India and Myanmar have agreed to work towards launching the Sittwe Port in Rakhine State in the first quarter of 2021, according to announcements by the Myanmar government and the Ministry of External Affairs of India. The developments were made during the visit of an Indian government delegation to Myanmar this week. The Sittwe Port […]
Truck drivers across Myanmar in limbo as states, regions enforce COVID-19 restrictions
Truck drivers across Myanmar in limbo as states, regions enforce COVID-19 restrictions A rising number of truck drivers across Myanmar are in limbo now that the states and regions are enforcing restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19. Last week, Shan State temporarily banned vehicles and passengers from other states and regions between October 1 […]
Yangon officials start inspecting QR codes of cars, people allowed to travel
Officials have commenced inspecting drivers on the road for the appropriate documents required for travel between one township to another in Yangon, according to the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC). “Only those with the right documentation and ID will be allowed to pass,” said U Aung Nyein Kyaw, chair of Thaketa township YCDC office. “Roadside […]
Most Yangon taxi drivers stop working, return cars to owners
Most taxi drivers in Yangon have begun to return their cars to their owners due to the lack of passengers following the stricter stay-at-home order in place for all Yangon townships. “Only a few people go outside of their homes because of the new stay-at-home order. It’s hard for us to earn money to cover […]
Chinese automakers move into Myanmar to battle Japanese rivals
YANGON — Chinese automakers are ramping up local production in Myanmar as they go head to head with dominant and entrenched Japanese rivals in the fast-growing market. There was a fivefold increase in the number of new cars sold in Myanmar in the three years to 2019, when sales hit 21,916, according to data from […]
Vehicles at the forefront of Myanmar’s drive for industrial growth
Toyota is developing an assembly plant in Myanmar,signaling strong growth prospects in the local market as the country looks to expand its manufacturing output. In late May the Japanese carmaker announced it will establish its first vehicle assembly plant in the country, in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) just outside of Yangon. Once it […]
European car makers express interest in Myanmar
The Czech Republic has announced interest to assemble Skoda cars in Myanmar, U Thaung Tun, Union minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, said last week. “The Czechs sold the Skoda in Myanmar in the past and now they’ve made an offer to start production here,” U Thaung Tun said at an investment promotion event […]
New policy aims to raise number of new cars on the road
The Ministry of Industry launched a new automotive policy this month, with the aim of supporting transport and auto-related business through sustainable development and more foreign direct investments. Under the new policy, the usage of left-hand drive vehicles will be promoted for road safety purposes. Control measures on imports of used right-hand drive vehicles, which […]
A clean-up campaign for Yangon’s air pollution
The SHWEDAGON Pagoda was our first stop on a mission to gather data on air quality in various locations across Yangon, which began one Sunday morning in late March. The air quality in the commercial capital seemed to have deteriorated throughout the hot season, and we wanted to know how bad it was and what […]