CNI News

5 March 2024

The agreement that the State Administration Council (SAC) has recognized the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) as the government of Kokang region was not right but just spreading misinformation, those who are close to both the SAC and the Three Brotherhood Alliance, told CNI News.

The three northern allies and the SAC's the National Solidarity and Peacemaking Negotiation Committee (NSPNC) discussed in Kunming, China from 1st to 2nd March, 2024 for the fourth time. 

And then, although some agreements were signed on 3rd March, 2024, the point that recognized the MNDAA as an official government of Kokang region was not included in the agreements and but the Kokang region was recognized as the Special Region-1, said a person who is close to the SAC and the three brotherhood alliance.

While seeing the MNDAA force

" The Kokang region is recognized as the Special Region-1, but the discussion will be conducted only after the troops are withdrawn to designate some territories. The point that recognizes the MNDAA as a government isn't included. Matters relating to territorial designation, administration and army deployment will be discussed later. The troops have to stop where they arrive, cease fire and don't do military activities. These are main things." he said to the CNI News. Moreover, to ceasefire between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army (AA) was mainly discussed and so to re-open the China-Myanmar border trade reportedly.

"If there are many armed groups on the border trade route, the trade can't be conducted. It's just related to G to G initiative. As long as there are various armed groups on the way, the border trade can't be re-opened. It was mainly discussed, relating to China." he said.

While seeing the MNDAA force

Moreover, the news that the MNDAA had been recognized as the government of the Kokang region was just misinformation. But the Kokang region was just recognized as the Kokang Special Region-1. The point that in the border trade with China, the MNDAA will take 70 percent of the customs duty and the government, 30 percent was not right. If there were armed groups on the border trade route, the border trade couldn't be re-opened, which was discussed with China, he added.

In the same way, the point that the SAC had recognized that the territories which the MNDAA has seized control of was just misinformation and the SAC demanded the three northern groups to only retreat their troops, they said.

CNI News
2 March 2024

Pu K Vanlalvena, a member of parliament of Mizoram State, India met and discussed with officials of the Arakan Army about the construction of road, The Lairam Time, a regional media in Mizoram reported.

They met and discussed somewhere near the border on 29th February, 2024 reportedly.

They mainly discussed about building the road that would pass between Mizoram State and Paletwa Township and the MP studied the path to be constructed reportedly. At present, the AA has seized control of Paletwa Township after fighting against the Tatmadaw and is establishing administration.

India was implementing the Kaladan River Project that contain from Mizoram State to Sittwe through Paletwa Township. However, India is facing losses due to the suspension of the project as a result of battles between the Tatmadaw and the AA.

After that, India needed to discuss with the AA for restarting the project and the reconstruction of the paths included in the project.

CNI News
2 March 2024

If Myanmar citizens who have held certificates of identity (CIs) have got passports, they could stay and work in Thailand as MoU workers, Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok has stated.

If passports were taken, Myanmar citizens would have to contact to the office of the Labor Commissioner with a factory/workshop arrangement. And then, they could continue to carry out to register as MoU workers reportedly.

In the past, when passports were issued to those with CIs, they were allowed to stay and work officially in Thailand. But they could not carry out to register in the list of MoU workers. But those with CI can carry out to register in the list of MoU workers. So, it could affect overseas employment agencies, Ko Thargyi who is helping in the affairs of migrant workers, told CNI News.

While seeing a CI book

"There will be negative consequences for Myanmar agencies. Some Myanmar people may enter Thailand illegally and they will make CI and then Baht Pink Cards. They will make MoU through CI. Local overseas employment agencies can't find jobs although they have deposited several hundred thousands. They don't get demand letters. If you submit a demand letter, it will take you long. So, it will be delayed in calling workers. They can lose deposits. They have to pay rental fee for office, salaries for staff and so on." he said.

This program arose after Myanmar officials, Thai authorities and Thai entrepreneurs negotiated and agreed in order to enable Myanmar workers to work with official documents reportedly.

Currently, the number of Myanmar workers working with CI in Thailand is over one million and the program will apply to all Myanmar workers reportedly.

Myanmar workers

" In the past, the purpose of issuing CI was just for a period of identity verification. They had to be using this before they got passports But now a worker with CI can contact the office of Labor Commissioner to become an MoU worker. He can choose to work as an MoU worker through an agent. Otherwise, he can do the current job with official documents." said U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the FED to CNI News.

As per submission of factories/workshops, officials will go to the factories and workshops where Myanmar workers with CI are working with mobile team to collect information about the workers. And then passports will be issued reportedly.

Myanmar workers have to make CI books through brokers and it costs them about 10,000 bahts. The program is a way to collect taxes from legal workers, those who are helping in the affairs of migrant workers, review.

CNI News
2 March 2024

Although EVs have been allowed to be imported since 2023, the assembly and production of electric vehicles with (Semi-Knocked-Down) SKD system will be conducted in 2026, according to motorcar entrepreneurs.

The National Electric Vehicle and Related Industries Development Steering Committee has laid down the policy to assemble and produce EVs within the country.

So, The EV sector could create more job opportunities in 2026, U Kyaw Swar Tun Myint, secretary general of Myanmar Automobile Manufacturers And Distributors Association, told CNI News.

" The pilot project started in 2023 to import EVs. In 2024, the pilot project was renewed and importing EVs was allowed. In 2025- 2026, the policy has been laid down to manufacture with SKD system within the country by a national level organization. In 2026, assembly and production of EVs will be mandatory. But at the same time, CBU (Completely Built Up ) cars are allowed to be imported. But percentage of assembly and production of EVs will increase. If EVs were assembled and produced with the country in 2026, job opportunities will increase." he said.

While cars are being assembled and produced

If EVs could be assembled and produced with SKD system within the country, the prices of electric cars will be cheaper and later, all social classes might buy and use EVs. However, at present, in relation to importing EVs,  the tax has been exempted.

So, rather than assembly and production within the country, importing EVs was more cost effective, pointed out automobile entrepreneurs. If EVs were assembled and produced within the country, the cost for transporting parts would be higher and the price of each part was also high reportedly.

According to the current situation of Myanmar, Myanmar doesn't have enough electricity to assemble and produce EVs, U Min Min Maung, chairman of the Yangon Region Automobile Manufacturers And Distributors Association, told CNI News.

" For the time being, tax exemption has been allowed to import EVs. If Evs are assembled and produced in Myanmar, electricity won't be available enough.. Next, transportation of EV parts is costly. So, rather that assembly and production of EVs here, importing EVs is more cost effective. And the prices of SKD parts that have to be bought abroad are also high." he said.

While cars are being assembled and produced

although the assembly and production of EVs with the SKD system within the country in 2026 would be implemented, the government needed to support to sustain the SKD system and to assemble and manufacture EVs at an international level, added U Min Min Maung.

" Financial condition of the State, and the difficulties of businessmen, what are they experiencing? And then what can the State support? It depend on that a lot. Depending on that, they worked for a short time to arise a SKD factory and then it disappeared. To avoid such a pattern, the State needs to help and regulate. The State will have to gradually support to become CKD (Completely Knocked Down) from SKD at an international level." he added.

At present, over 1,000 EVs have already entered Myanmar reportedly. In order to import a large number of EVs, If the State set a policy regarding EV import permit, the prices of EVs would fall and many people could buy and use EVs, said automobile market experts.

CNI News
2 March 2024

Images of troops of the Mon State Liberation Army (MLA) attending military training courses at the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) were officially released.

The MLA was formed in September, 2022 and it stated that its troops attended Military Training Course Batch No.1 and No. 2 which were trained by the TNLA. As the Mon armed groups, there are the Mon State Liberation Army (MLA), the New Mon State Party, the New Mon State Party (Anti-Dictatorship) and Local PDF.

Among them, the NMSP has signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and is participating in the peace process. However, other Mon armed groups are making preparations to fight against the Tatmadaw to overthrow it.

CNI News
2 March 2024

Despite reports that the price of gold within the country has reached over 39 lakhs at present, the price was just a rumor, denied the Yangon Gold Entrepreneurs Association (YGEA).

Gold shops were not trading at that price and they were trading at a little higher price than the one designated by the YGEA, said association.

According to the prices of gold released by the YGEA on 29th February 2024, the price of pure gold is about 3.661,000 million kyats and there is a gap of 200,000 kyats between the selling price of gold of gold shops and the one designated by the YGEA, according to the gold market.

Gold shops selling at a price much higher than the reference price will be taken action against by closing them for three months, U Myo Myint, chairman of the YGEA, told CNI News.

While seeing a gold shop

" The price of gold isn't 39 lakh kyats. It's just a rumor. If you go and sell your gold at this price, no one will buy your gold. If there' someone who will buy at this price, people will sell their gold by the ton. Real price is a little different from the one designated by the YGEA. If a gold shop sell at a much higher price than the price designated, the shop will be closed for three months by the department concerned." he said.

Because of spreading rumors and raising prices of gold, the gold market is volatile and the transaction is in a stalled state, according to the gold market. Most of gold shops have suspended sales reportedly.

Some people who buy and collect gold want to make a profit were creating the current situation to raise the price of gold by spreading rumors and most regular gold traders wanted the price of gold to fall and stabilize the price, U Ohn Myaing, secretary of the Myanmar Gold Entrepreneurs Association, told CNI News.
"I heard that price. But I don't know whether there is a transaction or not. I heard that the price was 3,885,000 kyats per tical not long ago. But now the price has been 3.9 million or over 3.9 million. The gold market has been volatile due to rumors kind of. People talking about this price online are not those who work in the gold industry. Those who have bought a viss of gold or as able as they could are posting the price online because they want to make a profit. Gold entrepreneurs want the price to fall or to be stable. Whenever they hold a large of money, they might make a profit. Only when the amount of gold increases in their hands, they make a profit." he said.

While seeing a gold shop

Although the relevant authorities called and interrogated gold shop owners and gold entrepreneurs as a regulator of the price of gold, it didn't help to stabilize the price of gold.

Moreover, domestic price of gold might exceed the record price that occurred last year, pointed out gold market analysts.

Domestic price of gold might remain around 38 lakh kyats per tical and the price might change only when the gold production from the gold mines would be suspended, said gold market analysts.

CNI News

1 March 2024

As the number of Myanmar workers who entered China through Nandaw and Sinphyu Gates is too many, their wages were reduced, philanthropic associations in Muse told CNI News. Moreover, among the Myanmar citizens who have arrived in the Chinses side, some of them are getting into trouble, they said.

" There are too many Myanmar workers who have arrived in the Chinese side. Many of them are jobless. They don't get jobs at once. Many people from Myanmar entered China without having contacts. After they heard the road to China has been open, they entered China massively. On the Chinese side they don't get jobs at once. Some of they have run out of money to come back. Some were cheated. Because of too many Myanmar workers, their waged are reduced. In the past, the workers were paid 1,800 to 2,000 yuans. But now they get only 1,500 yuans." said an official from the Beautiful Heart Charity Association (Muse).

Myanmar people tend to enter the Chinese side with red books that are valid to stay in China for one year or one time use Temporary Border Pass (TBP) and there are also Myanmar overstayers on the Chinese side. Chinese authorities are arresting the overstayers. 

While seeing the red book of residence permit in China

Myanmar overstayers have been arrested by the thousand at present. According to the Chinese law, overstayers could be sentenced to 15 days or one month in prison, philanthropic associations in Muse told CNI News.

However, there are many Myanmar people who want to enter the Chinese side and they are waiting in line to get tokens reportedly. As there are so many people who want to enter the Chinese side and brokers are asking over 10 lakh kyats to send a person to the Chinese side, an official from a charity association in Muse, told CNI News.

While seeing Myanmar citizens taking tokens to enter the Chinese side

"Now it's difficult to enter or leave China. Those who exploit the situation are many. I wonder if they are staffs or brokers. Those who want to get red books have to take a long time by waiting in line. If you hire a broker, they will ask you 10 lakh kyats and above. For example, you may pay 10 to over 20 or 28 lakh kyats. You have to wait as well." he said.

At present, 300 tokens are being issued daily on average for the appointments and only the residents of Muse, Namkham, Man Hio and Pangsai (Kyucote) in Muse District are allowed to apply for red books that are valid for one year.

CNI News

1 March 2024

The State Administration Council declared Momeik and Mabein Townships as martial law areas on 28th February 2024. Because the townships are included in the Northern Command territory, the commander of the Northern Command will administer these townships.

Because the townships have been designated as martial law areas, the commander has the rights to manage the issues of administration, security, social, trade and transportation.

In the two townships, battles are severely breaking out between the Tatmadaw and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)/the People's Defense Force (PDF) joint forces.

Moreover, battles are severely taking place between the Tatmadaw and the Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA).

CNI News

1 March 2024

Because the policy regarding export earnings gained from exporting rice, corn and rubber has been changed again, exporters are facing difficulties reportedly. 

In the past, exporters were allowed to sell 70 percent of export earnings to the companies that import fuel and edible oil at the market price. Of the remaining 30 percent, 65 percent could be sold at the market price and 35 percent, at the price designated by the Central Bank of Myanmar.

Afte that, as a further amendment, in the second week of February, if exporters imported fuel and edible oil, 70 percent of the export earnings could be sold at the market price and the remaining 30 percent would compulsorily be sold at 2,100 kyats per dollar, the price designated by the Central Bank.

However, exporters must cancel the contracts with the companies that import fuel and edible oil and 70 percent of export earnings must be sold to the authorized dealer (“AD”) banks at 3,150 kyats per dollar. So, exporters lose 300 kyats per dollar, U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of Myanmar Corn Industrial Association (MCIA), told CNI News.

While seeing the exports

" Exporters have other difficulties such as renting a ship. But there are transportation difficulties now and some delays due to route security. We have bought the goods after calculating, depending on the prices designated. Because the policy has changed, it's like we have bought the goods at higher prices. We lose 100 to 300 kyats per dollar. But it' not been stable." he said.

The export earnings policy has often been changed since July, 2023 and the policy has been changed four times already. The policies regarding import and export need to be stable and only if the policy was stable for six months at least, would it be convenient for market negotiation and for benefits, pointed out traders.

Because traders have got less profits due to the policy that has been changed, domestic prices of rice, bean, corn and rubber will fall and it could adversely impact on farmers.

While seeing the exports

So, export policies needed to be stable and it was necessary so as not to have a wide gap when designating the foreign exchange rate, an official from Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders Association, told CNI News.

" There are times when profits are high and times when they are low for exporters due to unstable export policy. We have to export regularly exported goods and compulsorily exported goods. Now the exporters suffer. But depending on the policy, sometimes traders tend to make a lot of profit. It is more convenient if there is no situation in which one side gains too much and the other loses." he said.

Although there are some losses for exporters due to the policy that was recently changed, importers of fuel and edible oil make a little profit. So, the government should make the policy stable and needs to regulate the foreign exchange market, pointed out traders.