Briefs

Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi says tax avoidance should never be tolerated.
 “Opportunity should be equivalent to responsibility. When we look at the accountability of a business, the easiest way is to see if it pays tax,” Suu Kyi said. “How much does it pay in taxes? It’s your duty to contribute to your country. 
“I congratulate the Kanbawza Group as it’s a top taxpayer. Tax avoidance just means that someone wants to take the opportunities offered by |the state, but neglects to take responsibility in paying for them and |therefore we should take action against them.”
Myanmar received 1,538.76 billion kip in taxes in fiscal 2011-12, 2,710.90 billion kip in 2012-13, 3,512 billion kip in 2013-14, and 4,411 billion 4.4 1 trillion kyat (Bt114 billion) in taxes in fiscal 2014-15, but just 3,521.97 billion 3.52 trillion kyat for 2015-16.
For the first half of the current fiscal year, the Ministry of Planning and Finance has collected only 37.8 per cent of the projected total –5,143 billion kyat 5.14 trillion kyat - for the whole year.
Recently the Internal Revenue Department announced a list of |entertainers who paid taxes for the fiscal year it included just 19 of them, despite the country having about 10,000 professional entertainers and related companies. There was widespread public criticism of this.
The department also announced a list of the top 1,000 taxpayers for fiscal 2015-16, with the Kanbawza Bank, which paid more than 23 billion kyat, in top place. Denko Trading was the biggest commercial taxpayer as it paid more than 21 billion kyat. — Myanmar Eleven

Funds sought for Vietnam airports
The Airport Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), the largest enterprise in the domestic transport sector, has proposed an investment plan of 31 trillion dong (US$1.36 million) (Bt58 billion) for 2016-20.
The firm, which manages 22 of the country’s international and domestic airports, said it will prioritise investment on terminals with high passenger growth, which have the potential to develop the country’s economics and tourism sectors while boosting national security.
ACV will focus on investment |projects to improve road access to airports and equipment systems at |Ho Chi Minh’s Tan Son Nhat airport, |the Danang facility and Hanoi’s |Noi Bai airport.
 More parking is |planne for Tan Son Nhat, Danang, and Noi Bai, among other airports. The expansion of passenger terminals, enlarging aircraft parking areas and upgrading the runways at Phu Quoc airport in Kien Giang Province are also included in the plan.
ACV’s deputy general director Do Tat Binh, quoted in Vneconomy.vn, said that the corporation has submitted its investment scheme to the Ministry of Transport, and was awaiting |approval from the prime minister. |In principle, the investment |capital for flight-related facilities will |be wholly funded by the |state budget.
By the middle of 2016, ACV had asked the ministry to consider adjusting the rates for some aviation services, which applied to domestic flight routes at seven airports, including Tan Son Nhat, Noi Bai, Danang, Cam Ranh, |Phu Quoc, Vinh, Phu Bai from |the start 2017. However, the |proposal has not yet been |accepted by the ministry. — Viet Nam News

Hun Sen to attend Silk Road summit
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen confirmed he will be at a Silk Road summit in Beijing in May.
Hun Sen confirmed his attendance while presiding over the groundbreaking and inauguration ceremonies of two portions of Phnom Penh’s second ring road.
The works are part of China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative to boost trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia, Europe and Africa.
Hun Sen said he also hoped to receive more assistance from China on infrastructure projects during his visit.
Those projects included the construction of two more bridges on the Mekong River, with one connecting Arey Ksat to Kdei Takoy and the other linking Chroy Changvar to Svay Chrum.
In October 2015, China conducted a feasibility study on the construction of these bridges. – Rasmei Kampuchea Daily