Preparations for Asean chair

Fourteen Myanmar senior diplomats and other government officials, consultants from Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry and officials from the Asean secretariat attended the workshop. 

Six key factors, including responsibilities and working procedures of the Asean chair and the role of media were discussed. Indonesian officials recounted their experiences as Asean chairs.

Myanmar has been preparing relevant practices required for the chairmanship since the beginning of 2012. 

 

Export certification project eyed

Myanmar is preparing to participate in the Asean Self-Certification Pilot project to reduce delays in trading activities among Asean countries, Kyaw Win, director from the Customs Department said.

“The pilot project will be split into two phases. In the first phase, certificates will be issued to exporters and in the second phase, they will be given to self-producers. For instance, our factor produces products by itself and exports them to other countries,” Kyaw Win explained. “If our products get the certificate of the country of origin, we will enjoy 0 per cent tariff, otherwise we will have to pay 5 per cent.”

At present, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and Thailand are participating in the first phase and the Philippines, Indonesia and Laos in the second.

 

Best Western takes over Green Hill

The Best Western Group has signed a joint venture with the Green Hill Hotel in Yangon, making it the first US-based firm to enter Myanmar’s hotels and tourism sector.

Green Hills will be its ninth investment in Myanmar. 

US investors have spent more than US$243 million (Bt7.2 million) in 15 projects at the end of April, standing 13th in terms of foreign investment in Myanmar.

 

No customs check for wood products 

Timber and finished-wood products will no longer need to be checked for export by the Custom Department, according to Myanmar Timber Enterprise Association.

Previously, exporting of timber and its finished-products needs to be checked at least twice – first at the factory by the Forestry Ministry and second at the port by the Customs Department. 

“Exporting timber and its finished-products will not be checked at the port from June 1. The decision was jointly made by the Department of Forestry and the Customs Department,” an official from the Myanmar Timber Enterprise Association said.

"Though they say the customs check is no longer needed, they have also stipulated that the entire container will be searched if something suspicious happens. According to the system, our products will be X-rayed. In the past the checks used to take a lot of time, but now there is no reason for delay,” a businessman said.