What now for the TPP?

What is the TPP? 
    
    The Trans-Pacific Partnership is one of the most ambitious free trade pacts ever negotiated.
    It brings together some of the diverse economies that abut the Pacific Ocean -- Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam -- and accounts for a whopping 40 per cent of the global economy.
    Under then-US president Barack Obama it was sold to American allies as a unique opportunity to seize the initiative on worldwide trade -- and ensure China, with its surging economy and growing global importance -- does not get to dictate the terms.
    Supporters say it would scrap barriers to the free flow of goods, services and investment capital.
    They claim it would also ensure a level playing field for all firms, protecting labour rights and incorporating important environmental safeguards.
    
    So why has Trump junked it? 
    
    Critics say the TPP was hammered out during secretive meetings in luxury hotels and will do little other than benefit the usual suspects -- big businesses.
    Trump's insurgent presidential bid was built, in part, on a pledge to overturn the trade deals which many of his supporters blame for lost US jobs.
    They say the TPP was another bad deal for America's industrial heartlands, allowing foreign manufacturers and food producers tariff-free access to the US market -- meaning US firms and farms, whose production costs are higher, could not compete.
    
    What will happen to the TPP now?
    
    Many leaders invested serious political capital in the TPP, selling it to reluctant electorates as a way to yoke America closer to the like-minded democracies of the Pacific Rim.
    One option is for the remaining 11 members to press ahead and get the agreement up and running. Australia said Tuesday it hoped to recast the pact without the US and opened the door for China to sign up.
    Another possibility is to reopen negotiations from scratch, which would give Trump the chance to sell an "improved" deal to his electorate.
    Trump, however, suggested he would pursue bilateral deals, saying he would be "going back to those countries one-on-one" to find terms more favourable to the United States.
    Are there other options? 
    
    Yes -- the Beijing-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) now being negotiated, which brings together the 10 Southeast Asian countries of Asean, as well as China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
    Something of a mirror image to TPP, it includes six of the Washington-led grouping's 12 members but not the US, and would encompass more than three billion people.
    RCEP is generally seen as less ambitious on issues like employment and environmental protection.
  

Reported by Soe Soe (Hpa-an)
Translated by ST
23-1-2017, Page 28
Caption: Foreign tourists visiting Hpa-an, Kayin State. (Photo-Soe Soe/EMG)

Kayin State to complete Mt Zwegabin cable car project in 2018
The ongoing cable car project for Zwegabin Mountain in Kayin State will continue despite financial difficulties, said a member of the committee for organising the project.
The project began in Lonbini Garden at the foot of the mountain in cooperation with Australian technicians.
"First, we planned the project financially, using cash donated by public well-wishers across the country and under cooperation between Malaysia's Pinang Cable Car Company and local Hsan Tech Company. However, it was cancelled for various reasons. Now, the project is going to be implemented by Chit Lin Myaing Toyata Company and Zwegabin Land Development Company. The cost is estimated be less than US$20 million" said the committee member.  
After the project, Chit Lin Myaing Co will retain 75 per cent of revenues and Zwegabin Co 25 per cent. Under the project, two cable cars, each with a seating capacity of 50 people will run. The lifespan of the cable is expected to be 15 years old.
The rocky Mount Zwegabin, which is 7 miles from the state capital Hpa-an is a famous landmark of Kayin State. Local people say the success of the project will be an important symbol for peace and will result in many more tourists from both home and abroad visiting the site.    

Reported by Nilar
Translated by ST
23-1-2017, Page-13
Caption: A low-cost housing project under implementation in Yangon. (Photo-Shine Lin Aung/EMG)

Government and administrative bodies working on land requirements for housing projects
“Coordination between the regional government and administrative bodies is vital in the issue of land requirements, especially as the Yangon Region is now planning more housing projects”, said Min Htein, a director general of the Ministry of Construction.
"Previously, the Yangon Region fulfilled land requirements for housing projects. Now, we have some difficulty with the matter because some actors have showed opposition and claimed that their farmlands were seized illegally. What we need is for the relevant administrative organisations to coordinate with each other the issue," said Min Htein on Saturday.
The chairman of Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association said, earlier this month that it was time to implement many housing projects in Yangon, as the number of homeless people is increasing.
Chairman Tha Htay made the remark at the office of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry on January 9.
However, the big issue is land availability for the projects. Some believe that apartment prices could decrease if private constructors implement housing projects on the land allotted to them by the government.
Currently, people can buy apartments in installments by having contacts with the Construction and Housing Development Bank. Buyers have to open their housing savings account at the bank, which sends a weekly list of those who have deposited 30 per cent of the value of one apartment unit in their accounts, to the Department of Urban and Housing Development.
The department sells apartments in accord with the policy adopted by the ministry, meaning that those who are not on the list of first priority will have the second chance in upcoming projects.  Furthermore, the eight-year installment plan for buying an apartment unit worth around K10 million has been extended to 10 years, according to the bank. The department announced the lists of lucky buyers for low-cost housing projects in Shwelinban, Dagon Seikkan and Yuzana on January 10.