Government reforms are boosting Burma’s economy, which is projected to grow 6.5 percent in 2013, while foreign investment is surging, the Asian Development Bank says.
Thilawa gets a boost; Laos-Burma flights restart; Thein Sein visits China; Naypyidaw cuts arms trade with Pyongyang; and a Burmese oil boss is optimistic.
Cheap cellphone SIM cards will be available from April 24, starting with 350,000 cards to be distributed throughout the country.
Burma’s Ministry of Energy is expected to kick-start an international scramble for the country’s offshore oil and gas reserves, but questions remain about transparency.
Rip-offs hurting tourism; budget airline flock to Burma; sectarian strife unlikely to halt reforms; Burma’s rise to “challenge” Thailand; $6.5 billion invested since 2011.
Three proposed coal-fired power plants would double Burma’s electricity-generating capacity, but only at a considerable economic and environmental cost.
A source at the bank’s foreign exchange department said it would soon open the door for joint-venture applications.
Indonesia is seeking European investors for $9 billion worth of water, road, air and seaport projects in a litmus test for Southeast Asian countries.
Thai rice exporters, who have seen volumes slump because of a government intervention scheme, could shift some of their activities to Burma resurgent rice sector.
Ports “ripe” for investment; more currencies now exchangeable in Burma; “land racket” puts off investors; Burma gets 13th border crossing; Salween dam warning
Burma’s mobile phone market offers huge opportunities for international telecoms companies, but few in the country have the money to pay for the new technology.
Burma’s Parliament rejects a proposal to limit foreign ownership in certain sectors— including agriculture and businesses that could affect the environment—to 49 percent.
Mobile phone penetration in the country of 60 million is estimated to be a meagre 5-10 percent.
Burma’s market for pulses is no has been, as a new export deal signed with major wealthy nations for millions of tons of exports shows.
Danes seek Burma business; Singapore eyes Burma as food supplier; China pipeline in trouble; dams proceeding in secrecy; Singaporean investors uneasy over continued military dominance
Burma’s transition is unfolding rapidly, but the surge of international aid flowing into the country could cause more harm than help, a new study warns.
Burma’s rice export is growing rapidly, and on Wednesday Burmese, Thai and Vietnamese rice industry leaders met in Rangoon to coordinate their rice export plans.
Burma’s Central Bank loosens restrictions on how often foreigners can withdraw money from their foreign-currency accounts.
Business leaders promise “open doors” for investment in Burma at a Vietnam meeting, but no one mentions human rights.
Rangoon to get new hotels; announcement expected for offshore exploration blocks; Burma’s World Economic Forum to be Asia’s biggest; Burma not disaster-ready; Russian arms deals
