YANGON—Myanmar and Japan have signed four loan agreements worth about US$1.1 billion (120.915 billion yen, or 1.61 trillion kyats) to fund sewerage, urban development, power distribution and infrastructure improvement projects in seven regions and states in Myanmar. The four Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan agreements were signed on Tuesday between Japanese Ambassador Maruyama Ichiro and […]
Water a worry for Myanmar’s farmers
Myanmar’s rice growers are increasingly concerned about the amount of water in the country available for the irrigation of their crops, industry insiders say. And their worries are not exactly without foundation. U Myo Tint Tun, assistant secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation recently said: “A reduction in water available for crop […]
Ministry urges farmers to save water
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation has urged farmers to use water more efficiently as there is less water behind the country’s more than 300 reservoirs and dams despite the current rainy season. The monsoon, which started in late May, is due to end later this month. As of Sunday, Thaphan Seik Dam, the […]
Broad coalition to ramp up food safety in Myanmar
Myanmar’s food safety advocacy groups plan to bring around 400 stakeholders from the food industry together to discuss food safety issues and challenges in the country. Myanmar Innovative Life Sciences (MILS), Myanmar Consumers Union and Food Science and Technology Association (FoSTA Myanmar) told the media at a press conference on Wednesday that they will organize […]
Keen investor interest in privatisation of Yangon water system
Investors are showing keen interest in managing and distributing water in Yangon, with a total of 32 local and foreign companies having submitted expressions of interest (EOI) for the job since August 28, when the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) first announced its privatisation plans. The private sector has until October 28 to submit EOIs, […]
Efforts to curb illegal bottling of water
The government will take action against people and businesses bottling water improperly for sales to the public in Yangon, says U Ye Htut Oo, chair of the Myanmar Drinking Water Entrepreneurs Association. It is difficult to control the prices of bottled across townships in Yangon, as the city’s area is wide and illegally bottled water […]
‘Creating triple wins’: inclusive business in Myanmar
They can create new income opportunities for the poor by engaging them in the value chains of profitable businesses while paying better than market rates. They can also provide goods and services to the poor that address key needs in areas such as health, education, housing, finance, water and sanitation. Inclusive businesses are typically profitable […]