà-vis security and defence. This formed an important facet of the discussions held among the leaders of the two sides. Terrorism and extremist-inspired violence remain a cause of concern, to counter which, both countries have affirmed their intent to work together. The two sides condemned terrorist attacks on Amarnath Yatra and the Rakhine State, and jointly called for the quick adoption of a Comprehensive Convention on MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

International Terrorism by the UN General Assembly. Mr. Modi's government recently inked a US $37.9 million-worth lightweight torpedo with Myanmar. India has also begun supplying arms and communication equipment to the Armed Forces of Myanmar, to secure the sensitive border. The two sides also signed an MoU to strengthen maritime security cooperation, even in nontraditional security domains, such as “humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, which are critical for safeguarding the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.” Indian army is engaged in providing training to the Myanmar army to prepare them for UN peace keeping duties, a step considered essential to redeem their global image. Myanmar, on its part, reaffirmed “its respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India” and upheld the policy of “not allowing any insurgent group to utilise Myanmar’s soil to undertake hostile acts against the Indian Government.”

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The Rohingya Crisis Even as India and Myanmar look to scale up their engagement, the two countries need to quickly tackle the crisis of Rohingya Muslims before it escalates into a dangerous catastrophe. PM Modi expressed his concern over the extremist violence in Rakhine and offered to fast track development projects in the troubles province of Rakhine. At a time when State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has come under pressure over the Rohingya crisis, PM Modi’s strong stand on the issue and support of the Myanmar government, resonated well with Myanmar. PM Modi’s government has itself taken a strong stand on the influx of about 40,000 Rohingyas over the years, threatening to deport them, as it views them as a big security threat. The recent crisis, triggered by (9)

coordinated attacks by Rohingya militants on 25-26 August, under a recently formed Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (now designated as “terrorists”) against government and security outposts in northern Rakhine, left 110 dead, including militants, security personnel and civilians. In response, state security forces launched ‘clearance operations’ to neutralise militants and recapture seized weapons and territory. If reports are to be believed, around 270,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh, triggering a massive humanitarian crisis in the Subcontinent. The international community has come down heavily on the Myanmar government, in what they view as ‘ethical cleansing’ and crimes against humanity. Aung San Suu Kyi has defended her handling of the crisis and said that those attacked were Jihadists and that the military action was necessary to ensure security against the extremist elements. PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to stand by Myanmar’s efforts to find long-lasting peace and tackling the latest surge of violence. The transition of Myanmar into a democratic state with a democratically elected government provides an ideal opportunity to India to engage with its neighbour in a mutually beneficial arrangement. It provides fresh impetus to PM Modi’s ‘Act East’ Policy and offers a counter-narrative to China’s increasingly bullish position in the Subcontinent. Myanmar, too, stands to gain immensely through this partnership, based on the spirit of cooperation, trust and rooted in shared historical, cultural, religious and ethnic ties. The visit by PM Modi has only reaffirmed this and it bodes well for the future of India-Myanmar relations. Vol 19: Sept 2017

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INVESTMENT INVESTMENT WIN IN MYANMAR

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INVESTMENT

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Spain and Myanmar engage in bilateral development plans

WIN IN MYANMAR Thumping with economic exuberance and sprightly spontaneity, riding high on expansion and development plans, attracting many foreign companies — Myanmar has arrived with the promise of new beginnings and the zest for global embrace. Recently, a multilateral partnership meeting was held at the Melia Hotel wherein Spain came forth to seek opportunities in the fertile lands of Myanmar, while extending forth its intention in facilitating Myanmar in its development plans. The event was attended by highprofiled individuals and involved the participation of official ministries such as the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, Ministry of Finance, Yangon City Development Council, Spanish Embassy, and local and Spanish business groups. The event underscored Spain’s belief in building the beautiful land of pagodas by alleviating poverty in Myanmar and MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

subsequently enabling and enhancing job opportunities. Mr. Garzon, CEO, ICEX, Spain Trade and Investment pitched in for Spain being a beneficial multilateral partner for Myanmar, with the view, “Spanish companies can be excellent partners and they are eager to join forces with the Myanmar Government. We believe we’ll be crucial for the country’s further development, and Spanish companies are particularly proficient.” With Myanmar allowing foreign investments after decades of seclusion, various Spanish ventures are interested in investing in the infrastructure sector of Myanmar. The World Bank and Asian Development Bank exhibited their funding plans, laying central focus to the infrastructure sector and sovereign lending. Mr. Hideaki Iwasaki of the Asian Development Bank Regional Office pointed out that their infrastructure operations are part of the two principal (11)

projects in the current year–Highway Modernization and the Third GMS Corridor Town Development Project. Despite being bestowed with passable resources and natural riches, the investment canvas does suffer from bottlenecks such as unskilled professionals and inefficient organizational structures which hinders the investor’s confidence and impacts the investment climate. The Directorate of Investment, Ministry of Finance (DICA), Mr. Marlar Myo Myint, while presenting the new investment laws, remarked,“ The government is welcoming business partners who are focusing on promoting sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture , education, health care, technology and tourism.” The event was imbued with active networking, discussions, business to business interactions spanning through funding, energy and transport infrastructure. Vol 19: Sept 2017

INVESTMENT

UK interested in boosting Myanmar’s transport infrastructure

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Mr. Andrew McNaughton - UK Prime Minister’s Business Ambassador for Infrastructure

Myanmar has transitioned into a land buzzing with business opportunities, with economic avenues expanding and exhorting the attention of global companies. The latest entrant to revise and revamp the infrastructural paradigm of Myanmar is the United Kingdom. UK has expressed interest in supporting the large-scale infrastructural requirements of Myanmar, specifically its transportation unit; railway networks, airports and rapid transit system. This welcoming news was brought to light after UK‘s Prime Minister‘s Business Ambassador for Infrastructure - Mr. Andrew McNaughton, visited Myanmar to explore opportunities at the infrastructural front for UK’s Department of International Trade (DIT) and UK companies. According to Mr. McNaughton “The immediate opportunity for UK to provide support would be in transport and in particular, mass transportation rail projects and the airport development program.” Leveraging its strength, experience, expertise and Myanmar’s immediate need for infrastructural investments, UK business companies are enthusiastic about effectuating their economic and commercial interests, at the same time, acknowledging the potential urbanization process and MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

infrastructural development that Myanmar will significantly be impacted with.

transit. This arrangement aims to decongest the traffic and also boost growth of the city to 10 million by 2040. The plans also involve introduction of two new metro lines and development of two airports namely: Mandalay International Airport and the new Hanthawaddy International Airport in Yangon. The mid-term objective is to grow cross border international trade as well as support regional airport program.

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Myanmar is looking forward to capitalize on sources to generate financial assistance to meet its infrastructural needs. For this purpose, a robust logistics sector with a sound legal and regulatory framework is an essential and a necessary requirement to be able to build internationally aligned market structures and attract capital investments thereof. On this, Mr. McNaughton remarked, “The establishment of a market structure requires significant development of regulations and legal structures to be able to establish an environment to contract with international organizations. UK legal, financial and support services companies have extensive experience of working with governments around the world to establish such structures.” He also lauded British technical and technological know-how which could assist preciously in Myanmar’s railway and airport projects. In railways, he measured and estimated upgradation of long, intercity lines connecting the major cities of Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, and revamping the Yangon mass rapid (12)

Thus, infrastructural scope in Myanmar is colossal and plays a planetary role in the urbanization process and in boosting the economy of Myanmar. As per business experts, refinement of transportation infrastructure is the fundamental requisite in attracting inward investments, retention of human capital and in escalating trade possibilities, leading to sustainable prospects and future oriented growth. Remarking upon ‘more opportunities and a few challenges’ in the MyanmarUK potential alliance, Mr. McNaughton exclaimed, “As an outcome of the Brexit process, the UK government and individual businesses are seeking to establish long term relationships beyond the European Community. This is being done without having to consider the views of 26 other member states. This creates agility and a momentum that can only be an advantage to the region.” Vol 19: Sept 2017

INVESTMENT

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Myanmar could lead maritime trade of Asia

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Myanmar has launched itself on the global podium, carving an aggressive and assertive entrepreneurial spirit. Its resoluteness to connect and attract foreign investment prospects to revive its strained economic model is quite palpable post its political transition. The Port and the Shipping Industry is being rendered as the immediate and the most significant means to integrate Myanmar with the global economy, leveraging its strategic geographical placement in between the most populous and the second most populace country in the world; India and China. Mr. Kyaw Myo, Deputy MinisterTransport and Communications, remarked at the 15th ASEAN Ports and Shipping Conference 2017, “The development of ports and shipping industry would be a driving force for Myanmar’s integration into the global economy. Myanmar’s transport infrastructure had reached the low end MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

of the Asian benchmark due to our poorly targeted investment for many years. Now, it is time to improve our transport infrastructure effectively and systematically with regional and international cooperation." The boom in the transport infrastructure, its revision and the revamping of guidelines are imperative primary moves to bring about improved connectivity - intra and inter–region, which would facilitate domestic growth, and advance integrative international possibilities. Apart from strengthening and developing infrastructure, it’s enabling and empowering prospects of job creation, easier access to regions, promotion of economic trade and prosperous growth potential, the facelift of transport framework has been rendered as an important segment in accelerating Myanmar’s economy. In the recently conducted –15th ASEAN Ports and Shipping Conference 2017, discussions pertaining to the (13)

essential role played by maritime trade to revitalize Myanmar’s economy permeated the entire conference session. The need for an efficient and well-planned connectivity mapping the regions internally is essential for foreign companies to reach effortlessly and seek new market gains and collaborations. This is being embraced as the cornerstone development in affirming Myanmar as the new and captivating hub of Southeast Asia trade. Carving out mutually beneficial relationship with domestic and foreign ports, while engaging with port development activities, greater stress has also been laid on peripheral facets such as security challenge, environmental impact and navigation accessibility. The Managing Director of Myanmar Port Authority - Mr. Ni Aung exclaimed, “As a member state, we participate in ASEAN initiatives for the acceleration of economic growth, social progress Vol 19: Sept 2017

INVESTMENT

and cultural development in the region through joint endeavors to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community by improving all aspects of transportation, specifically port development.”

Singapore, China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Thailand.

the Ayeyawady River and two on the Chindwin River.

“Maritime transportation has been able to serve more than 85% of the nation’s trade,”said Mr. Myo Nyein Aye, deputy manager of MPA.

The Yangon port, being the chief port to seaborne trade has been controlling 95% of the maritime export and import exchanges. Moreover, with nine ports handling seaborne and coastal trade, and with the construction of advanced terminals and multiple facilities in the areas of Yangon and Thilawa, the maritime cargo traffic has effectively enhanced.

This indeed has been the gamechanger in boosting Myanmar’s economic landscape, fabricating and fueling an investment friendly environment in building and developing ports. Relentless involvement of the private sector companies and aid from international finance institutions are deemed to further the prospects. As part of the current consultations on driving commerce in the country, employment of six new inland water port terminals have been ambitiously considered, with dependence on Myanmar’s new Investment Law for funds. The new ports include four on

These ports will ensure rapid connectivity to more and bigger markets, and provide door to door system facility while experiencing reduced transportation costs and enlarged shipping capacity. In other words, these ports have been and will be the potential economy-transformers for Myanmar, generating jobs, accentuating regional development with improvement in living standards and bridging the gaps between the have and have-nots.

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Endowed with the capacity to accommodate as many as 36 vessels at the same time, the Yangon ports are being significantly harnessed to trade directly with 10 of the major trading economies like Malaysia, Iran, India,

Myanmar Prioritizes Ten Areas for Investment Liberalization has long awaited the economic gates of Myanmar. With political dynamics steering towards democratization, the economy’s transition from being centrallycontrolled to a market-oriented one has been a laudable move. The investment climate has been impacted most favorably, fueling the economic environment around with a sense of excitement, inspiration and unprecedented growth. To encourage and ease the facilitation of business activities and operations, Myanmar’s new Investment Law got MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

Steering its course to growth, development and integration with the global economy, Myanmar’s sea and river ports have an absolute advantage of establishing Myanmar as the hub of trade in Asia.

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enacted and approved by the cabinet in the beginning of 2017. This law was originally drafted in 2013, with the aid and experience of experts and International Finance Corporation (IFC). It also endows within its ambit the details of the Foreign Investment Law drafted in 2012, and the Citizens Investment Law of 2013 The enactment of the new Investment Law and entrepreneurial environment has led the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) to prioritize areas for investment by foreign and local businessmen. (14)

These areas include - agriculture, livestock, fishery, export promotion, import substitution, power, logistics, education, health care, affordable housing construction and establishment of industrial estate. Myanmar’s untapped economic potential, along with its geographical proximity with major South-East Asian economies, with lowest population densities in the region and an abundance of vast reservoir of natural resources makes Myanmar’s investment landscape an attractive proposition for the investors. Vol 19: Sept 2017

INVESTMENT

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WORLD BANK EXTENDS AID TO MYANMAR BY TWO YEARS

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Steadfast in its quest to mitigate poverty, unemployment, and to let the business bandwagon of Myanmar keep buzzing with further opportunities, developments and investments, the World Bank has pushed the time frame of its AidProgram by two years to 2019, from the initially frozen 2017. Senior Economic Advisor of World Bank, Mr. Sjamsu Rahadja stated, “Since 2015, we have provided $3 billion in aid to Myanmar. We have made the commitment to provide two more years after agreement MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

with State Counsellor and the Ministry of Finance and Planning. ”

gas sectors, is also on World Bank’s task-list aimed for 2019.

Driven by its primary goal of alleviating poverty, generating job opportunities and enhancing human capacity, the World Bank’s activities for the extended period involve – developing irrigated farmland spanning 10,000 hectares, electricity access to more than 3 million people, building bridges for connectivity in rural areas. In addition to this, scholarship programs, preparing Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative report for oil, mining and

Public Relations Officer of World Bank Myanmar, Mr. U Kya Soe Lin stated, “To be successful or unsuccessful, the project depends on the public, the beneficiary of the project. By receiving feedback from the public, we will keep working on the project and know what to make our priorities.”

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World Bank’s scheme of activities also includes disbursal of loan worth $500 million to private sector corporates. Vol 19: Sept 2017

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BUSINESS WIN IN MYANMAR

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BUSINESS

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Dentons Law Firm expands its presence in Yangon

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Business expansion in Myanmar is driving most of the global company’s investment strategies. The organic landscape of possibilities and potentialities that Myanmar has become synonymous with, is leading global giants in every field to launch their set-up in this newly reformed country. World’s largest and most renowned law firm – Dentons, has usheredin its presence in Myanmar. Dentons in Myanmar shall work in close proximity with Singapore’s prominent law firm-Dentons Rodyk. The new Dentons office has been equipped with a team of seven lawyers and staff led by Mark Livingston, from Livingston Legal. MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

Global chairman of Dentons, Mr. Joe Andrew stated, “The economic development and democratization of Myanmar has opened up a wealth of inbound and outbound opportunities for our clients from within Asia and around the world.” The provision of superior, wellstructured and dependable legal services through the opening of Dentons Law Firm in Yangon shall catalyze the economic development of Myanmar, and prove to be significant in the progress of an emerging economy. “At Dentons Myanmar, our team’s deep understanding of the country’s regulatory and business environment will be combined with (17)

the direct support, global reach and resources of the world’s largest and leading law firm,” said Mr Livingston. “Being part of this hugely expanded platform will greatly enhance our ability to provide superior services in the Myanmar market, and our clients will enjoy the benefits and opportunities that come with access to global resources and a global network.” With exuberant demographic dividend of young population of more than 600 million, and the collective GDP of US $ 2.4 trillion, the ASEAN Block is bursting with economic energy and growth plans, making it a thriving business and trading zone. Vol 19: Sept 2017

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CEVA BEGINS OPERATIONS FROM ITS OWN OFFICE IN YANGON

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World’s leading freight management and supply chain management company-CEVA, has opened its office in Yangon. Prior to this, it had been operating through a network partner in Myanmar. However, now, with its own establishment in Yangon, it has expanded its range, encompassing air and ocean freight facilities, leveraging its global system of One Freight System (OFS). Myanmar is beaming with business and investment opportunities, and with CEVA‘s office in Myanmar, developing businesses are sure to reap benefits. Accentuating the MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

ease in business flow through its effective supply chain solutions, operations and logistics, and with its proficiency in retail, industrial and consumer sectors, CEVA’s competitive professionalism shall certainly trigger business growth in Myanmar. CEVA’s Managing Director Mekong Cluster states, “Myanmar is a country with real opportunities for growth. It has a population of 55 million people who are looking at companies like CEVA to provide supply chain services to support their developing business and meet their requirements. In the past, the (18)

country’s infrastructure has been a limiting and inhibiting factor but with our global network and more importantly, our experience in emerging markets, especially in this region, we are confident that with our own office and robust IT offerings, we can deliver options and solutions to the market, and at the same time, grow our commercial footprints.” Revitalising and realigning its economic avenues post its democratic embrace, Myanmar’s export and import trade is expected to grow and escalate. Vol 19: Sept 2017

BUSINESS

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WORLD BANK APPOINTS ELLEN GOLDSTEIN AS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF MYANMAR, CAMBODIA AND LAO PDR

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Miss Ellen Goldstein has been appointed as the new director of Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao PDR by the World Bank. Miss Goldstein’s efforts in promoting peace, prosperity and ending extreme poverty would require her to foster partnerships and deepen relationships with client countries while strengthening economic reforms, to fulfil the roles and responsibilities of her position. Miss Goldstein is a dual Master degree holder in International Economics and Development Studies from Princeton University, and in International Health and Population Dynamics from John Hopkin’s University. She has held several meritorious MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

positions prior to this recent appointment. These include – Director for the Western Balkans and Central Asia Region, Director for Bangladesh and Nepal. She has been associated with the World Bank for more than 30 years and has discharged key responsibilities. With Myanmar liberalizing its economy, welcoming global resources and aggressively connecting with global networks, the World Bank, in placing a Director in Yangon for the first time, has exhibited its deep and engaging interest in Myanmar’s transition to a marketoriented economy. Miss Goldstein remarked, “I am honoured to have been appointed to represent the World Bank in (19)

Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao PDR, and look forward to better understanding their unique histories and development paths.” “Most recently, Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao PDR have seen the fastest economic growth in East Asia. Through our partnership strategy in each country, the World Bank will continue to support inclusive growth that benefits the poor.” stated Miss Goldstein. With US $ 2.17 committed by the World Bank in supporting more than 40 active projects in these countries, the World Bank’s inclusive growth mission to benefit the impoverished by providing access to health, nutrition and education facilities, is an integral part of these projects. Vol 19: Sept 2017

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First foreign company set to build oil and gas supply base in Myanmar

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Singapore‘s MOSB Limited -Myanmar Offshore Supply Base, has been granted authorization to set up an oil and gas supply base, becoming the first overseas company to do so in the Mon State of Myanmar.

providing infrastructure, health and education facilities. Also, the travel time shall get substantially reduced, thereby, enhancing efficiency and productivity.

Myanmar has welcomed this project with great energy and enthusiasm as it gets approved and endorsed by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) and the Ministry of Electricity and Energy.

The Executive Chairman of MOSB, Mr. Leonard Oh, stated, “The planned offshore supply base would reduce the traveling time for oil and gas companies with Myanmar operations, who would otherwise have to travel to Singapore or Thailand.”

With this arrangement, the oil and gas industry in Myanmar is expected to boom and impact the communities around by furnishing employment opportunities as well as aid in

Contributing to the growth and expansion of Myanmar’s economy, MOSB‘s efforts and commitment in boosting business, shall involve its investment in refining the expansive

MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

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and

widespread

infrastructure,

transportation and the associated telecommunications. U Zaw Min Oo, Village Head of Waeka Li Village, Mon State believes, “This will support the local communities by creating a lot of job opportunities, and will most definitely improve our standard of living in many different ways.” The joint venture between Two Fish Supply Base Limited of Myanmar and 2 Fish (SG) Pte Ltd of Singapore is

represented

the

MOSB

company, engaged in abetting the growth plans of Myanmar. Vol 19: Sept 2017

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NATION NEWS WIN IN MYANMAR

NATION NEWS

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nation news

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Mr. Set Aung returns to Myanmar Government as Deputy Minister of Planning and Finance

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Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi ‘s government has appointed Mr. Set Aung as the Deputy Minister for National Planning and Finance; inducting him in the Myanmar Government with the essential responsibility of planning for various departments and taking care of the finances when required. Mr. Set Aung’s role in the previous administration gained primary importance for structuring a welldefined Special Economic Zone MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

(SEZ) which bolstered the business spectrum in Myanmar. His efforts in developing the Thilawa Special Economic Zone were well received and appreciated by experts and the business community, for it facilitated the processing of investment applications, tax filing and other procedures in a freer manner, upholding the investor’s interests. To seek his expertise and experience in re-energizing the current economic scenario, Mr. Set (23)

Aung‘ s appointment was approved by President U Htin Kyaw as the 2nd Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance, who would be sharing the excessive work load of the Ministry of Planning and Finance, along with Mr. Maung Maung Win. Mr. Aung Set’s credibility and excellence is reflected in the instrumental portfolios he had been armed with - Economic Advisor to Thein Sein in 2011, Deputy Minister for National Planning and Economic Development, and Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar. Vol 19: Sept 2017

REFLECTIONS

A Quest like No Other: Myanmar's Grand Peace Project Angshuman Choudhury Researcher & Coordinator, South East Asia Research Programme, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS), New Delhi

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angshuman.choudhury@ipcs.org

In her opening remarks at the first 21st Century Panglong Conference held on 31 August - 3 September 2016, Myanmar’s State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said something that cogently outlines the dicey act of political peacemaking:

“No peace process can succeed without the support of the people. Peace is not something that leaders impose. It is not something that can be achieved only in a conference room. It requires the active involvement and support of all peoples.” Her words ring true across the entire board, irrespective of region, society, or polity. Peacemaking is a participatory exercise that requires real consensus between entities that are inherently or traditionally antagonistic. This makes the process not just a hugely tricky affair, but also a painstaking exercise that warrants time, patience, and a concrete vision. Yet, the single most pivot of peacemaking is the element of trust, without which any and every political dialogue process is bound to hit a cul-de-sac. MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

When assessing or critically apprehending Myanmar’s peace process, one must continually recall the history, geography, and the demography of the country;135 ethnic groups, most of which do not have sustainable cultural linkages, sixty painful years of political violence, and a geographical location strategic to big power politics aren’t perhaps the best ingredients for durable peace. But, therein lies the core of the refurbished pursuit of reconciliation: it cannot, and should not, produce ‘sudden peace’, but rather the kind of peace that is wellstacked, thoroughly deliberated upon, and made by the people themselves.

Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Accord (NCA), an instrument drawn up by the Sein administration. With the popularly-elected government of Suu Kyi and President Htin Kyaw taking charge six months later, national reconciliation became the sine qua non of democratic transition, thus giving fresh impetus to the whole peace process.

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NLD’s Peace Machine When Myanmar began its ambitious peace process back in 2011 under the then President, Mr. Thein Sein, a new chapter in the country’s history began. It was as if someone had pushed the ‘resume’ button after sixty long years of total pause. Since then, the landmark process has only grown in size and scope and is today one of the most complex peacemaking projects in the world. The expansion began right after October 2015 when eight (24)

The Suu Kyi/Kyaw administration, since taking over, has erected a massive bureaucracy of political dialogue. At the top is the supramanagement body, the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) that is disaggregated into ‘Working Committees’ for different thematic focus areas. The UPDJC oversees the ‘Peace Commission’, the official negotiating body of the government. Another pivotal organ is the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JCM), which is mandated with the responsibility to ensure ceasefires are not breached and complaints related to the same reach the government. In terms of the dialogue structure, the entire process is bifurcated into two templates: union-level and regional talks. While the former is Vol 19: Sept 2017

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REFLECTIONS

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REFLECTIONS

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undertaken through the biannual Union Peace Conference (UPC), also known as the 21st Century Panglong Conference (21CPC), the latter takes place through a triad of NationalLevel Dialogues based on region, ethnicity, and topic. The inputs from these local dialogues are sent to the Working Committees, subsequent to which they are taken up for deliberations at the UPC. The unique feature about Myanmar’s post-2015 dialogue process is that it is heavily federal in nature, at least on paper. This is crucial because the ultimate objective of the process of national reconciliation is to achieve a federal union, a vision that emerged right after the country’s independence in 1947 but was truncated by one decade of intense civil strife and sixty more of repressive military rule. More importantly, the union-to-state level disaggregation of the dialogue process is absolutely imperative in a country like Myanmar where there is not one single thread of demography, but rather variegated pockets of ethnic constituencies that carry a strong sense of distinct identity and unique political ambitions for their respective communities. This becomes sharper in certain ethnic quarters that are represented by powerful and heavily-armed EAOs, like the Kachins, Shans, Palaungs, and Mons. Hence, considering local opinion within the process of national reconciliation becomes indispensable for any union-level peacemaker in Burma. Roadblocks to Peace As the State Counsellor has stated bluntly, the road to peace is long and hard. The past one year has made it amply clear that national reconciliation is a goal that cannot be achieved through a top-down agenda. Neither can the government claim to have achieved peace through flash in the pan successes. It needs patience, understanding, and most importantly, non-coercive inducement through real political MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

and economic incentives. The fundamental problem in the dialogue process is structural i.e. the obligation for an EAO to sign the NCA in order to participate in talks with the government. Some EAOs prefer the other way: to participate in the talks first and then sign the NCA. This has led to the emergence of two distinct sets of negotiating parties: signatories and non-signatories. Several commentators in the past have pointed out that the eight EAOs who have signed the NCA are far less influential and powerful than the ones who haven’t signed it. The latter group includes large groups like the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), United Wa State Army (UWSA), Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K). Hence, unless the government manages to get the latter on board, peace will remain a distant dream.

follow their own path to peace under the UWSA’s leadership. This has rendered the entire dialogue process much more convoluted and time-consuming. Moreover, despite the mammoth bureaucracy of political dialogue, the government has been unable to implement the key provisions of NCA in entirety, which has ultimately led to delayed talks and unhappy stakeholders. While the government successfully held nationallevel dialogues in some regional quarters, it failed to organize them in two crucial states - Rakhine and Shan. The former is represented by the Arakan National Party (ANP) and the latter, in part, by the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army-South (RCSS/SSA-S), both of which have signed the NCA. This not just resulted in ANP and RCSS questioning the government’s intent, but also a critical three-month delay in hosting the second 21CPC. RCSS/ SSA-S, in addition, has confronted intermittent offensive maneuvers from the Tatmadaw (military) in the past one year, which has spurred a new trust gap between them and the union government.

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But, while the dialogue process has been running fairly smooth with the signatories, Naypyidaw’s engagement with the nonsignatories has hit rough waters. Till about May 2017, the government had been negotiating with only one supra-group of non-signatories i.e. the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC). However, since early 2017, this 11-member collective of opposition EAOs began to show signs of internal fissure, especially after the November 2016 attacks in the border town of Muse (Shan State) by four EAOs - KIA, TNLA, MNDAA, AA - who identified themselves under a new umbrella body called ‘Northern Alliance (NA)’. Subsequently, in February 2017, the UWSA convened a meeting of eight non-signatory EAOs in the de facto Wa capital of Pangsangh and announced the adoption of a new path for reconciliation, away from the NCA. Three months later, certain members of the Pangsangh collectiveely decided to remove themselves from the UNFC and (26)

Another critical lapse in the peace process has been the lack of effective mediators from the government’s side. Several EAOs have repeatedly complained about the dearth of individuals who could suitably communicate their sentiments and demands to both the civilian government and the Tatmadaw. This has led to a regressive communication gap between the core negotiating parties, leading to sporadic ceasefire violations, mismatched agendas, and most importantly, a widening of the trust deficit between key parties. This has also resulted in the intervention of third-party negotiators - like China - who thus have been able to throttle their own vested interests into the dialogue process and gain disproportionate political leverage. Of all obstructions in the peace Vol 19: Sept 2017

The military’s relentless offensives in the frontier areas has pushed the local population to question the motives of the union government and any ‘peace’ it might attempt to impose by force. The State Counsellor has tried to address this issue by engaging with community-level stakeholders in the frontier regions, like the Kachin Baptist Organisation (KBO), to regain the lost trust.

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The Way Ahead

It has to devolve to the ground, right down to the block-level so that no stakeholder is left out. For this, the government must make sure that the national-level dialogues happen on time and in fact, the state-level dialogue channels are diversified and disaggregated. The

government

must

also

urgently commission specialized interlocutors

who

have

way

with not just the various EAOs,

The Myanmar of today, is by no means, the Myanmar of the dark yesteryears. The new administration, in furtherance of the Sein government, has displayed immense political will to move towards a permanent negotiated settlement to end the civil conflict for good. The NLDled Parliament’s prioritization of the peace agenda and Suu Kyi’s design to involve a wide range of political actors and stakeholders (including international entities) are testimony to this. New platforms for dialogue have been created and new mechanisms of political engagement established. These are significant developments for a country that was miles away from national reconciliation just a decade back.

but also the army. In this case,

However, much work remains to be done. An elaborate bureaucracy will remain futile, and rather counterproductive, if not backed by capacity-building, institutional training of personnel, and real participatory engagement of all stakeholders. Truth is that every single individual, in her or his own capacity, is a stakeholder in the ongoing peace process. Sixty years of continuous unrest has decisively affected the lives of the entire population. Given the diversity in political imagination and the multiplicity of identities, the union government absolutely cannot afford to keep the talk process centralized.

semblance of permanent, durable

Naypyidaw recruiting

would

respected

well

individuals

with experience of dealing with specific ethnic quarters, like the Kachins or the Mons or the Nagas. This could bridge the trust gap between the government and the frontier populations. More crucially, Naypyidaw must ensure that there is symmetry in the agenda for

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process, however, the most visible has been the continued armed conflict in the north between the NA members and the Tatmadaw. Intense and continued fighting has sharpened the trust deficit between Naypyidaw and the northern groups, which are extremely pivotal to any permanent peace arrangement that Myanmar might see in the near future. The violence has also had humanitarian repercussions, with thousands rendered displaced because of the Tatmadaw’s attritionl counterinsurgency campaign that focuses on cutting off the economic channels and popular support bases of recalcitrant EAOs. MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

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be accompanied by an offensive counterinsurgency design insofar as the non-state armed groups are not stirring trouble unilaterally. In a situation otherwise, the overall space for reconciliatory dialogue would remain restricted. Thus, Myanmar still has a long way to go before it can reach any peace. Having said this, the last one year stands out as a bright ray of hope for the conflict-weary people of the country who now seek constructive development and equal participation in public life, all in a collective attempt to reverse more than half a century of political, economic,

social,

and

cultural

regression. Disclaimer:The

views

and

opinions

expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of the editorial team of Myanmar Matters Vol 19: Sept 2017

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ENVIRONMENT MYANMAR CAUGHT IN WIN IN MYANMAR THE TRAP OF CLIMATE CHANGE By Swati Prabhu, Research Scholar

With talks about climate change and sustainable development doing the round these days, the entire global fraternity is bearing the brunt of it and Myanmar is not left alone. With nearly 75% of the country’s population depending on agriculture, threats of water shortages, drought, heat waves etc, could easily take a toll on the livelihoods of people. The country’s anatomy is peculiarly shaped in the form of a kite with a long tail that runs south along the Malay Peninsula. It is also the northernmost country in the Southeast Asian region with China situated towards the north and northeast and India to the northwest. However, the country is not untouched by the damaging effects of the changing climate and fears of the MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

worsening environment. According to the recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) report released earlier this year, climate change could prove to be disastrous for Asia, especially for Myanmar. President Trump’s appalling decision to withdraw support from the Paris Agreement, it may appear to have caused massive repurcussion on the Asian dream of curbing emissions. However, with China taking a positive stance to press ahead with emissions reduction, countries like Myanmar hope to get some positive encouragement and assistance. The report produced by the ADB and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) makes for (28)

grim reading, should the predictions eventuate. Under a “business as usual” scenario, a 6 degree Celsius temperature rise is projected over the Asian landmass by the end of the century, with an increase as high as 8 degrees C forecasted in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and northwest China. “These increases in temperature would lead to drastic changes in the region’s weather system, agriculture and fisheries sectors, land and marine biodiversity, domestic and regional security, trade, urban development, migration, and health. Such a scenario may even pose an existential threat to some countries in the region and crush any hope of achieving sustainable and inclusive development,” the Vol 19: Sept 2017

that the country will have access to future funding through the Green Climate Fund, which distributes the annual $100 billion contribution made by advanced economies, agreed at COP21 in Paris last year.

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Sourced from Google

report said. In addition to this, according to the 2016 Climate Risk Index, Myanmar is the second-mostvulnerable country in the world to the effects of climate change. According to the latest projections, Myanmar faces more extreme weather events as temperatures rise: more cyclones, more storms, more floods and more droughts. Before 2000, cyclones made landfall along Myanmar’s coast once every three years. Since the turn of the century, cyclones have made landfall every year. In spite of this, the picture is not that bleak. The plethora of economic opportunities offered to the Asian countries, specifically Myanmar, is headed by a ‘firming recovery’ in the form of major industrial economies and the government’s continued reforms. As per the Myanmar Climate Change Alliance (MCCA), a joint intiative of the UN Habitat and UNEP, Myanmar is one the fewest countries in the LDCs who take climate change seriously, especially when it comes to adaptation. Climate change is a reality which needs to be addressed urgently and Myanmar is doing relatively well in this regard. To take the issue in an optimistic manner, the country’s economy is expected to accelerate at around 7.7% in 2017 and to 8.0% in 2018, while the current account deficit will widen the imports, growing MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

faster than the exports. The recent government effort in strengthening the legal and regulatory framework has also helped in enhancing the conducive environment for private businesses and investments, which will, in turn, drive further economic growth. Consolidating the country’s legal and regulatory framework is crucial to develop a vibrant private sector and tap Myanmar’s huge growth potential, the report says.

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The link between economic opportunity and climate change is something that has to be given immediate attention by the Asian countries, especially Myanmar. The job of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by subsiding the global temperature to below 1.5 degrees Celsius is undoubtedly a herculean task but it would result in various opportunities for the international community. According to various reports released by leading media agencies, Asia has already become a leader in clean energy investment, with the lead taken by China investing humongously in renewable energy. This raises the question of funding for climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. Myanmar is already receiving external assistance from a couple of entities, such as Global Environment Facility, the EU and bilateral development partners. It is also said (29)

The country also offers a plethora of opportunities for investors, stakeholders and private sector involvement. Vast natural gas deposits, innumerable suitable locations for hydropower generation, and unexplored potential for solar and wind power generation are some of the key areas which would definitely attract investment in the coming years. In this regard, Myanmar’s power sector puts forward a plethora of opportunities to both foreign and local investors. According to the government reports, the installation of considerable additional capacity to the current 4,422 MW as well as the rapid construction of transmission lines are national priorities. In order to reach the objective of full national electrification until 2030, the power sector of Myanmar needs to evolve and develop in an efficient manner. The participation of both public and private sector is essential in this regard. It could also be stated that the country needs to build an efficient mitigation strategy which involves not only the state, but also contributions from the non-state actors, in order to procure finance and maintain coordination, at the time of financial drip. However, the recent shift in geopolitical trends with the prominence gained by emerging economies, like China, India and Brazil certainly provides a positive push to Myanmar for constructing their economy in a sustainable way.

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New and improved conservatory methods adopted for coral structures abounding Myeik Archipelago

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The need for long-term sustenance of the coral reefs, and continuous and active fish breeding grounds has attracted employment of conservatory and management tools: Marine Protected Areas (MPA) and Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMA), encircling the coral waters of the Myeik Archipelago of Myanmar. In the pursuit to protect the coral reefs, its sensitive natural habitats, rich marine biodiversity and the mangrove nestled coastline in the interest of local community’s livelihood, the 800 islands comprising the Myeik Archipelago have been identified as the first fish conservation zone. Mr. U Khin Maung Maw, Director MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

General of the Fisheries Department, stated that the coral reefs abounding the Myeik Archipelago will be the first locally managed marine conservation area in the country. The local community’s dwellings around the archipelago depend on fishery as their main economic activity. However, with the emplacement of LMMA, and with the subsequent goal of sustainable fishery, a zoning system has been adopted wherein only the fishes that have attained maturity shall be caught and coral areas will be rendered a no-fishing zone. This has been put to practice due to the depletion of marine resources owing to exhaustive and illegal methods of fishing, excessive use of (30)

dynamite, and other devastating and destructive means, which have also injured the health and productivity of the marine ecosystem. U Zaw Lunn, Marine Biologist at Fauna and Flora International (FFI) said, “The coral reefs are a natural habitat of marine creatures and the destruction of the coral area will result in the destruction of the natural habitat and breeding ground of marine life.” Thereby, it is imperative that strict vigilance and attention is devoted to the health of the coral structures, for it enables the fishes to keep spawning which, in effect, forms a protective layer for itself too. Vol 19: Sept 2017

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PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE

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PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE

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From the Land of Shan State

Shan State is one of the most popular States in Myanmar for tourists, not only because of its cuisine, but also because of the different attraction it offers. It is located in the Middle Eastern part of Myanmar, and its capital Taunggyi is famous for the Hot-air Balloon Festival. It is also famous for the beautiful

Inle Lake, where the floating gardens, the fishermen village and the unique way of one-leg paddling will fascinate you. For adventurers, Hsipaw and Kalaw are two great cities to be in touch with nature and do trekking while Kakku Pagodas are a must visit religious site.

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If Asian food is one of the best and most varied in the world, imagine a country with its own delicious cuisine plus a healthy dose of Asian ingredients and cooking styles. Burmese cuisine is also very healthy, favoring fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as fish products like fish sauce and fish paste and fermented seafood.

Here are three of the most popular and authentic Shan State dishes: Shan Noodles Shan noodles are one of the most popular dishes in Myanmar. You will find them in every teahouse and restaurant. You can have them either as a soup or as a salad, and in both cases the sauce is the same. The noodles are different. The ones used for the soup are sticky and flat rice noodles, whereas the ones used for the salad are thick and round rice noodles. To prepare the sauce, they blend tomatoes and then add salt, sugar, oil, sugar cane sauce and paprika. Then everything goes in a pot to boil .

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PEOPLE AND LIFESTYLE 2- Shan Yellow Rice Cake with Tomato Sauce This is one of the dishes, when tasted, gets glued to your memory and taste buds forever. For cooking the rice, there is no trick, just wash it, add water, turmeric powder for the yellow color, salt and a little bit of chicken powder. There are two different tomato sauces, one to mix with the rice and the other to put on top of the rice cake. For the first one, cut tomatoes in half, add salt and cook them in a pot until you have a sauce. Leave to cool. Remove the tomato skin. Then, you stir the yellow rice to make it a little bit sticky and mix it with this tomato sauce. Before pouring all the tomato sauce, separate some in a bowl and add turmeric oil. Use this mix to wet your hands and season the rice cake while you shape it. The second tomato sauce to add on top of the cake is the key. To prepare it, heat oil and add onions, garlic, fermented soya bean powder, dried chilli powder and turmeric powder. Then, add grained tomatoes, salt and chicken powder. At this point, you can also add coriander or spring onion and chicken or pork.

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There is always another side sauce to add on top of the cake, turmeric and garlic sauce. Just heat oil, fry garlic and then add turmeric powder. Its crunchy-garlic touch is amazing. And any cracker like pork skin, bean or rice goes perfectly well with this dish. 3- Black Sesame Seed and Sticky Rice Cake (KhorPoat)

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This is a very traditional snack in Shan State made with purple rice, black and round sesame seeds and salt.

It is really interesting to see how they prepare it. They, place the cooked rice into a stone “bowl” situated on the ground and add black round sesame seeds (already mashed) and salt. Then there is a “wooden machine” that smashes and mixes it to form the dough. To sell it, they separate the dough into small portions of the same size and wrap it in banana leaf so that it doesn’t dry. The most popular and tasty way of having it is fried or barbequed, although you can also eat it raw. It is usually eaten in winters and served with brown sugar or jaggery on the side. It only costs between 100-200 kyats ($0.1 – 0.2).

Content and Picture Courtesy- Mr. Juan Gallardo, Writer at Myanmar Travel Essentials Juan has travelled extensively to discover everything about Burmese cuisine, tasting traditional dishes cooked for him by the locals. It is these amazing dishes, the warmth of the people and the beauty of the land that is captured in his book “Delicious Myanmar”.

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TOURISM WIN IN MYANMAR

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WILDLIFE MATTERS

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Bagan: A jewel of Southeast Asia Lying on the banks of the mighty Irrawaddy river - 150 kilometres south west of Mandalay, the vast plain of Bagan is a home to thousands of Buddhist temples that combine to form one of the richest archaeological sites in Southeast Asia and an extraordinary testament to the religious devotion of Myanmar’s people and rulers over the centuries. Along with offering views quite unlike anywhere else on the earth, one of the beauties of spending time in what is now officially called the Bagan Archaeological Zone is that, once you have paid your K25,000 entry fee, you have the freedom to explore this fascinating area at your own leisure. Bagan is in general more-touristy and possibly less of the ‘real Myanmar’ than other parts of the country, but despite obvious sales ploys such as multitude of children selling handdrawn postcards, you will rarely suffer the hard sell – and the locals remain warm and friendly.

thirteenth century. This kingdom was the first to unify the area that is now Myanmar, establishing the Burmese culture and ethnicity as well as Theravada Buddhism in the region. Over this period of rule, as the city and kingdom grew in stature, over ten thousand temples were built on the surrounding plains.

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Mongol invasions eventually led to the fall of the Kingdom of Pagan,

the city was reduced to a small settlement, never to recover its past glory. The area did, however, remain a destination for Buddhist pilgrimage. A few hundred temples were added between the thirteenth and twentieth century, but the extensive earthquake damage over the years meant only 2,200 temples remained, in differing states of repair. Indeed, over the last five hundred

An ancient kingdom Bagan (formerly known as Pagan) was the capital of a large influential kingdom from the ninth to the MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

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WILDLIFE MATTERS

years, many of the existing temples have been renovated – a process continuing till date, has yielded mixed results. Many say that Bagan has not attained the UNESCO World Heritage site status due to the Myanmar government’s insensitive updates in the 1990s, although it is once again being considered. However, the area is large enough and there remains so much of what is original still to see, that none of this stops the area from being a unique wonder to behold. A vast and diverse area Each of the 2,200 plus temples, stupas and pagodas has its own unique story to tell, and many can be freely explored inside and out. Some are locked, but even if you are travelling around without a guide, you can sometimes find a friendly local nearby to open them for you. The most spectacular time to see the temples is when the sun dramatically rises and falls over the plain at dawn or dusk. A large earthquake hit Bagan in 2016 and caused significant damage to some of the temples, but ironically, much of it was to the more modern additions to the then ancient structures. Many MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

believe that the quake may actually end up encouraging more sensitive development in the area, and the vast majority of temples are now once again free to be explored.

of your time. Bear in mind that it can get hot and dusty when cycling, particularly during hotter times of the year, so carrying water is essential and helps you beat the heat. You can pick up refreshments at the many restaurants and tea shops in the area.

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Exploring the temples and plain There are a number of ways to explore the area: • By Bicycle This is the cheapest way to get around, and allows the most freedom to do as you choose; the plain is too large to explore by foot, but getting around by bike allows you to get to most of the temples. Almost all hotels and guesthouses offer them for hire, as do various restaurants and shops on the popular ‘Restaurant Row’ in the town of Nyaung U. You can also cheaply hire an electric bike – though on the flat plains of Bagan, the advantages over a bicycle are minimal (tourists are not allowed to use motorbikes in the area). You can pick up a free tourist map showing you the main points of interest; although you are unlikely to get seriously lost, it is worth planning your trip in advance to make the most (36)

• Horse and Cart Guided Tour This is the most romantic way to tour the temples. Most drivers can speak minimum English and have the profound knowledge of better routes around the temples along with few hidden gems. However, horses have to follow more well-trodden tracks than bicycles, as there are areas they cannot reach. Prices range from K15,000 to K25,000 for a day, depending on the season. • By Car If you want to avoid the heat and dust completely, take an air conditioned taxi or minibus. This is naturally the most comfortable way to get around, and most drivers speak some English. Cars will usually cost between $20 and $50 per day, depending on the season and how far you travel. • By Hot Air Balloon Vol 19: Sept 2017

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WIN IN MYANMAR

The most exotic and spectacular way to see the temples is to head to the sky. Trips cost USD285 per person, and offer a unique view of the plain and temples. You should always book well in advance, particularly at popular times of the year such as Christmas and the New Year (the ballooning season runs from October to April).

late December, which celebrates the traditional lives of farmers in the area; locals come from surrounding villages in their decorated bullock carts and camp on the plain. Theatrical troupes provide entertainment, and on the final daybreak, there are formal alms given to monks who live in the nearby monastery.

Taking two or more days and using different forms of transport can be the best way to explore the plains. If you see the highlights by horse and cart or hot air balloon, then following it up with a bike ride can be the ideal way to find the specific temples that have taken your fancy.

• The Gawdaw Palin Pagoda which sits on the banks of the Irrawaddy River

A guide to the top temples The best approach to explore temples is with a guide, but you can also get some advice from a friendly local and start exploring on your own. There are some sites that should not be missed, which include: • The large and the beautifully maintained Ananda Pagoda – A huge festival takes place here in MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

• The Myoe Daung Monastery – a beautiful teak-built structure and the imposing Tharabar Gate in Old Bagan. • The distinctive red brick Dhammayangyi temple, covering the largest area of all the temples in the area. • The tallest structure on the plain, The That Byin Nyu temple. • Amazing sunrise and sunset views from the Shwesandaw Pagoda and Pyathada pagodas. As of the new season starting in October 2017, there will also be a number (37)

of new hilltop viewpoints to stop overcrowding on the temples, and hopefully climbing on the temples will be restricted.

Of all the pagodas in Bagan, the Shwezigon Pagoda in Nyaung U is like a traditional Myanmar temple complex.

Away from the towns and most famous temples, exploring off beaten tracks can be a lot of fun ; the pagodas that can be found east of Nyaung U, along the banks of the Irrawaddy, are a good example. Here you will find open temples with beautifully preserved interiors, from the top of which you will see fantastic views over the river – and hardly other tourists. For more background, history and more impressive collection of artefacts from the region, head to the Bagan Archaeological Museum, located off the main road near the river bank in Old Bagan (entry$5).

Content and Photo Courtesy Marcus Allender, Founder, Go-Myanmar.com Vol 19: Sept 2017

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MYANMAR INDIA CONNECT WIN IN MYANMAR

MYANMAR MATTERS

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His Excellency Mr. Maung Wai, Ambassador of Myanmar to the Republic of India, with the edition of Myanmar Matters

L-R: Kamal Pandya (Mentor, Myanmar Matters), H.E. Mr. Maung Wai (Ambassador of Myanmar to the Republic of India), Ms. Yin Yin Nwe (Economic Counsellor)

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Myanmar - India –North East Connect - Business

IFFCO SIGNS MOU WITH SIKKIM TO DIVERSIFY ITS BUSINESS

WINDr. INUMYANMAR S Awasthi, Managing Director, IFFCO With wide-ranging business interests and models, India’s biggest processed fertilizer cooperative – IFFCO has expressed its plans to explore business possibilities and opportunities across the organic food market segment and food processing sector. Constantly striving to expand, diversify and mature its business canvas, IFFCO has inked an agreement with the Government of Sikkim with an initial investment of Rs.200 crore, which shall increase to Rs.500 crore gradually.

purpose of creating value additions in the food processing sector. Reputed for harvesting natural sea plants, with particular emphasis on seaweed cultivation, Aquagri’s innovative solutions, apart from adding values to the industries of animal husbandry, food processing and agriculture, are also a potential source of ameliorating community living through employment generation.

In this joint venture, IFFCO shall hold majority stake of 51 percent equity and 49 percent equity shall be held by the Government of Sikkim.

One of the significant engagements of Aquagri revolves around the development of organic product portfolio by making use of humic substances, bio actives and alternate sources of nutrition.

For this venture, the superlative technological expertise and innovative knowledge of Aquagri Processing Private Limited has been leveraged by IFFCO and Aquagri‘s 50 percent shareholding has also been acquired for Rs.11 crore for the

One of the pivotal products – a biostimulant - SAGARIKA, developed collectively by Aquagri and IFFCO, has been appreciated and valued by the farmers for espousing qualities that enhance crop productivity and is capable of resisting stress.

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Capitalizing on this union, IFFCO is all prepared and energized to exhibit a variety of organic and nonchemical based products for crop nutrition. With the vision to enrich the entire northeastern region as a mega organic agricultural zone, Sikkim’s MOU with IFFCO has led the state in being responsible in facilitating the industrial level mass production and packaging of the organic products. The accessibility and the reach of the products within the length and breadth of the northeastern region shall be taken care of by two IFFCO e-bazar centers in all the RainbowStates as planned by IFFCO. Dr. U S Awasthi, Managing Director, IFFCO remarks, “Nobel ventures and good ideas which don’t result in profitable enterprises are quickly forgotten, as they are not sustainable. We are looking forward to exploring the organic opportunities across the country.” Vol 19: Sept 2017

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Myanmar India Connect

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North-East’s largest ISBT ready to be operational Another milestone has been clocked in the North-Eastern region of India: development of largest and most comprehensive Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT) in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Its operations are slated to begin by mid-August post its official inauguration by the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Mr. Pema Khandu. Spaciously structured to deliver multiple amenities, the ISBT in the Lekhi village, Naharlagun has been constructed by the Department of Urban Development (UD) at a cost of Rs.2039 lakhs. Translating this project into a MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

holistic model of convenience and easy accessibility, this space is laden with special facilities such as private areas for breastfeeding mothers, special attention has also been paid to differently-abled people. Apart from this, segmented sections catering to taxis, private and government bus services have also been taken care of in an organized manner, along with neatly spaced out areas allotted for the parking of inter and intercity vehicles. With the area spread of 86460 square feet, this inter-state bus terminal is being regarded as the largest ISBT in the Rainbow States of India. (42)

Assistant Urban Programme Officer Mr. Yumlam Alam said,” We have constructed 5 rooms fitted with modern facilities which will function as tourist lodge. Besides, a dormitory room along with office for tourist information officer has been constructed. Also, there will be restaurants, food courts, two ATM counters, newspaper/magazine shops, separate toilet facilities for ladies and gentlemen.” The inauguration of ISBT would be a retreat from congested traffic ailments and aid in sculpting efficient transport services in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Vol 19: Sept 2017

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MYANMAR - INDIA CONNECT - NORTH EAST-TECHNOLOGY

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Mizoram Embarks on Solar Power Projects In the quest to provide sustainable power solutions and meet its 10.5 % renewable purchase obligation by 2021-22, the state of Mizoram has articulated and given a concrete shape to its Solar Power Policy, advocating 80MW worth solar projects in 2017. With the ambitious plan of scaling investments in the solar sector, multiple incentives have been ensured, encouraging the development of solar projects, with special emphasis on rooftop and ground mounted placements. Apart from focusing on decentralized and off-grid power projects; solar street and solar home lighting MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

system, solar water pumping and solar power plants, Mizoram’s solar power policy’s range of incentives involve – Rs.115 per Watt for a microgrid of up to 10 kW, Rs. 99 per Watt for a mini grid of 10 Kw to 500 kW. An installation of 1 kilo watt to 500 kilo watt qualifies for an incentive of 70% of the benchmark cost and an incentive of Rs. 20 lakh /MW can be received for emplacing a project in a solar park. The Government of Mizoram has shown interest in issuing incentives worth 50 lakhs / MW to the farmers and the jobless on account of their participation in developing a project in the solar park. The policy has strict stipulations (43)

with regard to all official state departments and institutions, along with the government of Mizoram, in installing solar rooftop systems. The policy formulates the setting up of grid-connected rooftop solar projects in all the buildings of the state, within the contracted capacity of 1KW and above. Further incentives are in the form of 100% refund of the stamp duty on land purchased for the purpose of development of solar projects in the state. All facilities vis-à-vis manufacturing, production and other ancillary engagements have been resorted to electricity duty exemptions Vol 19: Sept 2017

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Myanmar - India Connect - North EastINFRASTRUCTURE

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Prime Minister of Japan and India - Mr. Shinzo Abe and Mr. Narendra Modi respectively

Japan to aid North-East India’s Infrastructural interests Japanese involvement in India’s keystone infrastructural projects has significantly contributed in supplementing India’s growth stories. Its efforts and interest remain relentless and persistent as it embarks upon developing and boosting infrastructural prospects in the North - East of India, while leveraging on the North-eastern pool of resources and its proximity with the South-East Asian countries. With India being weighed as the gateway to the South East region, and also actively interested in pursuing its Act East policy, Japan’s interest in providing its technical know-how, expertise and experience in the realm of connectivity based infrastructure: roads, railways, MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

electricity, disaster management, forest resource management and so on, is loud and clear. Against this backdrop, the Coordination Forum for Development of North – East has been set up by India and Japan to expedite infrastructural development in the North Eastern part of India, after the Ministry of Development of NorthEastern Region (DONER) recognizes the priority areas that require immediate attention and operations. The India - Japan Cooperation Forum for Development of NorthEast included officials from external affairs, finance, road transport, power as important participants, along with Japan Embassy’ s ambassador, Mr. Kenji Hiramatsu (44)

and DONER Minister, Mr. Jitendra Singh, who inaugurated the forum. The relationship between Japan and India has strategically gained significance and both the countries look forward to an engaging peopleto-people and cultural exchange platform to seek, supplement and strengthen developmental opportunities, while maintaining and building historic relations. As per the International Community, Japan and India have the potential to be mutually-giving partners, with the surfeit of North-Eastern manpower available to boost Japan’s economy and Japan’s intrinsic and engaging interest in developing the NorthEastern part of India. Vol 19: Sept 2017

Myanmar - India Connect - North EastINFRASTRUCTURE

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Free LPG connections being distributed to the beneficiaries

WIN IN MYANMAR North-East India builds energy cooperation mechanism with Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal On a majestic mission to build a smooth and seamless energy cooperation mechanism, massive pipelines connecting Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal, shall be strategically laid out by India to put off the challenges caused by the treacherous terrains of the North-East of India. The scope of the project is integrative and ambitious in nature as the aforementioned neighboring countries have united to commence the initial operations. This mechanism would facilitate convenience in transporting petroleum products such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), diesel and other variants. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan envisioned the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;North East Hydrocarbon vision 2030â&#x20AC;&#x2122; with the MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

aim to augment the hydrocarbon production in the North-East of India, proposing an investment of Rs.1, 30,000 crore over 15 years. About 6, 900 km of pipeline shall be stretched across the regions of Sitwe (Myanmar), Chittagong (Bangladesh),North-East of India, and the Siliguri and Durgapur regions of West Bengal. This geographical connectivity across regions is a strategic and a well-planned move to steer away from wastage, inflammation, and most crucially, benefit the masses by meeting their essential needs for clean cooking gas and fuel. Aligned to this goal, the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) scheme was introduced by the Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi to aid the women beneficiaries populating the Below Poverty Line strata. The (45)

scheme has managed to distribute LPG connection to about 2.7 crore beneficiaries, post its launch in May 2017. Remarking on the foundation stone laying ceremony for an LPG bottling plant at the industrial park of Bodhjungnagar, Mr. Pradhan further shared, "The proposed bottling plant at Bodhjungnagar would be able to cater to the rising demand of cooking gas in Tripura. Existing Silchar (in southern Assam) bottling plant's capacity would also be augmented by 60 metric ton per annum ensuring smooth supply of LPG in the Northeastern states." With the aspiration of adding 10 crore new LPG connections by 2019, in order to attain maximum coverage of the households of India, the energy mechanism has been put in place. Vol 19: Sept 2017

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Myanmar - India Connect - North EastINFRASTRUCTURE

WIN IN MYANMAR Assam Chief Minister Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal

BAMBOO TECHNOLOGY PARK

INAUGURATED BY THE CHIEF MINISTER OF ASSAM IN GUWAHATI

The North-East of India is considered a paradise abound with unique and exquisite natural resources. Recently, Bamboo Technology Park was instituted at Chaygaon in Assam with an investment of Rs. 62.28 crore. Bamboo is an abundant and a highly valued natural resource found in the North-East of India, particularly in Assam. Its anti-erosional and renewable property makes it a multipurpose resource. Due to its varied usage, it is copiously cultivated in the homesteads, village gardens, and MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

agricultural lands and even in the field boundaries. While inaugurating the Bamboo Technological Park in the vicinity of Guwahati, Chief Minister of Assam, Mr. Sonowal stated, “There are hundreds of MSME’s that produces incense sticks and bamboo handicraft products. Two very large paper plants are in Assam that use bamboo as raw material.” The park has been equipped with the modern Common Facility Centre for producing creative and innovative (46)

bamboo products. The facilities include vaccum pressure treatment plant, bamboo stick and resin making facility, to name a few. The cumulative efforts of private entrepreneurs, the Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC), and the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion helped in establishing the Bamboo Technology Park, with the view to ensure optimum utilization of bamboo at the commercial level.

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Our Beautiful Neighbours - BANGLADESH

China to bolster Bangladesh‘s development projects

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To accelerate business and bilateral relations between China and Bangladesh, an Investment Forum highlighting the business climate of Bangladesh underscoring potential investment sectors, policy regulations, trade opportunities and expansion possibilities, will take place in the last quarter of August. Sponsored by Bangladesh’s leading bank- The City Bank Limited and the Standard Chartered Bank, and organized by one of the most premier financial publications across the globe – Euromoney, the China-Bangladesh Investment Forum will be an attractive and a promising business crusade, bringing together institutional investors, portfolio managers, multilateral financiers , government officials, and global asset managers to explore potential business opportunities in Bangladesh and bolster the ChinaBangladesh trade relations as an outcome of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

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The Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh Mr. Abrar A. Anwar shares his view with regards to Bangladesh’s massive economic capacity, “There are a lot of investment opportunities coming out in Bangladesh, Asia and also around the globe. China is a major economy, so we believe that private sectors in China would be looking at opportunities outside China." Bangladesh plans to promote itself as an avid investment destination and welcome China’s investment interests while acknowledging China’s continued business cooperation with them. An informative podium engaged with discussions pertaining to capital and financial markets, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), infrastructure and MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

the like is anticipated. It has been highlighted that participation by Chinese private business companies will considerably push Bangladesh’s development strategy. However, to increase and ensure continued Chinese investments in Bangladesh, incentive generation and elimination of procedural bottlenecks has been (48)

insisted upon. This forum is monumental in attracting investments from China, which is being credited as the world’s largest source of FDI. This economic conference also aspires to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries, fueling longterm business impact and bilateral relationship. Vol 19: Sept 2017

Our Beautiful Neighbours - BANGLADESH

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World’s first floating LNG terminal to be constructed in Bangladesh

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The Moheshkhali Floating LNG project will be Bangladesh’s first LNG import terminal, located off Moheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal. The project’s purpose is to meet clean energy demands of the country by generating natural gas in enhanced capacities; by up to 20%. US$ 179.5m has been secured by IFC (International Finance Corporation) and Excelerate (Excelerate Energy Bangladesh) to fund the project. Excelerate's Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Nick Bedford, believes, "Excelerate takes great pride in helping bring sustainable energy solutions to countries with high energy demand, and we expect this project to have a great impact on the wider Bangladeshi economy." On implementation, the project anticipates an increase in the natural gas supplies of the state-owned MYANMAR MATTERS Vol 12: June - July 2015

energy company - Petrobangla, by up to 3,000MW. The construction of the terminal has been slated to begin in the later months of 2017 and shall be put to practice in the succeeding year of 2018. Excelerate shall be responsible for the project in its entirety; development, designing, construction, installation, finance and operations. The Moheshkhali Floating LNG terminal is being regarded as the first fully integrated turnkey floating LNG terminal of the world. Excelerate Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Rob Bryngelson remarked, "Excelerate is the only FSRU provider capable of delivering a comprehensive end-to-end floating LNG import solution and we look forward to a long and productive relationship with Petrobangla in Bangladesh. Post 15 years of providing its services, (49)

the project’s ownership shall be transferred from Excelerate to Petrobangla. The structure of the terminal shall encompass Excelerate’s Floating Storage and Regasification units (FSRU), port service vessels and subsea buoy system. The development of the LNG terminal seeks to strengthen and support the power industry by tapping into diverse sources of natural gas reserves present in the global market. This may enable utilization of domestic natural gas reserves in a manner more efficient and sustainable and also aid in elevating economic growth levels through creation of job opportunities and infrastructure in the region, while shielding the Bangladeshi economy from the drastic impacts of climate change. Vol 19: Sept 2017

Our Beautiful Neighbours - Bangladesh

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India AND Bangladesh to construct a bridge over Khawthlangtuipui River WIN IN MYANMAR

To ensure enhancement in trade and ease in the connectivity of the two neighbouring countries; India and Bangladesh, the decision to construct a bridge over Mizoram’s Khawthlangtuipui River has been given a green signal. With Bangladesh, India shares the largest international land boundary; 4096 kms, most with any of its neighbours. Rowshan Ara Khanam, an official from Bangladesh shared, “The proposed bridge would be an important linkage between India and Bangladesh. The Bangladesh government has taken a number of steps to make it a reality. The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Ms. Sheikh Hasina has given the approval to construct the bridge and link roads.”

Also called Karnaphuli River

It has been suggested to construct the bridge nearest to the land custom station in Bangladesh. The effort aspires to strengthen ties between the working of both the countries; hassle free road connectivity and smooth communications. The meeting to roll out this decision was arranged at the Tlabung town, Mamit district in Mizoram which lies in close proximity with the Khagrachari district of Bangladesh.

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CONNECT

NORTH EAST

The Plus Factor

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