Seminar on Myanmar-Vietnam Intellectual Property
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Editor’s Note 2012 was a year of profound change in Myanmar, and this momentum looks set to continue into 2013. As the editor of the English-language edition of Myanmar B2B Management magazine, ACUMEN, I’d like to take this opportunity to ‘welcome’ you to this sample edition, and to thank you for your interest in our publication. In the past year, Myanmar has made impressive strides towards re-joining the international community after decades of isolation. This country’s rapidly changing political and economic landscape has brought with it an unprecedented amount of international interest. While the international spotlight has shone uncomfortably on Myanmar on a few occasions over the past decade, this time the rush of attention is at least in part because of everything that is going right. The changes I’ve seen to Yangon, compared to my last stint here five years ACUMEN ago, are remarkable. Portraits of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, cloistered and unmentionable in her University Avenue residence until not too long ago, are now ubiquitous. It Editorial Board seems that every significant event in the city nowadays is a first. Jason Mraz’ concert at People’s Square and Park in mid-December marked the first major appearance by CEO / Chief Editor a Western recording artist in Myanmar, and Yangon’s first public New Year’s celebrations Dr. Htet Zan Linn attracted thousands of revellers. Director What’s most exciting about being in Yangon is the new sense of optimism Dr. Hein Thu Aung, Tin Tun Kyaw that people here seem to feel about the future. With the yoke of authoritarianism Executive Editor being lifted, Myanmar’s citizens are keen to forge links with the rest of the world. Phyo Wai Yangon’s chattering classes talk of investor protection, transparency and the rule of Editor English Edition law, bringing institutions up to international standards and launching joint ventures Alex Bookbinder with foreign companies. Small-and-medium enterprises, long denied opportunities to Editors grow under the weight of corruption and economic mismanagement, are waiting in Hein Zaw, Khin Win, Su Le` Nandar the wings to bring their products and services to the world. Reporters For all of its potential, foreign firms still perceive doing business in Myanmar Tha Toe Aung, Nang Aye Chan Moe to be risky. While this fear is not unjustified, there is a lot of misinformation circulating Designers about this country’s investment climate. Much of this can be chalked up to history; the Aung Aung (AN Computer), Thaw Tar Oo media in Myanmar is still developing an identity and voice after decades of censorship Computer Operator and repression, so accurate and engaging content about business issues is not as Zin Wai Wai Shein readily available as it perhaps should be. Marketing Department As Myanmar opens up, Myanmar B2B seeks to be a source of high-quality January Khine Mon, Naw Keziah, Yadanar information about this country’s business environment, and act as a link between Photographers local companies and their foreign counterparts. The press is a crucial tool for promoting Bait Thar, Aung Kyaw Moe (New Image), Thu Yein, Alex Bookbinder transparent and ethical business practices in Myanmar, and we at Myanmar B2B are honoured to have the opportunity to try to help build a more just and prosperous Publisher and Copyright Dr. Htet Zan Linn future for this country and its citizens. Printer Advisors Prof. Dr. Aung Tun Thet (Senior Advisor, UN Resident Coordinator's Office) Dr. Mg Mg Thein (Ph.D. (Law), LL.M., LL.B., B.A.(Law), ANZIIF (Australia), Pg. Dip in Applied Psychology) Prof. Maw Than (Rector (Ret), Yangon Institute of Economics Yangon) Soe Tint Aung (Special Consultant for Advocacy, PSI Myanmar) Dr. Tun Lwin (Consultant, Myanmar Climate Change Watch,Tun Lwin Foundation) Than Lwin (Deputy Governer (Ret), Central Bank of Myanmar) Tin Zan Kyaw (Principal, Device Business Management Academy) Grace Swe Zin Htaik (Media Advocacy Advisor, PSI Myanmar) Office No. 24/26, 4B-C, Race Course Condo, South Race Course Street, TAMWE TOWNSHIP, YANGON Tel : (+959) 420033355 66 77 (Hot Line), (+959) 73045140, 49317457, 73143313, (+951) 8603886, 8603887 ~ ~ [email protected] [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], Voices “The essence of a nation is its people. This country will develop and perform well if people are competent and well educated. Therefore, I wish that all of our people will be well educated and competent. May all of our people be free from fear when carrying out their national “We must behave duties, and may they be able to enjoy their rights.” maturely and act flexibly in order to take Daw Aung San Suu Kyi President advantage of the National League for Democracy current environment of 7 Days News Journal (VOL-11, No-43),January 3, 2013. (]]jynfolrsm; t&nftcsif;wdk;wuf&ef reform that is allowing a':atmifqef;pkMunfESpfopfqkrGefawmif;}}) our country to open up. There will be profound challenges in the future, and “Businessmen need to prioritise people must be realistic in their expec- long-term growth over short-term tations of politicians, not reactionary and profits. Thinking long-term is the extremist when politi- cal problems arise.” only way to bring about sustained U Thein Sein President economic growth. If not, businesses Republic of the Union of Myanmar Biweekly Eleven Journal (VOL-5, will not be able to survive in the long No 40), January 4, 2013. (]]vlYtzGJUtpnf;twGuf ta&; run.” tBuD;qHk;onf vuf&dSazmfaqmif aeonfhjyKjyifajymif;vJrsm;rSwpfqifh Dr. Maung Maung Lay aocsmonfhtem*wfjzpfatmif Vice-President wnfaqmufa&;yifjzpfaMumif; UMFCCI or®wOD;odef;pdefajymMum;}}) Pyi Myanmar News Journal (No.852), January 3, 2013. (]]'DZifbmvukefrSpwifum w&m;r0ifukefoG,frIudk w&m;pGJqdkta&;,lrnf}}) “Everyone must be protected under the law in a transparent man- ner. Foreign investments that are beneficial for this country’s devel- opment are welcome, and locals must be granted the same legal protections that foreign investors are.” Daw Khin Sann Hlaing Letpadaung Copper Mine Project Commission ENVOY Journal (VOL-3, No.33), January 3, 2013. (]]EdkifiHjcm;&if;ESD;jr§KyfESHonfhukrÜPDrSyk*¾dKvfrsm;tm; umuG,fapmifha&SmufouJhodkY jynfolrsm;tay: umuG,fapmifha&Smufr,fhOya'vnf;&dS&r,f}}) ACUMEN ⏐ 5 News in Brief Printing industry Aung Gyi Group to import Chinese vehicles entrepreneurs sug- to Myanmar gest changes to taxa- With private citizens now able to im- from JAC that attended the ceremony, port vehicles privately from foreign was optimistic about the brand’s pros- tion regime countries, local companies have begun pects in Myanmar. “I came from China to ramp up the importation of foreign- to attend this ceremony. This occasion made cars to Myanmar. is very meaningful, as marks the launch While markedly less popular than of a formal relationship between Aung second-hand Japanese models, new Chi- Gyi and JAC. We are proud to be al- nese-made cars are gaining a foothold lowed to work in cooperation with Trad- in the Myanmar market due to their ers’ Company in the New Year.” competitive pricing, costing far less than JAC prides itself on its products’ new cars from other countries. JAC technological sophistication, and are par- (Jianghui Automobile Co., Ltd), China’s ticularly proud of the engine technol- A workshop on developing printing and tenth-largest automobile manufacturer, ogy at their disposal, acquired from their related industries in Myanmar, jointly has found a local distribution partner American joint-venture partner held by the Union of Myanmar Federa- in the Yangon-based Aung Gyi Group, Cummins, said Yang. Service centres for tion of Chambers of Commerce and In- which held an exhibition and sale of JAC products are set to open in Yangon, dustry (UMFCCI) and the Association JAC-brand trucks, tippers, buses and Mandalay, Naypyitaw and Mu-se. U of Myanmar Printing and Publishing En- passenger cars at Shwe Lin Ban Indus- Aung Thu, CEO of Aung Gyi Group, trepreneurs, was held at UMFCCI’s of- trial Zone in Yangon on New Year’s day. explained that servicing and accesso- fices on November 22, 2013. At the JAC products were sold at the exhibi- ries will be made available free of workshop, entrepreneurs in the print- tion at heavily discounted promotional charge under the terms of JAC’s one- ing industries presented papers on the prices in honour of the New Year. year manufacturer’s warranty. A development of the publishing sector in Mr. Yang Lixin, a representative Myanmar and how it can be promoted. Matters relating to printing industry were also discussed in the presentations. U Tin Sein, a prominent industri- alist in the printing sector, made pre- sentations on lending practices that would benefit small and medium enter- prises, and suggested that waiving cus- toms duties and business taxes for lo- cal printers would allow the Myanmar’s domestic printing and publishing sec- tor to grow by favouring domestic pro- ducers. ‘‘In our locally produced exer- cise books, companies which import raw materials - paper and cardboard boxes - have to pay 3 percent tax on imports, 5 percent tax on trade and 25 percent tax on income," explained U Thuya Lin from Icon Exercise Books, another Myanmar-based printer. ‘‘This puts lo- cal companies at a disadvantage com- pared to foreign firms." A 8 ⏐ ACUMEN www.myanmarb2bmagazine.com April 2013 Garment Makers go high tech Yatanarpon Teleport launches two new products On December 19th, Yatanarpon Teleport Company held a launch ceremony for two new products, Ytune and Ytalk, at the MICT Park in Kamayut Township, Yangon. U Aung Myat, the head of product development at Yatanar- pon, elaborated on the value his company provides to consumers. ‘‘We always strive to offer ser- vices which are really beneficial The first exhibition in Myanmar of high- to government sources.