PWC MYANMAR WEEKLY BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE - ISSUE NO. 231 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2020

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PWC MYANMAR WEEKLY BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE - ISSUE NO. 231 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2020
PwC Myanmar Weekly
Business Intelligence
Issue No. 231

20 September 2020
PWC MYANMAR WEEKLY BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE - ISSUE NO. 231 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2020
Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

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PWC MYANMAR WEEKLY BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE - ISSUE NO. 231 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2020
PwC Myanmar Weekly Business Intelligence
                                                                                                                         MIC
                                              Financial and                         Policy and          Tender                          Upcoming
           Issue - 231, 20 Sep 2020             Business
                                                                 Infrastructure
                                                                                    Regulation        Opportunities
                                                                                                                      Permitted
                                                                                                                                         Events
                                                                                                                       Projects

                                                                                                                           Infrastructure
                                                                                                                                Infrastructure
       Highlights
       •     “A second stock exchange, or pre-listing board, will be set up for the purpose of trading shares in
                                                                                                                                   Transport
             public companies that have yet to list on the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX), said U Maung Maung
             Win, who is Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance, and Industry”                                                      •   Dala bridge construction suspended over COVID-19 cases
       •     “The Union Election Commission (UEC) on Monday rejected calls to postpone the November 8                              •   UK launches $3.4 million project to redesign two major streets in Yangon
             general elections amid the worsening COVID-19 pandemic in the country.”                                               •   Daw Suu under pressure to drop car import licences for govt officials
       •     “Deutsche Bank is providing a US$43mn accounts receivable purchase facility to China National                         Energy
             Technical Import & Export Corporation (CNTIC) for the construction of a power generation project
             in Myanmar.                                                                                                           •   Half of CNG stations to be closed in Yangon amid COVID infection spike

       •     “Myanmar will extend a 2 percent withholding tax exemption on exported goods and import license                       •   Deutsche Bank provides Sinosure-backed facility for Myanmar power project
             fees until December to allow companies to manage their cash flows.“                                                   •   Myanmar, S. Korea Pledge to Step Up Cooperation on Trade, Investment, Energy
                                                                                                                                   Real Estate
            Financial and Business                                                                                                 •   Myanmar races to build field hospital as coronavirus surge stretches health system
                                                                                                                                   •   YCDC plans to implement Htantabin Industrial Park Project in year-end
  •        Myanmar to set up second stock exchange for public companies
                                                                                                                                   •   SEZs rake in $1.34 bln under incumbent government
  •        Withholding tax exemption extended until December in Myanmar
                                                                                                                                   Waste and Water
  •        Border trade on hold as Myanmar, Thailand add restrictions
                                                                                                                                   •   Potable water, sanitation access improved in Myanmar
  •        Despite Current Economic Fallout in Myanmar, ADB Forecasts a Bounce
  •        Myanmar’s fintech firm NearMe raises 7-digit funding from Sumitomo Corporation
                                                                                                                                   Other Infra
                                                                                                                                   •   Myanmar to focus on building up post-COVID-19 economy
           Policy and Regulation                                                                                                   •   Fibre service providers see strong market amidst coronavirus crisis

  •        Carter Center Launches Election Monitoring Mission in Myanmar
  •        UEC rejects calls to postpone Myanmar elections
  •        No plans to delay tax hikes on unassessed income, Myanmar govt says
  •        Myanmar’s NLD Says Postponing November Election Would Lead to Chaos
                                                                                                                                                                                                               20 September 2020
  •        As cases decline in Rakhine, residents hope for end to restrictions
 PwC                                                                                                                                                                                                                          3
PWC MYANMAR WEEKLY BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE - ISSUE NO. 231 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2020
Financial and Business

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PWC MYANMAR WEEKLY BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE - ISSUE NO. 231 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2020
Financial and Business
                                                                                                        Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

      Myanmar to set up second stock exchange for public                                                                         Myanmar aviation sector expected to become
                         companies                                                                                                  profitable, but more pain ahead first
                                              15 Sep 2020                                                                                                                  27 Jan 2020

A second stock exchange, or pre-listing board,         be established to fill this gap. Establishing this                Myanmar’s aviation industry is betting on a more            tourist attractions in the future,” U Kyaw Nyein.
will be set up for the purpose of trading shares in    market creates the right environment for unlisted                 profitable future with the number of airlines now           Air KBZ has also been expanding. Last year, it
public companies that have yet to list on the          public companies and exposes them to new                          reduced to half compared to 2017 and demand                 upgraded its fleet of planes and announced new
Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX), said U Maung              challenges and opportunities that raise their                     for domestic air travel expected to catch up with           destinations to Dawei , Kaw Thaung , Myeik,
Maung Win, who is Deputy Minister for Planning,        potential of listing on the YSX in the future," said              supply. However, they will have to swallow more             Sittwe, Kyaingtong, Hkamti and Loikaw. its sister
Finance, and Industry as well as Chair of the          U Yin Zaw Myo, Managing Director of the YSX.                      losses in the short term before things get better.          airline, Myanmar Airways International, added a
Securities and Exchange Commission of                  The new board will be established with the                        There are currently five airlines in Myanmar,               new Airbus A319 to its fleet, expanding its
Myanmar (SECM). However, no further details            approval of the Ministry of Planning, Finance,                    down from ten three years ago. But even though              capacity by 144 passengers.
were provided on when this would take place.           and Industry and under the supervision of the                     there are fewer players now in the market, the              Tanes Kumar, commercial director for Air KBZ,
"The pre-listing board is for investors to buy and     SECM.                                                             volume of passengers flying domestic remains                said even though the new routes are not yet
sell the shares of Myanmar public companies            Although less stringent than listing on the YSX,                  below three million, according to government                profitable, the main aim of adding new
that have yet to meet the criteria to be listed on     public companies will also need to meet the                       data.                                                       destinations is to expand the airline’s network
the YSX," U Maung Maung Win said, adding that          requirements of the second board before their                      At those levels, demand is not sufficient to cover         and connectivity. “This gives passengers more
in other countries, secondary listing boards are       shares are open for trading.                                      the industry’s losses, U Kyaw Nyein, CEO of                 options and allows employees to learn new skills
common to enable companies that have yet to            Discussions to establish a second stock                           Golden Myanmar Airlines (GMA), told The                     for more expansion in the future,” he said.
meet main board listing criteria to raise capital by   exchange for public companies commenced last                      Myanmar Times in a recent interview.
selling their shares.                                  year. The move is also expected to create an                      But profitability is possible in the years ahead,
This will be beneficial to small and medium-sized      official platform for the trading of shares in                    making it a good time for the remaining airlines to         Source: Myanmar Times
enterprises (SMEs) in particular, a they will have     public companies. Currently, the shares are                       accelerate their plans for expansion to capitalise
                                                                                                                                                                                     https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanma
the opportunity to raise capital, U Maung Maung        traded in the over the counter (OTC) market,                      on future demand, according to a 2019 report by
                                                                                                                                                                                     r-aviation-sector-expected-become-
Win said.                                              which is loosely regulated.                                       the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.
There are currently more than 260 public                                                                                  Last year, GMA took delivery of a new aircraft,            profitable-more-pain-ahead-first.html
companies registered under the Myanmar                                                                                   taking its current fleet of ATR-72s to three. “With
Companies Law. Only six public companies are                                                                             the additional seats, we can now fly daily
listed on the YSX.                                     Source: Myanmar Times                                             compared to alternate days before. We will also
“Most public companies do not meet the criteria        https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-set-                         extend our destinations to include more flights to
for listing on the YSX. So, a pre-listing board will   second-stock-exchange-public-companies.html                       Dawei and Kaw Thaung, which could be potential

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PWC MYANMAR WEEKLY BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE - ISSUE NO. 231 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2020
Financial and Business
                                                                                               Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

      Withholding tax exemption extended until December                                                                  Border trade on hold as Myanmar, Thailand add
                         in Myanmar                                                                                                        restrictions
                                            17 Sep 2020                                                                                                             18 Sep 2020

Myanmar will extend a 2 percent withholding tax                                                                 Trade at Tachileik, Shan State, the border town             enter Myanmar, hundreds of vehicles are now
exemption on exported goods and import license                                                                  between Myanmar and Thailand, has come to a                 stranded on the Thai side since September 17.
fees until December to allow companies to                                                                       standstill now that Thai authorities are allowing           “More than 200 small vehicles and more than
manage their cash flows.                                                                                        just six vehicles with a Myanmar number plate to            100 trucks are now stranded in Thailand. As we
The National Level Central Committee on                                                                         enter Mae Sai in Thailand.                                  export less goods to Thailand, it does not affect
Prevention, Control and treatment of COVID-19                                                                   The move was announced and made effective by                us as much. However, their side is facing
has decided to extend the exemptions and reliefs                                                                Thai authorities on September 17 as part of                 difficulty as Thai exports to Myanmar are worth
until December. The Ministry of Planning and                                                                    measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.                 more than THB1billion per month,” he said.
Finance has also extended the deadline on                                                                       Initially, the Thai authorities had said 168 trucks         Although both sides had agreed in principle to
paying income and commercial taxes. The                                                                         and one driver per vehicle will be allowed to               implement COVID-19 restrictions simultaneously
Central Committee will issue instructions based                                                                 cross the No.2 Friendship Bridge between the                and only after negotiations, Thailand appears to
on the COVID-19 situation,” said U Khin Maung                                                                   two countries.                                              have set unilateral rules which Myanmar has
Lwin, assistant secretary of the Ministry of                                                                    But as it will allow only six Myanmar cars to enter         since reciprocated.
Commerce.                                                                                                       Mae Sai a day, traders from Myanmar are                     “While border trade was going smoothly, they
The 2pc withholding tax exemption on exports                                                                    planning to do the same.                                    [Thai side] have started to break the agreement.
will be extended from September until December                                                                  "To reciprocate, we’ll allow only six vehicles from         Now, the Myanmar side is likely to ease the
and fees to renew import and export licenses                                                                    the Thai side to cross over to Myanmar,” said U             restrictions only when the Thais come and
nearing expiry will be temporarily extended until                                                               Sai Sai, chair of the Kyaing Tong-Tachileik                 negotiate after relaxing their measures,” said U
December, according to the Ministry of                                                                          Border Trade Chambers of Commerce in                        Sai Sai.
Commerce in a September 15 announcement.                                                                        Myanmar.                                                    Previously, an estimate of around 200 Toyota
Applications can be done online.                                                                                Tachileik authorities have also issued new                  HiAce vehicles from Myanmar and more than
License extension applications for up to five                                                                   restrictions and checks on Thai drivers at the              100 Thai trucks pass through the Mae Sai-
years will be made available although license                                                                   border, such as requiring Thai vehicles to                  Tarchileik border trade gate on a daily basis.
extension fees will remain the same.                Source: Myanmar Times                                       register and obtain approval from the Myanmar
Import license application fees will be capped at   https://www.mmtimes.com/news/withholding-tax-               authorities before being permitted to trade in the          Source: Myanmar Times
K 30,000 to the end of December as well.            exemption-extended-until-december-                          country at a fixed date.                                    https://www.mmtimes.com/news/border-trade-
Usually, the fees are K 30,000 to K 90,000          myanmar.html                                                U Sai Sai said as Thai drivers are not allowed to           hold-myanmar-thailand-add-restrictions.html

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PWC MYANMAR WEEKLY BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE - ISSUE NO. 231 - 20 SEPTEMBER 2020
Financial and Business
                                                                                                         Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

      Despite Current Economic Fallout in Myanmar, ADB                                                                       Myanmar’s fintech firm NearMe raises 7-digit funding
                      Forecasts a Bounce                                                                                                from Sumitomo Corporation
                                               15 Sep 2020                                                                                                                 16 Sep 2020

Although Myanmar’s GDP growth has fallen to             year on year, said ADB.                                           Myanmar fintech startup NearMe has raised a 7-              NearMe was rebranded from 1-Stop, initially an
1.8 percent due to the effects of COVID-19, the         It said manufacturing, especially garment                         digit US dollar funding from Japanese                       e-commerce platform for rural Myanmar
Asian Development Bank (ADB) has reported               production, has been affected in both demand                      conglomerate Sumitomo Corporation to enhance                launched by B2B fintech firm 2C2P.
that growth is forecast to bounce back to 6             and supplies. Cuts in new orders, supply delays                   digital payments access for its SMEs clients.               2C2P raised $52 million in equity funding from a
percent in 2021.                                        and reduction of the workforce pushed the                         Founded in 2015, NearMe (formerly known as 1-               consortium     of    investors   including   the
The bank’s Wellness in Worrying Times: Asian            purchasing managers’ index down in April to the                   Stop) provides a retail digital services platform           International   Finance     Corporation,   Cento
Development Outlook 2020 forecasts Myanmar’s            lowest reading recorded, the report said.                         for its retailers and agents, mostly SMEs, to do            Ventures and Arbor Ventures last year. The
GDP growth for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30          It said agriculture is less effected by COVID-19                  transactions such as goods purchases, loan                  company has set aside $15 million from the
will fall by more than a half due to COVID-19.          than other sectors and has been supported by                      repayment, public utilities and flight and bus              proceeds to make its own venture capital
However, the projected GDP would bounce back            strong domestic and international demand.                         tickets, among others. The company claims to                investments.
almost as dramatically, ADB said.                       “Growth in agricultural exports — mainly rice,                    have over 50,000 retail partners nationwide.                Financial services in Myanmar are increasingly
It said growth will be supported by a stable            beans and other pulses — accelerated by 19.5                      The funding will enable NearMe to expand its                evincing investor attention. This year, Wave
performance in agriculture, higher government           percent in the first three quarters of the current                digital solutions to help its retail partners adopt         Money snapped up investments worth $150
spending        and      expansion        in      the   fiscal year, from October 2019 to June 2020,                      and accelerate their digitisation process and               million from Yoma Strategic Holdings and
telecommunications sector.                              over the same period of the previous fiscal year,”                growth post-COVID-19, the startup said in a                 Alibaba‘s financial arm Ant Group. Meanwhile,
ADB reported Myanmar’s GDP growth at 6.7                it said.                                                          statement.                                                  DAWN Microfinance has secured a $7.5 million
percent in the last fiscal year before falling to 4.2   However, the bank warned that exposure to                         “We are seeing an accelerated digitisation of the           commitment from Dutch development bank FMO
percent in April and 1.8 percent since June.            extreme weather, such as flooding, still poses                    Myanmar economy during this time. The                       and Yoma Bank is raising almost $89 million
Since March, Myanmar’s economy has                      risks to growth.                                                  pandemic is spurring many small and medium-                 from GIC and Norfund.
significantly slowed down due to travel                 It reported on the sharp contraction in the                       sized companies to adopt digitisation much
restrictions and supply chain blockages. The            garment industry as manufacturing exports in the                  quicker in order to grow their business and
garment industry, small- and medium-sized               first three quarters of the fiscal year dropped year              service their customers better,” said Lynn Htaik
enterprises, hotel and tourism and trade have           on year by 4.4 percent.                                           Aung, CEO at NearMe.
been hit badly by the pandemic.                         Source: The Irrawaddy                                             The startup also said it will leverage Sumitomo’s
The tourism industry has been severely affected         https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/despite-                     network of affiliates to support NearMe’s retail            Source: Deal Street Asia
since April. From October 2019 to July 2020,            current-economic-fallout-myanmar-adb-                             partners, especially for digital payment                    https://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/myanmar-
international tourist arrivals fell by 60.7 percent     forecasts-bounce.html                                             acceptance and B2B distribution.                            nearme-206948/

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Infrastructure

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Infrastructure                                                   Transport
                                                                                                      Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

      Dala bridge construction suspended over COVID-19                                                                         Myanmar aviation sector expected to become
                             cases                                                                                                profitable, but more pain ahead first
                                             17 Sep 2020                                                                                                                 27 Jan 2020

Construction works on the Dala bridge will be         “Although the Korean company prohibited the                      Myanmar’s aviation industry is betting on a more            tourist attractions in the future,” U Kyaw Nyein.
suspended after four Myanmar engineers from           sick employees from doing work, the Myanmar                      profitable future with the number of airlines now           Air KBZ has also been expanding. Last year, it
the construction team tested positive for COVID-      company allowed them to continue on the site,”                   reduced to half compared to 2017 and demand                 upgraded its fleet of planes and announced new
19, U Tun Yin, regional Hluttaw MP from Dala,         he said                                                          for domestic air travel expected to catch up with           destinations to Dawei , Kaw Thaung , Myeik,
said.                                                 “The four positive cases are Myanmar engineers.                  supply. However, they will have to swallow more             Sittwe, Kyaingtong, Hkamti and Loikaw. its sister
“It is impossible to continue the construction        We don’t know how many workers are at the site,                  losses in the short term before things get better.          airline, Myanmar Airways International, added a
work. If we do not suspend work now, the virus        and we’re not allowed to enter and we haven’t                    There are currently five airlines in Myanmar,               new Airbus A319 to its fleet, expanding its
will spread to everyone. We decided to halt work      seen anyone in quarantine yet. The site has                      down from ten three years ago. But even though              capacity by 144 passengers.
on the bridge,” he said.                              been covered with 20-foot corrugated zinc                        there are fewer players now in the market, the              Tanes Kumar, commercial director for Air KBZ,
“Three people had fallen sick last week, and          sheets,” U Tun Win, head of People’s Hospital in                 volume of passengers flying domestic remains                said even though the new routes are not yet
were encouraged to take the test. They initially      Dala, said.                                                      below three million, according to government                profitable, the main aim of adding new
didn’t want to take the test, and said they were      "They [site workers] have no contact with the                    data.                                                       destinations is to expand the airline’s network
just feeling tired. Three days later the              people. They have their own designated doctors                    At those levels, demand is not sufficient to cover         and connectivity. “This gives passengers more
number of people complaining of symptoms              and health care arranged by their company and                    the industry’s losses, U Kyaw Nyein, CEO of                 options and allows employees to learn new skills
increased to fifteen. We cannot confirm the exact     they are not related to us. In short, we don't know              Golden Myanmar Airlines (GMA), told The                     for more expansion in the future,” he said.
number of infections at this stage though,” he        anything about them," he continued.                              Myanmar Times in a recent interview.
added.                                                On the morning of September 16, nine more                        But profitability is possible in the years ahead,
Four out of a team of 15 have so far tested           positive patients including those four Dala bridge               making it a good time for the remaining airlines to         Source: Myanmar Times
positive.                                             engineers, tested positive. The number of                        accelerate their plans for expansion to capitalise          https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-
“If these people had been tested early, it wouldn’t   COVID-19-positive people in that township now                    on future demand, according to a 2019 report by             aviation-sector-expected-become-profitable-
have been less of a problem. Although only four       totals 30.                                                       the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.                       more-pain-ahead-first.html
workers have tested positive, the number may                                                                            Last year, GMA took delivery of a new aircraft,
increase,” he added.                                                                                                   taking its current fleet of ATR-72s to three. “With
The constructions project involves a Korean and       Source: Myanmar Times                                            the additional seats, we can now fly daily
a local company. U Tun Yin said that the              https://www.mmtimes.com/news/dala-bridge-                        compared to alternate days before. We will also
Myanmar company may face legal action under           construction-suspended-over-covid-19-                            extend our destinations to include more flights to
the Natural Disaster Management Law.                  cases.html                                                       Dawei and Kaw Thaung, which could be potential

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Infrastructure                                                    Transport
                                                                                                       Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

  UK launches $3.4 million project to redesign two major                                                                  Daw Suu under pressure to drop car import licences for
                   streets in Yangon                                                                                                         govt officials
                                              17 Sep 2020                                                                                                                17 Sep 2020

The British Embassy in Yangon has announced            The engineering and consultancy firm, Mott                       Exclusive: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s government                Pyi Taw.
a US$3.4 million project of the UK government to       MacDonald, will lead the project with a team of                  is under renewed pressure to drop plans to                  If confirmed, the scheme would raise fresh
redesign two prominent streets in the city             local and international specialists working in                   award tax-exempt car import licences to senior              questions in the run-up to November’s general
yesterday. Under the ‘Myoe Lann Thar project’,         close collaboration with YCDC and other                          officials.                                                  elections over the National League for
Pansodan street and Kyun Taw road will be              government partners. The project team has now                    The Automotive Association, which is Myanmar’s              Democracy (NLD) government’s willingness or
upgraded in close collaboration with the Yangon        started its engagement with local residents,                     top industry body, and six European chambers of             ability to reform a vast and powerful bureaucracy
City Development Committee. Consultations will         distributing a newsletter in the communities                     commerce, have written to the State Counsellor              which has had a reputation for opacity and been
also be held with local residents, businesses and      around the chosen streets and launching the                      directly to complain about the possible revival of          accused of corruption under decades of military
street users before implementing the project           MyoeLannThar Facebook page to share updates                      the licence scheme. The letter, seen by The                 rule.
which will focus on gender equality and                and gather feedback.                                             Myanmar Times, warns of “unprecedented                      Association chair U Aung Win estimated that
inclusivity for ensuring that changes benefit all      Daw Hlaing Maw Oo, the Secretary of YCDC,                        disruption” in the automotive industry and                  about 100,000 of permits would be issued if the
communities including people with disabilities,        said, “YCDC is very happy to be part of Myoe                     damage to Myanmar’s foreign investment                      NLD government pressed ahead with the plan.
women, girls and those of all ages, according to       Lann Thar. This project provides us the                          prospects if approved.                                      Granting potentially 100,000 tax-free licences
the embassy’s press release.                           opportunity to work together to solve problems                   Under the controversial scheme, issued as a                 runs counter to the government’s stated priority
The assessments were conducted in selecting            that we cannot do alone. In addition to the                      reward for long serving civil servants, imported            to boost tax revenues, which was its justification
these two roads for the project. Pansodan street,      support from the project, our city can gain                      vehicles would be exempted from custom duties,              for its recent legalisation of illicit alcohol stocks.
in the downtown grid, is an important historic site,   benefits by closely working with experienced                     income tax and road tax, bypassing car dealers              With two months before voting, the timing also
while Kyun Taw road is a typical suburban road.        local and international organizations as well as                 and showrooms. There were also no limits set by             suggests that the licences could represent an
British Ambassador to Myanmar, Mr Dan Chugg,           individuals. We hope we can all work together to                 the authorities in regard to the number of cars             attempt by the ruling party to win over
said, “I am delighted that the UK will be using its    solve the problems we face.”                                     one permit holder could import.                             bureaucrats with a “carrot and stick” approach,
expertise in urban development to help                                                                                  The scheme was suspended earlier this year                  implying a combination of reward and
Myanmar’s cities grow sustainably, for the benefit                                                                      following backlash from the public and business             punishment in their reform agenda.
of all local communities. We hope this project                                                                          groups.
can act as a model for the future of Myanmar’s         Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar                          But the Automotive Association of Myanmar and               Source: Myanmar Times
cities, and will demonstrate how urban                 https://www.gnlm.com.mm/uk-launches-3-4-                         EuroCham Myanmar told this newspaper that the               https://www.mmtimes.com/news/daw-suu-under-
development can go hand in hand with social            million-project-to-redesign-two-major-streets-in-                government intends to implement the scheme                  pressure-drop-car-import-licences-govt-
inclusion and environmental sustainability.”           yangon/                                                          “any time soon”, citing unnamed sources in Nay              officials.html

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Infrastructure                                                   Energy
                                                                                                       Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

       Half of CNG stations to be closed in Yangon amid                                                                         Grab says it pumped $100M into Myanmar in
                    COVID infection spike                                                                                                        four years
                                              16 Sep 2020                                                                                                                 12 Feb 2020

About half of Yangon CNG stations will be closed       1, Mingala Taungnyunt, Dagon Myothit                             Ride-sharing company Grab has invested over                 across the country this year, Toh said. GrabFood
because there is a high rate of infection of           (Seikkan), Parami, Hlawga, Hlinethaya-2,                         US$100 million (K143.5 billion) in Myanmar in               will be launched for local restaurants and
COVID-19 in Yangon Region, according to                Shwepyitha-2 and Htauk Kyant. The shops will                     the past four years to strengthen its position on           transportation partners in Mandalay this year.
Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise in Yangon                be open from 6 am to 6 pm.                                       the local taxi market, a senior company official            “Although food delivery is increasing locally, it
Region (MOGE).                                         As per data provided by the CNG Division of the                  said Tuesday.                                               still lags behind other countries. We have many
With positively spreading of COVID-19 in Yangon        MOGE, Yangon Region has over 6,500 CNG                           Cindy Toh, country manager for Grab, said the               opportunities,” said U Myat Kaung Min, head of
Region, only 21 out of 41 CNG stations will be         buses, but only 4,000 buses come to fill the gas                 company will continue investing to further                  GrabFood Myanmar.
open while the remaining stations will be closed       at the stations. The daily CNG consumption in                    improve the quality of its service in Myanmar.              Grab For Good will be launched in Myanmar
temporarily.                                           Yangon is 24.14 million cubic feet, and YBS                      “Grab will emphasise service quality and safety,            soon.
The rest 21 CNG stations will be open from 6 am        buses account for 13.41 million cubic feet of the                not only technology,” she told a briefing. “We will         In 2018, Grab launched its Grab Thone Bane
to 6 pm starting from today.                           total consumption.                                               continue investing in expansion and partnerships            (three-wheeler) service in Bagan and Mandalay
“We are giving priority to our public transport.                                                                        to better the platform and expand the                       city, and Grab TaxiPlus service.
Previously, 35 shops were open 16 hours a day                                                                           ecosystem.”                                                 More than 166 million people in 339 cities in
while six shops were open eight hours a day.                                                                            Grab launched its service in Myanmar in July                Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand,
Now, only a few people are travelling inside the                                                                        2017, and has since introduced Grab Taxi Call               Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia
country and no foreigners because of COVID-19                                                                           service, Premium Rentals (Beat), and Grab                   have downloaded the Grab app on their mobile
outbreak. So, the consumption of the CNG has                                                                            Food.                                                       phones. – Translated
dropped 50 per cent in a week. To be able to                                                                            The company’s taxi service is popular and
prevent the spreading of COVID-19, only 50 per                                                                          experiencing an increase of 10 percent in daily
cent of the staff are assigned at the stations. This                                                                    rides in 2019 from the previous year, and adding
is the reason why these 21 CNG stations will                                                                            more than 196,000 more precise location points
only be open from 6 am to 6 pm,” said an official                                                                       in the Grab application.
from Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA).                                                                          The number of businesses using Grab for
The 21 CNG stations are Insein, Ahlone-1,              Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar                          Business doubled in 2019, and the most popular              Source: Myanmar Times
Kyaikkalo,     Thakayta-1,      Dagon       Myothit,   https://www.gnlm.com.mm/half-of-cng-stations-                    destinations for rides were Myanmar Plaza,                  https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-
Bayintnaung, Pale, Hlinethaya, Danyingone,             to-be-closed-in-yangon-amid-covid-infection-                     Junction City, and Yangon Airport.                          aviation-sector-expected-become-profitable-
Ahlone-2, Dagon East-1, Kyimyindine, Thanlyin-         spike/                                                           Grab will expand its services to other key cities           more-pain-ahead-first.html

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         20 September 2020
PwC   PwC Myanmar Weekly Business Intelligence                                                                                                                                                                                         11
Infrastructure                                                 Energy
                                                                                                     Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

      Deutsche Bank provides Sinosure-backed facility for                                                                 Myanmar, S. Korea Pledge to Step Up Cooperation on
                  Myanmar power project                                                                                               Trade, Investment, Energy
                                             15 Sep 2020                                                                                                               17 Sep 2020

Deutsche Bank is providing a US$43mn                  “We are proud to be involved in financing this                  Myanmar and South Korea have agreed to                      economic agreements on finance, trade and
accounts receivable purchase facility to China        project, which represents essential electricity                 cement their economic cooperation, particularly             investment cooperation, as well as on setting up
National Technical Import & Export Corporation        supply to the electricity-challenged state of                   in the trade, investment and energy sectors, to             the Korea desk and infrastructure projects.
(CNTIC) for the construction of a power               Myingyan,” says David Lynne, Apac head of                       help Myanmar overcome the economic fallout                  However, implementation of some major projects
generation project in Myanmar.                        corporate banking at Deutsche Bank. “We look                    from the coronavirus pandemic.                              and activities has been delayed due to the
Backed by Sinosure, the facility will support a 90-   forward to continuing to work with CNTIC and                    Speaking       via     videoconference   during             pandemic.
megawatt gas-fired plant in the Mandalay region       VPower and to helping more corporations in this                 Wednesday’s first meeting of the two countries’             One of Myanmar’s largest economic partners,
of the country, for which CNTIC has been              sector.”                                                        Joint Commission for Trade and Industrial                   South Korean investment in the country stood at
appointed as engineering, procurement and                                                                             Cooperation, South Korean Trade, Industry and               more than US$4 billion (5.3 trillion kyats) as of
construction (EPC) contractor. The plant is being                                                                     Energy Minister Sung Yun-mo said his country                August, according to the Directorate of
developed and operated by Hong Kong-based                                                                             would boost investment and trade relations with             Investment and Company Administration (DICA),
VPower under a five-year power purchase                                                                               Myanmar despite COVID-19’s hampering of the                 the Myanmar government’s investment agency.
agreement with Electric Power Generation                                                                              economy.                                                    Union Minister for Commerce U Than Myint said
Enterprise (EPGE), Myanmar’s state-owned                                                                              The meeting aimed at finding ways for Myanmar               he hoped economic cooperation with South
electricity company. This is not the first                                                                            to expand economic ties with South Korea. The               Korea would help Myanmar overcome its current
collaboration for CNTIC and VPower, who have a                                                                        two sides exchanged ideas on pressing                       economic crisis.
long track record in executing power projects on                                                                      economic issues between the two countries                   He added that Myanmar is willing to work closely
an expedited basis in the countries covered by                                                                        relating to COVID-19.                                       with South Korea in the trade, investment and
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).                                                                               Sung said Seoul would help Myanmar’s products               energy sectors.
The signing of the facility comes two years after                                                                     reach the global consumer market by setting up
Evert-Jan Zondag, then-Apac head of structured                                                                        a Korea desk in Myanmar, a single-window
and export trade finance at Deutsche Bank,                                                                            system designed to help South Korean
signed a memorandum of understanding with                                                                             companies and investors deal with administrative
Sinosure to strengthen co-operation between           Source: Global Trade Review                                     issues.                                                     Source: The Irrawaddy
both organisations on Sinosure’s guaranteed           https://www.gtreview.com/news/asia/deutsche-                    The meeting follows South Korean President                  https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanma
products, which support cross-border trade for        bank-provides-sinosure-backed-facility-for-                     Moon Jae-in’s visit to Myanmar in September last            r-s-korea-pledge-step-cooperation-trade-
Chinese companies in line with the BRI.               myanmar-power-project/                                          year, during which the two sides reached major              investment-energy.html

                                                                                                                                                                                                                       20 September 2020
PwC   PwC Myanmar Weekly Business Intelligence                                                                                                                                                                                       12
Infrastructure                                                 Real Estate
                                                                                                      Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

      Myanmar races to build field hospital as coronavirus                                                                     Grab says it pumped $100M into Myanmar in
               surge stretches health system                                                                                                    four years
                                            16 Sep 2020                                                                                                                  12 Feb 2020

Myanmar authorities are racing to build a field      Decades of neglect by Myanmar’s formerly ruling                   Ride-sharing company Grab has invested over                 across the country this year, Toh said. GrabFood
hospital in the commercial capital of Yangon to      military junta led the health system to be ranked                 US$100 million (K143.5 billion) in Myanmar in               will be launched for local restaurants and
cope with a surge of coronavirus infections that     the worst in the world by the World Health                        the past four years to strengthen its position on           transportation partners in Mandalay this year.
doctors fear threatens to overwhelm the              Organization in 2000, the last time it published                  the local taxi market, a senior company official            “Although food delivery is increasing locally, it
country’s fragile health system.                     ratings. The health budget was around 0.3% of                     said Tuesday.                                               still lags behind other countries. We have many
The Southeast Asian nation reported 307 new          GDP prior to the start of democratic reforms in                   Cindy Toh, country manager for Grab, said the               opportunities,” said U Myat Kaung Min, head of
cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, its highest daily      2011.                                                             company will continue investing to further                  GrabFood Myanmar.
toll since the start of the pandemic in March, and   As of March, the World Bank said Myanmar had                      improve the quality of its service in Myanmar.              Grab For Good will be launched in Myanmar
another 134 on Wednesday morning, taking the         just 383 ICU beds for a population of 51 million                  “Grab will emphasise service quality and safety,            soon.
total to 3,636 cases and 39 deaths.                  and 249 ventilators, compared with 6,000 beds                     not only technology,” she told a briefing. “We will         In 2018, Grab launched its Grab Thone Bane
Myanmar had gone weeks without a case of local       and more than 10,000 ventilators in neighboring                   continue investing in expansion and partnerships            (three-wheeler) service in Bagan and Mandalay
transmission before an outbreak in mid-August in     Thailand, a country of 69 million. More ventilators               to better the platform and expand the                       city, and Grab TaxiPlus service.
the western region of Rakhine that has spread        have since been donated to Myanmar.                               ecosystem.”                                                 More than 166 million people in 339 cities in
across the country.                                  Some Yangon doctors said the government’s                         Grab launched its service in Myanmar in July                Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand,
Three hospitals in Yangon, the site of most of the   response had contributed to the shortage of                       2017, and has since introduced Grab Taxi Call               Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia
cases and now under a second lockdown, have          hospital space and treatment options.                             service, Premium Rentals (Beat), and Grab                   have downloaded the Grab app on their mobile
been repurposed to treat COVID-19 patients and       Officials have asked people who want to be                        Food.                                                       phones. – Translated
the government is building a field hospital with     tested to be hospitalised before undergoing swab                  The company’s taxi service is popular and
500 beds on a football pitch.                        tests, contributing to a shortage of patient beds,                experiencing an increase of 10 percent in daily
“We have no more space to accommodate a              said Kyaw Min Tun, who runs a fever clinic in the                 rides in 2019 from the previous year, and adding
huge outbreak,” Kaung Myat Soe, the chief of the     city. “That is not necessary,” he said.                           more than 196,000 more precise location points
new temporary hospital, told Reuters on                                                                                in the Grab application.
Tuesday, as construction workers labored on the      Source: Reuters                                                   The number of businesses using Grab for
field.                                               https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-                        Business doubled in 2019, and the most popular              Source: Myanmar Times
“The situation will get worse if we can’t accept     coronavirus-myanmar/myanmar-races-to-build-                       destinations for rides were Myanmar Plaza,                  https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-
patients, that’s why we are building the shelters    field-hospital-as-coronavirus-surge-stretches-                    Junction City, and Yangon Airport.                          aviation-sector-expected-become-profitable-
urgently,” he said.                                  health-system-idUKKBN2671HO                                       Grab will expand its services to other key cities           more-pain-ahead-first.html

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        20 September 2020
PwC   PwC Myanmar Weekly Business Intelligence                                                                                                                                                                                        13
Infrastructure                                                 Real Estate
                                                                                                       Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

      YCDC plans to implement Htantabin Industrial Park                                                                     SEZs rake in $1.34 bln under incumbent government
                      Project in year-end
                                            18 Sep 2020                                                                                                                  20 Aug 2020

The Yangon City Development Committee                                                                                   Foreign investments of US$1.348 billion have                Economic Zones — Thilawa, Kyaukpyu, and
(YCDC) has planned to develop the Htantabin                                                                             flowed into the Special Economic Zones (SEZs),              Dawei. Out of the three, Thilawa is leading to
Industrial Park and Floating Market, which will be                                                                      under the Special Economic Zone Law, over the               better infrastructure and successful businesses.
constructed by 14 companies, at the end of this                                                                         four years under the incumbent government,                  At present, more than 80 businesses are
year. “YCDC implemented the Htantabin                                                                                   according to the figures released by the                    operating in the Thilawa SEZ. The SEZ has
Industrial Park and Floating Market Project, and                                                                        Directorate of Investment and Company                       employed more than 12,000 permanent workers,
the works of changing farmland documents of                                                                             Administration (DICA).                                      including permanent and construction workers,
remaining 11 farmers into Form-7 certificates are                                                                       Between 2016-2017 financial year and as of                  according to the management committee.
underway,” said Htantabin Township Hluttaw                                                                              July-end in the 2019-2020FY, 58 enterprises                 More than 60 per cent of businesses in Thilawa
Representative U Htay Maw. He added a total of                                                                          from 17 countries have ploughed in $1.348                   is domestic-oriented manufacturing enterprises.
210 factories will be constructed in the project’s                                                                      billion, including $12 million valued domestic              In comparison, 40 per cent are export-oriented
first two years according to MoU.                                                                                       investments by existing businesses, the DICA’s              manufacturers, according to a press statement
The project will enable create job opportunities                                                                        statistics indicated.                                       issued by Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings Public
that are needed during COVID-19 and will                                                                                While the manufacturing sector has absorbed the             Ltd in June 2019.
completely change the development progress of                                                                           largest share of foreign investments, FDI has               A company exporting at least 75 per cent of the
Htantabin Township, he added. The 2,237-acre                                                                            also flowed into the trading, other services,               production in value has registered as a Free
project will be implemented after the farmland                                                                          logistics, hotel and tourism, and real estate               Zone investor. It is exempt from paying corporate
documents of 11 farmers are changed into Form-                                                                          sectors.                                                    tax for seven years from the time it starts
7 certificates.                                                                                                         Japan has topped the list of foreign investors so           commercial operations. Companies such as
The industrial park project will become a driving                                                                       far, accounting for over 33 per cent of the overall         logistics,    which     support    export-oriented
force for economic growth of Yangon and will                                                                            investment, followed by Singapore and Thailand.             manufacturing, can also be listed as free zone
assist socio-economic development of the rural                                                                          FDI has also flowed into the SEZs from the                  companies.
area by creating job opportunities.                                                                                     Republic of Korea, Hong Kong (SAR), the UK,
                                                     Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar                            Australia, the UAE, Malaysia, Austria, China
                                                     https://www.gnlm.com.mm/ycdc-plans-to-                             (Taipei), Denmark, Brunei Darussalam, Viet                  Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
                                                     implement-htantabin-industrial-park-project-in-                    Nam, France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.              https://www.gnlm.com.mm/sezs-rake-in-1-34-bln-
                                                     year-end/ /                                                        Myanmar is currently implementing three Special             under-incumbent-government/

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         20 September 2020
PwC   PwC Myanmar Weekly Business Intelligence                                                                                                                                                                                         14
Infrastructure                                                  Waste and Water
                                                                                                    Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

  Potable water, sanitation access improved in Myanmar                                                                       Grab says it pumped $100M into Myanmar in
                                                                                                                                              four years
                                            15 Sep 2020                                                                                                                12 Feb 2020

Myanmar people have better access to clean           Daw Khine Khine Soe said the number of                          Ride-sharing company Grab has invested over                 across the country this year, Toh said. GrabFood
drinking water and flush toilets, according to a     households with no toilet declined to 5pc in 2019               US$100 million (K143.5 billion) in Myanmar in               will be launched for local restaurants and
government survey.                                   from 14.4pc in 2014.                                            the past four years to strengthen its position on           transportation partners in Mandalay this year.
The 2019 census, conducted by the Ministry of        The 2014 census said that Myanmar’s access to                   the local taxi market, a senior company official            “Although food delivery is increasing locally, it
Labour Immigration and Population, found that        improved sanitation slightly exceeded the                       said Tuesday.                                               still lags behind other countries. We have many
82 percent of households had access to clean         Southeast Asian regional average of 72pc.                       Cindy Toh, country manager for Grab, said the               opportunities,” said U Myat Kaung Min, head of
drinking water, while 91.4pc had access to           In the country’s states and regions, Yangon                     company will continue investing to further                  GrabFood Myanmar.
hygienic toilets.                                    reported the highest access rate (91.1pc) and                   improve the quality of its service in Myanmar.              Grab For Good will be launched in Myanmar
The survey results, released on August 31,           Rakhine the lowest (31.8pc), the census found.                  “Grab will emphasise service quality and safety,            soon.
defined clean drinking water as coming from          It noted that while there may have been                         not only technology,” she told a briefing. “We will         In 2018, Grab launched its Grab Thone Bane
protected sources, free of contamination, such as    significant progress in access to potable water                 continue investing in expansion and partnerships            (three-wheeler) service in Bagan and Mandalay
from pipelines, ground water, protected wells or     and sanitation, much remains to be done to                      to better the platform and expand the                       city, and Grab TaxiPlus service.
springs, rainwater and purified water.               achieve universal and equitable access to safe                  ecosystem.”                                                 More than 166 million people in 339 cities in
It said that the remaining 18 percent of             and affordable drinking water for all by 2030.                  Grab launched its service in Myanmar in July                Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand,
households got their water from rivers, dams,        Water, sanitation and hygiene urgently need to                  2017, and has since introduced Grab Taxi Call               Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia
ponds, canals, water distribution drains, or other   be prioritised globally, according to Olga                      service, Premium Rentals (Beat), and Grab                   have downloaded the Grab app on their mobile
sources.                                             Ghazaryan, director of international programmes                 Food.                                                       phones. – Translated
Daw Khine Khine Soe, director of the                 for Water Aid. "Water, sanitation and hygiene are               The company’s taxi service is popular and
Department of Population, said it was the first      fundamental to all aspects of human                             experiencing an increase of 10 percent in daily
time that safely managed water and sanitation        development," she said, adding it is also critical              rides in 2019 from the previous year, and adding
indicators had been included in the census.          to public health.                                               more than 196,000 more precise location points
She said pipe water usage had increased from                                                                         in the Grab application.
9pc to almost 17pc, and purified water had                                                                           The number of businesses using Grab for
increased from 10pc to 22pc.                                                                                         Business doubled in 2019, and the most popular              Source: Myanmar Times
"Total improved water usage rose from 72pc in        Source: Myanmar Times                                           destinations for rides were Myanmar Plaza,                  https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-
2014 to 82pc in 2019,” she added. Usage of flush     https://www.mmtimes.com/news/potable-water-                     Junction City, and Yangon Airport.                          aviation-sector-expected-become-profitable-
toilets increased from 74pc to 85pc.”                sanitation-access-improved-myanmar.html                         Grab will expand its services to other key cities           more-pain-ahead-first.html

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      20 September 2020
PwC   PwC Myanmar Weekly Business Intelligence                                                                                                                                                                                      15
Infrastructure                                                    Other Infra
                                                                                                       Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

       Myanmar to focus on building up post-COVID-19                                                                            Grab says it pumped $100M into Myanmar in
                         economy                                                                                                                 four years
                                               18 Sep 2020                                                                                                                12 Feb 2020

Myanmar will focus on promoting and building up         future investment plans and it could have an                    Ride-sharing company Grab has invested over                 across the country this year, Toh said. GrabFood
four sectors of the economy to weather the              impact on the inflow of foreign direct investments              US$100 million (K143.5 billion) in Myanmar in               will be launched for local restaurants and
aftermath of COVID-19 and its impact on the             into Myanmar, the ADB said in its report.                       the past four years to strengthen its position on           transportation partners in Mandalay this year.
economy.                                                Myanmar FDI approvals increased to US$4.3                       the local taxi market, a senior company official            “Although food delivery is increasing locally, it
U Thaung Tun, Union Minister for Investment             billion for the three quarters ending June 2020                 said Tuesday.                                               still lags behind other countries. We have many
and Foreign Economic Relations and Chair of the         from US$3.2 billion in the same period last year,               Cindy Toh, country manager for Grab, said the               opportunities,” said U Myat Kaung Min, head of
Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC), said               with investors focused on power generation, real                company will continue investing to further                  GrabFood Myanmar.
the country can respond effectively to the              estate development, and manufacturing.                          improve the quality of its service in Myanmar.              Grab For Good will be launched in Myanmar
economic fallout from the pandemic.                     But as developing Asia's GDP is now expected                    “Grab will emphasise service quality and safety,            soon.
This can be done by promoting investments in            to contract by 0.7pc in 2020, the region's first                not only technology,” she told a briefing. “We will         In 2018, Grab launched its Grab Thone Bane
new       industrial    zones,     agriculture-based    recession in nearly six decades, this could                     continue investing in expansion and partnerships            (three-wheeler) service in Bagan and Mandalay
industries which support the whole supply chain,        dampen future investment inflows into Myanmar,                  to better the platform and expand the                       city, and Grab TaxiPlus service.
health-related product manufacturing and the            the ADB warned.                                                 ecosystem.”                                                 More than 166 million people in 339 cities in
digitisation of the economy, he said at a meeting       The ADB forecasts that COVID-19 could slow                      Grab launched its service in Myanmar in July                Myanmar, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand,
of the Investment Promotion Committee held on           Myanmar’s economic growth to just 1.8 percent                   2017, and has since introduced Grab Taxi Call               Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia
September 15.                                           in fiscal 2019-20 compared to 4.2pc forecasted                  service, Premium Rentals (Beat), and Grab                   have downloaded the Grab app on their mobile
U Thaung Tun said there is a need to review the         April.                                                          Food.                                                       phones. – Translated
Myanmar Investment Promotion Plan (MIPP) - a            If all goes well though, Myanmar’s economic                     The company’s taxi service is popular and
long term national blueprint to draw investments        growth is expected to recover to 6pc in the                     experiencing an increase of 10 percent in daily
into the country - in light of the adverse effects of   coming 2020-21 fiscal year.                                     rides in 2019 from the previous year, and adding
COVID-19 on the economy.                                                                                                more than 196,000 more precise location points
The meeting comes after the Asian Development                                                                           in the Grab application.
Bank (ADB) warned that future investment                                                                                The number of businesses using Grab for
inflows      to    Myanmar       could     disappoint                                                                   Business doubled in 2019, and the most popular              Source: Myanmar Times
expectations as a result of a weaker global             Source: Myanmar Times                                           destinations for rides were Myanmar Plaza,                  https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-
economy in the aftermath of the pandemic.               https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-focus-                     Junction City, and Yangon Airport.                          aviation-sector-expected-become-profitable-
The COVID – 19 pandemic will affect investors’          building-post-covid-19-economy.html                             Grab will expand its services to other key cities           more-pain-ahead-first.html

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         20 September 2020
PwC   PwC Myanmar Weekly Business Intelligence                                                                                                                                                                                         16
Infrastructure                                                  Other Infra
                                                                                                    Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

        Fibre service providers see strong market amidst
                        coronavirus crisis
                                             14 Sep 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has made the fibre-          in the country, and only three to four are
optic market stronger, and the fibre internet         successful.
usage has remarkably surged in Myanmar,               The coronavirus made the peak internet usage
internet service providers in Myanmar said.           into the new normal, in response to social
“Mobile internet usage had tremendously               distancing requirements. The internet usage has
increased when the number of mobile users             surged due to video conferencing, webinar,
started to rise. It outpowered fibre-optic internet   online    learning,    online    sales, real-time
then. Also, fibre internet was less popular than      information access and service businesses,
mobile internet. During the coronavirus crisis,       stated the internet service providers.
fibre internet usage sharply increased. It has
become essential for online learning and
businesses,” said U Thein Than Toe, CEO of
5BB Broadband.
Earlier, only four telecom operators were allowed
to provide fibre internet service. After the new
Telecommunications Law was enacted, private
fibre providers entered the market. That is why
fibre internet usage has increased. The benefits
of fibre internet are faster internet speed, and
unlimited data offers, while the mobile internet
costs as much as you use, said a fibre service
provider.
At present, about 200 companies have been
granted the licences to be engaged in the             Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
telecommunications industry, and 100 of them          https://www.gnlm.com.mm/fibre-service-
are engaged in network service. However, there        providers-see-strong-market-amidst-coronavirus-
are just about 25-30 broadband service providers      crisis/

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      20 September 2020
PwC   PwC Myanmar Weekly Business Intelligence                                                                                                                                                                                      17
Policy and Regulation

                        20 September 2020
                                      18
Policy and Regulation
                                                                                                        Financial and Business   Infrastructure   Policy and Regulation   Tender Opportunities   MIC Permitted Projects   Upcoming Events

      Carter Center Launches Election Monitoring Mission                                                                         Myanmar aviation sector expected to become
                         in Myanmar                                                                                                 profitable, but more pain ahead first
                                               18 Sep 2020                                                                                                                 27 Jan 2020

The Carter Center, formed by the former US              COVID-19 on the electoral process.                               Myanmar’s aviation industry is betting on a more            tourist attractions in the future,” U Kyaw Nyein.
president Jimmy Carter, has launched its                The center also plans to dispatch a delegation of                profitable future with the number of airlines now           Air KBZ has also been expanding. Last year, it
observation mission for Myanmar’s general               short-term observers who will help assess the                    reduced to half compared to 2017 and demand                 upgraded its fleet of planes and announced new
election, although its specialist staff are currently   voting, counting and tabulation processes if                     for domestic air travel expected to catch up with           destinations to Dawei , Kaw Thaung , Myeik,
based outside the country because of COVID-19           travel and security permits are granted.                         supply. However, they will have to swallow more             Sittwe, Kyaingtong, Hkamti and Loikaw. its sister
restrictions.                                           In early September, the UEC approved 8,120                       losses in the short term before things get better.          airline, Myanmar Airways International, added a
The organization said its mission began when it         domestic observers from eight civil society                      There are currently five airlines in Myanmar,               new Airbus A319 to its fleet, expanding its
received accreditation from the Union Election          groups and two international NGOs to observe                     down from ten three years ago. But even though              capacity by 144 passengers.
Commission (UEC). On Nov. 8, Myanmar is set             the November election.                                           there are fewer players now in the market, the              Tanes Kumar, commercial director for Air KBZ,
to hold its third general election – where the          The UEC said it certified the People’s Alliance for              volume of passengers flying domestic remains                said even though the new routes are not yet
results are recognized – in nearly six decades.         Credible Elections, Phan Tee Eain (Creative                      below three million, according to government                profitable, the main aim of adding new
It said the monitoring operation will include a         Home), New Myanmar Foundation, Rainmaker,                        data.                                                       destinations is to expand the airline’s network
core team of six specialists and 24 long-term           Bago Observer group, Hornbill Organization,                       At those levels, demand is not sufficient to cover         and connectivity. “This gives passengers more
observers.                                              Kadu Youth Development Association, Election                     the industry’s losses, U Kyaw Nyein, CEO of                 options and allows employees to learn new skills
“Because of the exceptional circumstances               Education and Observation Partners. The                          Golden Myanmar Airlines (GMA), told The                     for more expansion in the future,” he said.
created by COVID-19 travel restrictions, several        international observers are from the Carter                      Myanmar Times in a recent interview.
core team experts are currently working remotely        Center and Asian Network for Free Elections.                     But profitability is possible in the years ahead,
and Myanmar nationals will serve as long-term           Some organizations reduced their election                        making it a good time for the remaining airlines to         Source: Myanmar Times
observers,” the Carter Center said.                     observers due to COVID-19. During the 2015                       accelerate their plans for expansion to capitalise
                                                                                                                                                                                     https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanma
The monitoring and reporting by the long-term           election, more than 11,400 domestic observers                    on future demand, according to a 2019 report by
                                                                                                                                                                                     r-aviation-sector-expected-become-
observers will be overseen and managed by the           from 53 organizations and 764 international                      the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation.
international specialists, according to the center.     observers from six groups monitored the                           Last year, GMA took delivery of a new aircraft,            profitable-more-pain-ahead-first.html
It said the mission will observe the electoral          process.                                                         taking its current fleet of ATR-72s to three. “With
preparations and environment, including the             Source: The Irrawaddy                                            the additional seats, we can now fly daily
election administration, campaigning, openness          https://www.irrawaddy.com/elections/carter-                      compared to alternate days before. We will also
of the political space, participation of women and      center-launches-election-monitoring-mission-                     extend our destinations to include more flights to
ethnic minorities, social media and impact of           myanmar.html                                                     Dawei and Kaw Thaung, which could be potential

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          20 September 2020
PwC    PwC Myanmar Weekly Business Intelligence                                                                                                                                                                                         19
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