As part of ongoing efforts to liberalise the financial services industry and increase credit to the private sector, the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) has introduced regulations to facilitate foreign investment in domestic lenders. On January 29 the CBM issued Regulation No 1/2019, allowing foreign banks and financial institutions to hold equity of up to […]
Business confidence in Myanmar sinks as scepticism mounts
More European businesses say they have lost confidence in Myanmar due to concerns about the National League for Democracy-led government’s management of the economy compared to the last two years, a new survey shows. According to the latest survey from the European Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar (EuroCham) published yesterday, a majority of firms (81 […]
Banks receive boost as Myanmar urges citizens to beef up savings
The number of adults who save via banks is at a measly 11%. Banks in Myanmar can start looking forward to a larger liquidity pool as the country drafts a National Savings Mobilisation Strategy to encourage its citizens to save more, reports The Myanmar Times. “Despite rising volume of savings at local banks, more is […]
FMO Partners with Maha Agriculture Microfinance & Harvesting Inc to Streamline Agriculture Lending in Myanmar
FMO, the Dutch development bank headquartered in the Hague, the Netherlands, has announced its partnership with Myanmar-based Maha Agriculture Microfinance (Maha) and U.S.-based Harvesting Inc (Harvesting) to provide a grant that would help streamline agriculture lending to Myanmar farmers. As part of its capacity development program, FMO will financially support the pilot deployment of Agriculture […]
Zhefu Holding-Supreme Group consortium to develop USD 2.5bn Myanmar gas-fired plant project
A Zhefu Holding Group Co Ltd-Supreme Group of Companies consortium plans to build a 1390MW gas-fired power plant under an EPC contract in Myanmar, according to a source from a project participant. The total project investment (TPI) is around USD 2.5bn. The project owner is Myanmar Electric Power Enterprise, which will start to seek project […]
Parliament passes Financial Institutions Law
After years of back and forth, the Banks and Financial Institutions Law of Myanmar has been passed by parliament and is now awaiting the president’s signature, with banks to face more stringent rules on raising paid-up capital and on reserve requirements. Lenders will have to keep 5 percent of customer deposits as cash with the […]
U.S. temporarily lifts trade restrictions on Myanmar shipping hubs
The United States is temporarily easing trade restrictions on Myanmar by allowing all shipments to go through its ports and airports for six months, an effort to boost the Southeast Asian country’s opposition party after its landmark election win in November, U.S. officials said on Monday. The policy change, coming after Aung San Suu Kyi’s […]