democracy

Myanmar property group sees its future in consumer sector

September 18, 2018 by Thiha

In the heart of Yangon, the commercial capital of Myanmar, the former headquarters of Myanmar Railways is surrounded by white steel frames. The historic redbrick building, more than a century old, is being restored and will be the future site of the Peninsula Yangon, a luxury hotel set to open in 2021. The grand structure […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: crony companies, Cyrus Pun, democracy, Economy, First Myanmar Investment, Little Sheep, Little Sheep Hot Pot, Melvyn, Melvyn Pun, Mitsubishi Group, Pernod Ricard, real estate, Serge Pun, Serge Pun & Associates, Singapore Exchange, transparency, World Bank, Yoma Central, Yoma Central complex, Yoma Strategic Holdings

State Counsellor delivers an address on Democratic Transition in Myanmar: Challenges and the Way Forward

August 24, 2018 by Thiha

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi delivered the 43rd Singapore Lecture titled “Democratic Transition in Myanmar: Challenges and the Way Forward” at Grand Hyatt in Singapore on 21 August. The following is the full text of her lecture. Your Excellency Mr. Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security of […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: democracy, democratic transition, history, Myanmar, Singapore Lecture, State Counsellor

Private school is not so cool

August 23, 2018 by Thiha

When Poe Poe passed her matriculation exam (the Burmese equivalent of an A-level) she did not score the grades she hoped for. And this was a disaster for her. Why? It meant her dream of becoming a doctor was out of reach. In Myanmar, results obtained at this milestone exam dictates to which university a […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: bachelor course, business, business management, democracy, diplomas, Economics, education, Education Law, education sector, expensive, Facebook, fake university, foreign education consultant, higher education, matriculation exam, Ministry of Education, Myanmar, Myanmar investment commission, National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Committee, private and public education, private institutions, private school, private universities, public universities, religious institutions, Tip Top Education, university

Plenty of political will but no cash for New Yangon project

July 23, 2018 by Thiha

Large areas west of the Yangon River here look dark and depressed, at least from an airplane taking off or landing from the capital’s airport after sunset. In stark contrast to the city center, on the east side of the river, where high-rise commercial buildings and shiny condominiums are popping up, the opposite bank gives […]

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Irish building up a head of steam in Myanmar

March 23, 2018 by Thiha

When Kieran Rabbitt stepped off a plane and into the heavy Yangon heat four years ago, little did he think he’d still be in Myanmar today, at the cutting edge of the country’s digital revolution. From offices in downtown Yangon, the Athenry native – along with Karim Ainsworth from Belfast – runs Cube Digital. The […]

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Myanmar: Asia’s Final Frontier Car Market

March 6, 2018 by Thiha

Earlier this month I spent four days in Myanmar, the proud and reclusive nation of 52 million sandwiched between India, China and Thailand. My purpose: Work with officials in the Myanmar government to develop plans for a competitive auto industry. The timing could not be better: Fast-emerging and increasingly affordable EV and autonomous vehicle technologies […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: auto industry, autonomous vehicle technologies, British Colonial Burma, China, democracy, Early Independence, Facebook, Frontier Car Market, Grab, hybrid cars, India, Instagram, Malaysia, military rule, mobile applications, mobile phones, Myanmar, Myanmar Government, Snapchat, Southeast Asia, Thailand, Uber, Vietnam, Yangon

NLD government to face tougher challenges in 2018

January 2, 2018 by Thiha

Among the many countries struggling for democracy, some succeed, some fail, while others slide back after a few measures of success. Myanmar is one of these countries, which recently gained democracy through peaceful reforms and elections but now appears to be sliding back to its old draconian ways. After more than 20-year military rule, the […]

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Myanmar focused on improvement of literacy rate

October 23, 2017 by Thiha

The government has been building a 21st century education system that will propel Myanmar to the rank of the upper-middle-income nations by 2030. Myanmar kicked off the International Literacy Day 2017 by holding a ceremony at the Ministry of Education in Nay Pyi Taw on September 8, with the objectives of aiming to improve literacy […]

Filed Under: Latest News Tagged With: 21st century education system, Comprehensive Education Sector Review, democracy, digital technology, GDP, Gross Domestic Product, International Literacy Day, Kayah State, Kyauk Phyu district, leadership skills, literacy rate, Ministry of Education, MOE, MoE Basic Literacy Program, Mrauk-U district, Myanmar’s education sector, National Education Strategic Plan, National League for Democracy Government, national learning standards, Nay Pyi Taw, NESP, new Basic Education curricula, non-formal education programs, non-formal primary education programs, peace-building process, primary school teachers, socio-economic development, student examination systems, Taunggyi District, teacher education, teacher-student ratio, Thandwe district, Union Minister for Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi, United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, upper-middle-income nations, Yangon Region’s Hlaing Tharyar district

Marking 70 Years of US-Myanmar Relations

September 20, 2017 by Thiha

Today we commemorate a milestone anniversary in the relations between the United States and Myanmar. It was 70 years ago today, on September 18, 1947, that the US Department of State announced that the governments of Burma and the United States had “agreed to exchange representatives with the rank of ambassador.” That announcement was made […]

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What is the Future of the Media in Myanmar?

September 19, 2017 by Thiha

The media – once termed the “Fourth Estate” in society by British parliamentarian and philosopher Edmund Burke – plays a vital role in shaping democracy and open public discourse. Its role is particularly important in new democracies, as societies develop both economically and politically, with the people given the opportunity to think critically and vote […]