The Irrawaddy Magazine |
- Burma Earns Shot at Gold With 2-1 Win Over Vietnam
- ‘The Momentum is Still Good’
- The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (June 13, 2015)
| Burma Earns Shot at Gold With 2-1 Win Over Vietnam Posted: 13 Jun 2015 06:50 AM PDT  Ye Ko Oo celebrates Burma's goal against Vietnam at Singapore's National Stadium on Saturday. (Photo: Reuters) RANGOON — Burma edged past Vietnam in the semifinal match of the Southeast Asian Games football competition on Saturday, winning 2-1 and setting the stage for a gold medal clash early next week. The two sides looked evenly matched in the first half, with play ranging from end to end in the opening 45 minutes, but a handball inside the 18-yard box gave Burma's under-23 footballers a chance to break the stalemate. On a free kick for Burma within striking range, Ngoc Thang Ho had the ill-conceived impulse to bolster the Vietnamese wall of defense by extending his left elbow, altering the ball's trajectory and, with it moments later, the score line. Si Thu Aung went on to send Vietnamese goalkeeper Minh Long Phi the wrong way from the penalty spot, firing the ball low and right to put Burma up 1-0 in the 38th minute. The Burmese defender has had an impressive SEA Games campaign, tallying five goals in five games, including a stoppage time leveler against Cambodia that saw Burma enter the semifinals undefeated. Vietnam mounted a formidable campaign of its own in the second half of Saturday's match, pressing the attack in an edge-of-your-seat final 45 minutes for Burmese fans. The young White Angels appeared content to sit on their lead and ride out the onslaught, with only the occasional counterattack calling the Vietnamese defense to action. The pressure proved too much in the 71st minute, when Huy Toan Vo latched onto a loose ball to slot home the equalizer. But the Burmese responded less than 10 minutes later, when captain Nay Lin Tun's deflected strike sailed past Minh Long Phi and into the back of the net. The nail-biting home stretch brought no shortage of tense moments and, on the Burmese side, injuries of dubious authenticity. As the clock ran down, match officials signaled for four minutes of stoppage time, which dragged on for more than six in part owing to Burmese goalkeeper Kyaw Zin Phyo's inexplicable ankle pains after a shot from Vietnam sailed well wide of the goal. At the final whistle, coach Kyi Lwin sprinted over to the sizeable contingent of Burmese fans on hand at Singapore's National Stadium, basking in the collective embrace of supporters who have been a vocal presence throughout the team's journey to the finals. Burma beat Indonesia, host Singapore and the Philippines on its way to Saturday's match, with a 3-3 draw to Cambodia on Wednesday leaving the team at the top of Group A with 10 points. The White Angels will play competition favorites Thailand or Indonesia on Monday. The winner of that semifinal match will be decided on Saturday evening. The post Burma Earns Shot at Gold With 2-1 Win Over Vietnam appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| Posted: 12 Jun 2015 05:30 PM PDT  Outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Burma Yang Houlan speaks to The Irrawaddy in August 2013. (Photo: Steve Tickner / The Irrawaddy) State-run media reported on Friday that Yang Houlan, the Chinese ambassador to Burma, concluded his term in Naypyidaw this week. In this interview from August 2013, The Irrawaddy spoke with Yang soon after his appointment about changes to the Sino-Burmese relationship as a result of Burma's increasing engagement with the West, the suspension of the controversial Myitsone Dam project in Kachin State, and China's efforts to reach out to local opposition and civil society groups. In 2011, President U Thein Sein decided to postpone the Chinese-backed Myitsone dam project in Kachin State. Many say that this soured the relationship between Myanmar and China. Do you agree? From my point of view, it was an isolated case. We understand there was something behind this decision, but I think it will not affect the relationship between the two sides. After assuming the post of president in 2011, U Thein Sein visited China, and both sides have promoted their "comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation" and this year signed an action plan for strategic partnership. The general relationship is still very good. The momentum is still good. Since my arrival here four months ago, I have had many discussions with friends from different fields, such as politics, social organizations and the government. My impression is that all Myanmar people, the government, ministries, social organizations and different parties have a strong desire to further develop relations with China, especially economic ties. [Regarding Myitsone], Myanmar is now entering a period of rampant agricultural and industrial development. If you want to develop industry, the power supply is a basic need. Without electricity, how can you develop the industrial sector? So would you like to see the Myitsone dam project restarted? I think if we want to resume this project, we need to do communication and consultation between the two sides. We need to set up some mechanism and have more discussions. But of course, we respect the Myanmar government's decision and we also respect the people's views about the project. As you say, the Chinese embassy is now actively reaching out not only to the authorities, but also to opposition groups, civil society organizations and people on the ground. Why didn't you do this in the past? Over the past two years, Myanmar has opened up, and social organizations and the media are more active. This has created so many positive conditions. The social and political atmosphere here has positively changed. Myanmar's stability and development are in China's interests. Now, in a globalized world, no country can develop in isolation. To continue our economic relations, we need strong and solid social bases. So we should get support from different factions and different people. Myanmar now has closer relations with the West and other Asian countries, including Japan. How do you feel about this? As I mentioned, in this globalized world, no country can develop without good relations with the outside world. In the past, when some Western countries imposed sanctions against Myanmar, China didn't support it because this kind of isolation is not good for the Myanmar people. Those who suffered from these sanction were not only officials but also ordinary people. It was the people who suffered most, not senior officials. That's why China called on the international community to lift the sanctions. It is good that Myanmar has opened up and developed relations with the whole world, including the Western countries. I hope all nations can join hands to facilitate Myanmar's development process. Some observers say that the United States decided to start engaging with Myanmar because it was worried about China's influence in the country. What is your response to this? I've read newspapers and talked to friends here, and they have a similar idea. They talk about the power struggle in Myanmar, especially between China and the US. I think it would be unfortunate if such a thing happens. If there is a power struggle between China and US, it will also not be good for Myanmar. We hope it doesn't happen. China doesn't support the idea of a zero-sum game. We should have a policy of win-win cooperation. Some Myanmar politicians also make it very clear that Myanmar should not become a battlefield of bigger powers. That is not the desire of the Myanmar people. We welcome the US to play a constructive role in Myanmar. Some Chinese companies, such as the China Power Investment Corporation, have been criticized for their lack of transparency. Would you like to comment on that? You may have noticed our embassy's website. We have a website to clear rumors, and we also have a Facebook page. The Chinese government also encourages Chinese companies, especially those in foreign countries, to take responsibility for social affairs. Social responsibility is very important for the people. We have learned from the past that we need to communicate more with people. Chinese authorities have also gotten involved in peace talks between ethnic Kachin rebels and the Myanmar government. What are your concerns about border areas? China strongly supports peace talks between the two sides. China also wants to play a positive role. Stability in the northern part of Myanmar, which borders China, is of course not just a concern for Myanmar, but also for China. In the past, some bullets have landed on China's side. Also, when there are conflicts on the Myanmar side, hundreds of thousands of people cross over into China. Stability in northern Myanmar is good for China. We hope that the Kachin and the government can talk directly. To sign a ceasefire agreement and realize peace, they first need to build trust. China is confident that they will sign the agreement because it is in the interests of both sides. Many Myanmar people resent the fact that in the past, China seemed to side with the military junta, and not with them. What do you say to this? Not only China but also Russia and your neighboring countries supported Myanmar. China supported the military regime, but that doesn't mean China supported military rule. We thought of Myanmar as a nation with its people. We built roads and made some factories and agricultural projects. That was for the people, not just the military. If every country had isolated Myanmar, the people would have been the first to suffer. So it is not true that China only supported the military regime. You recently donated 1 million kyat (US$1,000) to the National League for Democracy. China didn't support Myanmar's democracy forces in the past, so why now? In the past, China just focused on action, not talk. But now we need to have more communication to get understanding from the people. Just action without talking is not good practice for China now. We should change it. We encourage Chinese enterprises here to communicate more with society. Otherwise, people don't understand what we are doing. [Chinese companies] should also respect the local society and take responsibility for the social impact of their actions. Do you think China now finds itself in a difficult position as Myanmar opens up and more foreign partners approach the country? I don't think so. Quick social and economic development in Myanmar is good for China. It will provide more opportunities for our mutual beneficial cooperation. But of course, with new opportunities come new challenges. The post 'The Momentum is Still Good' appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
| The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (June 13, 2015) Posted: 12 Jun 2015 05:00 PM PDT  A nurse prepares a room in a Siloam hospital in Jakarta February 7, 2013. (Photo: Reuters) Is Burma 'Missing the Boat' With China Infrastructure Finance? As Burma's opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi sat down with Chinese leaders in Beijing this week during her first official visit to the country, headlines focused on the political implications of the trip. But more important for the long-term relationship between Burma and its neighbor may be recent Chinese moves to become a major backer of regional infrastructure projects. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank—a Chinese initiative that has multilateral support—is set to start life before the end of this year with a kitty of some US$50 billion. Burma has a massive need for cash to fund infrastructure improvements, but the administration of President Thein Sein has turned away from the military government's former patron since canceling the massive Chinese-backed Myitsone dam in Kachin State. Burma-watcher and economist Stuart Larkin told The Irrawaddy this week that Burma's leaders, distracted by internal concerns, may miss a major opportunity to access much-needed finance. Larkin, a visiting fellow at Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, said in a paper published in May that for Southeast Asian countries, including Burma, the AIIB could be "a knowledge bank providing much needed advice and assistance, helping countries to build capacity in establishing 'shovel ready' infrastructure project pipelines." The new bank is an opportunity to fill the large gap in infrastructure funding in the region, the paper said, adding that Southeast Asian countries will hope China will not use it to garner political leverage with states. "Myanmar missed the boat when it opted for socialist isolationism instead of developing a market oriented economy targeting exports for growth," Larkin said by email. "It then missed the democracy boat with benefits when it attracted sanctions and pariah status for being an unacceptable regime type in the post-cold war era. "The country is now in democratic transition but risks missing the biggest development boat of all—China finance. Mired in issues of internal ethnic conflict, is Myanmar's political elite paying enough attention to what China is doing?" Plan to Cut USD Use Not Likely to Impact Retail: Lawyer A new directive on use of the US dollar from Burma's Central Bank (CBM) is causing concern among investors, raising uncertainty about future transactions, a legal advisor operating in the country has said. The order, known as Letter 904, began circulating early this month, according to a client briefing note from Edwin Vanderbruggen, a founding partner of regional legal advisory firm VDB-Loi. "[T]he CBM advised Government agencies and [state-owned enterprises] not to agree to any commitments in foreign currency, and to instead conclude agreements that provide payment in MMK [Burmese kyat]," Vanderbruggen's note said. He said that transactions with overseas firms, such as those involving the purchase of equipment from abroad, are not covered by the order. "With Letter 904, the CBM is addressing domestic situations, so most likely transactions where the Government's counterparty is also established or registered in Myanmar, even if such counterparty is owned by foreigners," the note said. The measure comes as the kyat has fallen against the dollar in recent weeks. The Central Bank's official exchange rate stood at 1,105 kyat to the dollar on Friday. Burma's cash-dominated economy uses a mix of kyat and US dollars, with the latter preferred by many as it can be used easily overseas. Outlets targeting tourists and expatriates accept the American currency and often display prices in dollars rather than kyat. "It is not certain yet whether payments between enterprises and individual consumers [retail] are also to be targeted," The VDB-Loi note said. "It seems this is less of a priority for the CBM, perhaps given the smaller volume of USD transactions there. But wholesale payments, payments between enterprises are certain to be restricted, so is the [central bank's] intention." Letter 904 is only an announcement to notify companies about incoming rules, which will likely include more detail, the note said, advising VDB-Loi's clients that it is too soon to start refusing to use US dollars in transactions. Thailand's Saha Group Says Burma Land Prices Too High for Industrial Project Thai conglomerate Saha Group has scaled back its plans in Burma after finding the price of land prohibitively high in the country, according to a report in the Bangkok Post. Land prices have soared in parts of Burma since a political and economic transition begin in 2011. The rise is thought to be fueled partly by speculators looking to make large profits by selling on to investors keen to capitalize on the so-called frontier market. Saha Group—Thailand's "leading consumer product conglomerate," according to the Bangkok Post—had previously announced that it would set up an industrial zone in Burma. However, Chairman Boonsithi Chokwatana told the newspaper that the cost of leasing land for the project for 30 years was too high, according to a report on June 9. "It won't work to develop our own industrial park over there [in Burma] due to the high investment cost," he was quoted saying. "The land is very expensive." "Saha Group has altered its business strategy in Myanmar by renting some land for factories at an industrial park to be jointly developed by Japanese investors and the Myanmar government," the Bangkok Post added. According to a 2014 report from Japan's Nikkei, Saha Group has also entered a joint venture with Burma's MK Group to transport consumer goods between the two countries. The report, also citing Boonsithi, said Saha Group was also planning to set up a detergent factory. It is unclear whether the firm's other plans have also changed, but the Bangkok Post said this week that Saha Group planned to use an existing facility in Mae Sot, on the border with Karen State, as a hub for bilateral trade with Burma. Indonesia's Lippo Group to Open 20 Hospitals Indonesian conglomerate Lippo Group plans to build 20 private hospitals in Burma and is working with local tycoon Serge Pun in the country, according to the Jakarta Globe newspaper. The two firms have entered a joint venture to set up the 174-bed Pun Hlaing Siloam Hospital on the tycoon's Pun Hlaing Golf Estate in western Rangoon, a recent report said. The Jakarta Globe report quoted James T. Riady, CEO of real estate giant Lippo Group, saying that the company would spend $1 billion in the next three to five years to build 20 medical facilities both in Rangoon and elsewhere in Burma. "We will build six to seven hospitals in Yangon, while the rest will be outside Yangon," Riady reportedly said. "The investment value of one hospital including the land is around $50 million." Burma's state-run health care services have been starved of funding for years. Despite recent increases in government budget allocations to government health care services, most middle-class and wealthy Burmese turn to private clinics and hospitals—or travel overseas—for medical care. Sedona Hotel Expansion to Open Late This Year The Sedona Hotel on the shore of Rangoon's Inya Lake will open a new wing later this year as the city's hotels finally begin catch up with increased demand for rooms. Burma's former capital and economic center was caught unprepared four years ago when the government's reform program began, with hotel rooms in short supply as unprecedented numbers of business people, aid workers and tourists began arriving. New hotels from international chains Best Western and NovoTel have recently opened in the city, and a number of new hotels are under construction. In recent months a 29-storey tower has gone up behind the existing Sedona Hotel, which is owned by Singapore's Keppel Land. The extension, known as the Inya Wing, cost the group $80 million and is set to open before the end of 2015, according to the website Deal Street Asia. Citing Keppel Land CEO Ang Wee Gee, the site also said that the Singaporean firm was also involved in a joint venture with US-blacklisted construction company Shwe Taung Group to build a 23-storey office tower, part of a larger Rangoon project named Junction City. "An investment of $47.4 million has been made by Keppel Land in this latest asset," the report said, adding that the tower is set for completion in the first half of 2017. The post The Irrawaddy Business Roundup (June 13, 2015) appeared first on The Irrawaddy. |
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