Sixteen garment factories to open
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Sixteen companies have been granted permission to operate garment factories with the Cutting, Making and Packing (CMP) system so far this year, according to the Directorate of Investment and Companies Administration (DICA).
The companies will cooperate with local entrepreneurs and also have assistance from foreign investment. Among them is MK Co, which has agreed to cooperate with Thailand- and Japan-based Wacoal Co.
The garment industry will benefit from Myanmar’s imminent re-entry to the European Union’s Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) trading scheme, from which it had been suspended since 1997. The tax advantages Myanmar gains from the GSP are attracting more investment from South Korea, Japan and Thailand.
The garment factories will be located in Yangon Region as well as industrial zones in Bago and Ayeyawady regions.
Myanmar earned US$30 billion in garment exports in the first three months of 2013 – double the equivalent figure for last year, according to the Myanmar Garment Association.
Mon State targets Thai tourists
An ecotourism, heritage and hotel zone will be established in the Mottama mountain range of Mon State, says Mon State Minister Min Nwe Soe.
“The ancient city of Mottamawari has beautiful scenery and unique attractions for tourists,” experts told an ecotourism workshop in Mottama last week.
There were many things to study beyond the city walls, they added, and the Mottama mountain range was not too high and was therefore a suitable place to develop hotels.
A direct flight between Mae Sot and Mawlamyine will be launched this September to encourage more Thai tourists
“History says this was where a Thai princess settled down with a Mon merchant. So it could attract visitors from Thailand. Plus, historic sites like Dhammaadei and its temples could bring more people interested in history,” said Min Nwe Soe.
Evicted Yangon families facing hardships
At least 200 households were evicted from Thingangyun Township’s Michaung Kan areas 1 and 2 in Yangon on June 13 after authorities said they did not have land-ownership rights. The evicted families, comprising about 700 people, are now living nearby in tents on Pyitharyar Street, and the children’s schooling has been disrupted.
“Children have not been able to go to school for three days already because I am not able to make lunchboxes on time and schoolbooks were destroyed,” said Moet Moet, one of those evicted. “Our belongings were moved to another place and some were lost. If it keeps going this way, I will have to stop sending my kids to school.”
At least 106 children have not been able to go to school since being evicted. Authorities claim the families were living on land owned by the military.
“We are facing daily difficulties because it is rainy season and we are living under the rain. The elderly and children are the ones suffering most,” said evictee Ko Phoe Htoo.
