New $80m hotel for Yangon
Keppel Land plans to build a US$80-million hotel in Yangon. Under its subsidiary Straits Greenfield Ltd, the Singapore-based company will construct the Sedona, an international-standard hotel and service residence, said the Directorate of Investment and C
The project has been permitted under the Foreign Investment Law.
Statistics show that companies from 32 countries had invested a total of just over US$42 billion in Myanmar by the end of February this year.
UN supporting strategic plan for exports
With the help from the United Nations, the Ministry of Commerce will draft its first ever a five-year strategic plan aimed at boosting exports, said Tint Thwin, deputy director of the Directorate of Trade.
The government had ordered the ministry to come up with a strategic plan as only a few exported products from Myanmar penetrate international markets, while local exporters are also weak when it comes to market research.
“The lack of an export plan causes many weaknesses in the sector. In a developing country, it is normally required that strategies to seek potential export commodities be formulated. As we failed to do so during the previous socialist government and military regime, people thought and acted locally,” said Tint Thwin.
The UN’s International Trade Centre would help draft the strategic plan in detailed discussion with the ministry, he added.
Myanmar currently relies on a few key export products, such as natural gas, rice, teak, beans, pulses, sesame seeds, gems, fish and shrimp. The export plan will seek new potential export products, and expand the markets for existing products, said a director from the ministry.
Thai students learn traditional dances
Students from Thailand’s Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University are taking classes in Myanmar traditional dance at the National Culture and Arts University (Yangon) and plan to conduct a public performance in the country. The students were the first group from Thailand to take up lessons at the National Culture and Arts University (NCAU). Students from various countries have taken the course over the past few years. “They came here at their own expense,” said NCAU rector Kyaw Oo, in reference to the Thai students. The Thai culture troupe comprises an advisor to the rector, two lecturers and a total of 25 undergraduates and master’s students.
The Thais are following in the footsteps of other foreign troupes, such as Japan’s Sho Asano, who entertained locals with their own songs and dances, and also studied traditional Myanmar dance.
