NEWS Transport Brief ANALYSIS Issue 20 DATA TENDERS 4 May 2017 COMPANIES

Part of the Myanmar Transport Monitor transport.frontiermyanmar.com

IN THIS ISSUE  Analysis: Transport a bright spot as MIC shakes up investment regulations Approvals for transport and communications made up nearly 50% of 2016-17 total MIC approvals, as new investment rules come into effect

 Committee formed to consider opening Bagan to international flights Foreign carriers are keen on servicing Myanmar’s premier tourist destination, but they must overcome opposition from local airlines

 Mon bridge quietly opened amid intense criticism TRANSPORT NUMBER OF Politics had kept a large bridge near closed, with local groups THE WEEK protesting it being named after an ethnic Bamar hero

29km  Analysis: NLD cautious on infrastructure financing from One Belt, One Road Chinese officials and various experts are promoting the benefits of President A 29km road in Sagaing Xi Jinping’s signature programme, but Myanmar officials are not so sure Region will be complete by

24 May, according to  Road media reports. - road due for upgrade next year, YBS faces scathing review,

and new terminal opens in Katha, Sagaing Region The road is being built  Water between Pin Lal Bu and Ship sunk in Yangon harbor to be raised, one person missing in Paungbyin to provide an accident, and Yangon checks infrastructure ahead of water taxi launch alternative to boat travel  Air on the a dangerous stretch Officials discuss direct flights between Mandalay and Japan, while extreme of the Chindwin river, turbulence causes significant injuries on flight in Myanmar airspace which claimed dozens of  Trade and Logistics lives in an accident last Border gate in Kokang area to re-open, and border gate in restive northern year. to open, while Indian area bans Myanmar pigs

 Other The road is eight km Pre-stressed concrete facility opened in Hmawbi by Japan-Myanmar venture, longer than an existing cable car to Kayin State landmark nearly complete route.

THIS WEEK’S NEW TENDERS  Supply of dredger and barge and crushed stone CALENDAR  Supply of fork lift trucks, lubricants and fuels and road construction materials  Supply of Toyota Hilux and provision of driver and vehicle  15th ASEAN Ports

& Shipping 2017  Building and THIS WEEK’S NEW DATA Construction  Weekly fuel retail and import prices, December and January Myanmar 2017  Trade statistics

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Other  TYTC Services for collection and Analysis: Transport investment a bright spot transportation of waste as MIC shakes up investment regulations  Myanmar Motor Corporation Public Company for manufacturing of buses The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC)  MSL Industries for a warehouses, aims to improve an often frustrating approval logistics and distribution services process for foreign investment, though  Maxxcare for specialised warehousing, transport and communications was a bright logistics and distribution spot in the 2016-17 year.  Loscam Myanmar for providing pallets and other supply chain equipment Investments worth $3.1bn were approved by the MIC in 2016-17 for transport and In addition, transport projects are being communications. approved already in 2017-18.

While numbers were no doubt helped that a Myanmar Kong Hua company was approved significant number of telecoms-related this week for a foreign investment in approvals, a significant number of international port services in Kyauk Tan transport-related projects also received the township to the southeast of Yangon. green light. The start of the 2017-18 fiscal year on 1 April also saw the completion of the by-laws surrounding the recently-passed Myanmar Investment Law, which replaces the two previous laws governing foreign and local investment.

While it is early days for investments under the new regime, MIC secretary U Aung Naing Oo said he was optimistic about improving the often daunting and frustrating process that A total of 14 transport and communications had faced foreign investors in the country. projects were approved last fiscal year by the MIC, more than any sector except for Speaking at an event hosted by the British manufacturing, which typically consists of less Chamber of Commerce on 3 May, U Aung capital-intensive investments such as garment Naing Oo was candid in the problems of the factories. MIC’s relations with the various government ministries. Put another way, the $3.1bn approved for investment to transport and communications While he is often circumspect when speaking was about half of the total investments worth to Myanmar media, at the British chamber $6.6bn approved in 2016-17. event he was relatively open to the scale of the challenge, calling it a “tough job” for MIC. The following transport-related projects were approved in the previous 2016-17 fiscal year: “Ministries will tell you they are willing to promote business in Myanmar … but they say  Dry ports in Mandalay and Yangon by you need to do ‘this and that’,” he said. “’This local firm Resource Group Logistics and and that’ can be quite difficult.” foreign company KM Terminal and Logistics

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However, he said that the ministries are often The idea is that foreign tourists would be able trying to uphold their rights, even though to travel from one heritage site to the next, waiting to receive their responses on without the need to transit. investment decisions often slows the MIC process. There are currently no direct flights between Cambodia and Myanmar, though Myanmar The MIC has also appointed a focal person in Airways International previously flew between each ministry, hopefully improving the Yangon and Phnom Penh / Siem Reap. relationship. Emirates also services Yangon as a stop on its The bylaws following the new Myanmar Dubai to Phnom Penh route. Investment Law also are intended to speed up the approvals process. Pressure has been growing on Myanmar authorities to open Bagan to international U Aung Naing Oo said that MIC requests of flights. ministries will now come with timelines attached.

If the ministries do not respond in time, the project will deemed to be approved, in contrast to past systems where approvals often languished at the ministry level.

He also said the MIC aims to be a single window for investors, cutting down on the requirement for them to interact with various ministries. Currently, domestic airlines have a monopoly on the airport, and Myanmar Transport U Aung Naing Oo also said he is hopeful that Monitor understands they are strenuously the much-delayed new Companies Act will be opposed to allowing international flights to approved in 2017, adding he had made the begin. request personally to a number of parliamentarians. Many of Myanmar’s nine domestic airlines fly routes that start in Yangon, and travel to a Air combination of Nyaung-U (Bagan), Mandalay, Committee formed to consider opening Bagan and Heho (Inle lake). to international flights Allowing direct international flights to Bagan Working committees have been formed to along with Heho has been keenly sought be a consider opening Bagan airport (Nyaung-U number of companies and foreign Airport) as an international gateway, according delegations , though so far have not to a 29 April article in the Global New Light of succeeded. Myanmar quoting Ministry of Hotels and Tourism officials. State-owned the Myawaddy reported in March that Emirates is looking to launch a Bagan- Consideration is being given to allowing direct Cambodia route. flights between Bagan and Angkor War, a tourist location in Cambodia near Siem Reap city, the article said.

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Thai deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak It received about 250,000 visitors in 2015, a also brought up direct Bagan-Thailand flights number which could rise to 500,000 by 2018, during a trip leading a Thai business delegation according to an article in the Myanmar Times to Myanmar in February. quoting officials from the Bagan Tour Guide Association. A 29 April article in The Global New Light of Myanmar stated that the working committees Road have been formed for direct Myanmar- Mon bridge quietly opened amid intense Cambodia flights, and direct flights to Bagan criticism are “under development”, with consideration The government has decided to move forward being given to opening the airport to with open the Bogyoke Aung San Bridge (Bilu international flights. Island), despite fierce opposition among local people about the name. It is not clear from the article as to whether it is only the Cambodia flights that are under Choosing to name the bridge after a Burmese consideration, or if Bagan may be opened to leader has been derided by critics, who say it flights from all countries. shows a lack of awareness by the National League for Democracy about local ethnic It also did not mention who sits on the issues. working committees, though it likely includes officials from the Department of Civil Aviation.

At present, international visitors to Bagan must arrive by way of Yangon, or to a lesser degree Mandalay.

About 1.1m tourists arrive via Yangon in 2015 (the latest year for which the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has posted statistics), compared with 107,000 in Mandalay and 13,800 in Naypyitaw. The bridge is located a few miles outside of the capital of Mawlamyine. An additional 3.3m “tourists” arrived overland, though many are thought to be day-trippers The controversial bridge was opened without and not real tourists. Nevertheless, this an official ceremony on 27 April. inflates figures. Workers had reportedly installed a sign calling Nyaung-U has a 2,600m runway, along with a the Bogyoke Aung San Bridge (Bilu Island) in taxiway, lighting system and air control the middle of the night on 26 April, a fact system. which multiple local news agencies have said is opposed by local Mon people, as well as other Due to visual navigation, flight delays and ethnic groups in the country. cancellations sometimes occur. It had appeared that the controversy over It is likely that upgrades would be required to naming the bridge had prevented it from allow international flights to begin. opening earlier.

Bagan is one of Myanmar’s most popular tourism destinations.

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Media reported that the bridge was nearly The Union-level seat on the island at Chaung complete in early April, with local officials Sone also flipped to the USDP from the NLD in quoted as saying it was ultimately up to the the by-elections earlier this month. Union government on whether to move ahead with the project. This was widely interpreted as a sign indicating popular opposition to the move. Days before opening, on 24 April, Mon activists mailed an open letter to international Mon State chief minster Dr Aye Zan told The embassies and organsiations to protest the Irawaddy on 27 April from a Naypyitaw naming decision, according to the Mon News municipal guesthouse that he was not at the Agency. opening of the bridge due to business in Naypyitaw, but added that he will be at the The letter noted that the NLD had won bridge when it is officially opened, and that an significant support in the Mon ethnic areas in official opening is up to the Union government the 2015 election. to organise.

“Even though the winning party has the right Work began on the $43m bridge in February to form a government and to dominate 2015. It is 1,586m long and 8.5m wide. parliament, the party must respect the Right of Ethnic Minorities. However, the acts of the Vehicles are allowed to cross the bridge from NLD parliament do not seem to indicate that 5am to 10pm, and there is no toll for use of they respect these rights,” the letter said. the bridge.

The bridge has been called the Than Lwin Road Bridge (Chaung Zone) until being renamed by Analysis: NLD cautious on infrastructure order of the NLD parliament. financing from One Belt, One Road

Local activists have said they would prefer a Chinese government officials and a number of Mon name such as Chaungsone bridge or experts are making a push for Myanmar’s Yarmanya, which means Mon State in Mon participation in the One Belt One Road language. initiative, a large-scale, Beijing-led economic and diplomatic effort include significant The bridge connects Bilu (Ogre) island with the infrastructure spending. mainland, a few miles south of Mawlamyine city. Myanmar is a potential participant in the initiative, given its location next to China and It is located near the mouth of the Thanlwin huge needs for infrastructure investments. (Chindwin) river, one of Myanmar’s longest rivers running from southern China. While Myanmar leaders have publicly signed on, there is concern over drifting too close to This is not the first time local people have China, considered by some to be a hallmark of expressed their opposition. the former military regime’s economic and political approach. The Committee of Public Movement for Thanlwin Bridge (Chaung Sone) claims to have collected over 120,000 signatures opposing the change.

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More recently, China’s role in issues such as The CITIC chairman met with state counsellor the controversial Myitsone hydropower Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on 22 April, where project as well as in fighting between the was discussed. Myanmar military and ethnic groups in northern Shan State has generated anxiety China has significant development plans for among Myanmar leaders and the general Kyaukphyu, including a railway to Kunming, population. and it is also near the oil and gas pipelines that stretch across Myanmar to China. Nevertheless, it is clear that China is attempting to attract Myanmar’s participation The Beijing-based Asian Infrastructure in the One Belt One Road initiative, launching Investment Bank (AIIB) has so far announced something of a recent charm offensive. one investment in Myanmar, in the Myingyan gas-fired power plant, alongside other more China state-owned Xinhua interview Myanmar traditional development partners such as the Institute of Strategic and International Studies IFC. joint secretary U Khin Maung Lynn, who reportedly said Myanmar should cooperate in Experts point to the potential for more programs that suit itself, and that participation investment in Myanmar through institutions in the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st such as the AIIB. Century Maritime Silk Road could boost Myanmar trade. China has received Myanmar Investment Commission approval for $18.5bn in The Myanmar Times interviewed Wong Kyin investment in Myanmar, equating to 26.4% of Pyu, executive vice president of Hong the total, making it the largest single source. Kong-based non-profit Maritime Silk Road Society. Given that a large amount of Chinese investment also flows through places like He reportedly claimed the One Belt One Road Singapore and the British Virgin Islands, the initiatives as“ the biggest business opportunity actual percentage is likely much larger. given the Myanmar over the century”, according to a 3 May article. Publicly, state counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is keen to participate in China’s plans. He said that the Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM) could also Her name was among a list of leaders, also potentially open up western China. including Indonesia’s Joko Widodo, Malaysia’s Najib Razak and Russia’s Vladimir Putin who While China has been keen on the BCIM are to attend a conference on its New Silk corridor, recent Indian reports have suggested Road plan in May. that India is less keen on the idea. Yet given the complexity of Myanmar’s Wong also pointed to developments such as relationship with China, it is unclear how keen Kyaukphyu SEZ, which he said could take place the NLD government is on large-scale this year. China-funded infrastructure projects.

Two of the three main tenders for Kyaukphyu It remains to be seen if the NLD will actually have been awarded to a conglomerate led by allow these mega-projects to move forward. China’s CITIC, but construction has yet to begin.

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Road The upgrades to the 177km Yangon-Pathein Yangon Region discusses school bus network road will take place between 2018 and 2022, and will occur under the Road Department of Yangon Region Transport Authority is the Ministry of Construction. discussing plans to launch a public school bus system with the city’s public and private schools, according to News Watch Weekly journal.

Further discussions will be held in May to implement the system, with the goal of starting it by the next financial year. The discussions with 26 separate schools came due to concern over serious traffic congestion.

Yangon Region chief minister U Phyo Min Project developers will attempt to ensure that Thein said in February that the priority for nearby trees are not damaged, the article operation of the system is the private sector, said. though if it cannot handle operations than the government will undertake the project. Pathein is in the centre of one of Myanmar’s main areas of agricultural production. The Katha highway bus and truck terminal opens road also connects Yangon with the beach resorts of Ngwe Saung and Chaung Tha. The opening ceremony of the new highway bus and truck terminal in Katha, Sagaing highway bus terminal to relocate Region, was held on 1 May, according to an article in state-run Myanma Ahlinn newspaper. The highway bus terminal at Sittwe in Rakine State will be moved to a larger and more The ceremony was attended by Sagaing Region convenient space, according to the Rakhine chief minister Dr Myint Naing as well as State motor vehicles supervisory committee, regional members of parliament. state run The Mirror reported.

Construction on the terminal started on 4 The goal is for the flow of goods and January, and has been delayed due to passengers to Rakhine State to be improved. difficulties of getting water to the construction site. The current terminal opened in 2000 on five acres of land, and is about two miles away The terminal is on 4.8 acres of land, and from Sittwe. includes 16 highway bus lines, seven truck lines, eight restaurants, 27 stores, and a The new location is about 15 acres in Aung passenger rest area. Mingalar quarter, some three miles outside of the city. Yangon-Pathein road to be upgraded in 2018

The main road linking Yangon and the capital of Pathein will be upgraded from 2018, a project spokesperson said during a meeting with local people, according to an article in Myanma Ahlin.

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Overpass near Thaketa bridge to be ready in Open Corporates lists Daw Khin Sandar Win as 2018 the chairwoman of Omni Focus.

Two overpasses totaling four lanes are under Khin Sandar Win is the also the name of the construction near the Thaketa bridge, and will daughter of former dictator Ne Win. Omni open in 2018, according to Special Bridge Focus has in the past also been linked to two Group (11) under the Bridge Department of of the grandsons of former dictator Ne Win. the Ministry of Construction. The buses are brand-new, having been Work began on the two overpasses last fiscal manufacturer in March 2017. year. The Yangon Region Transport Authority is They are located next to aged overpasses, currently seeking to replace three-quarters of which will be demolished when the new ones buses in the YBS with new vehicles. are complete, Myanma Ahlinn newspaper reported on 30 April. Originally, media articles said the vehicles would arrive at once, but it is now clear that One overpass crosses the road, and is 90ft they will arrive in smaller lots over several long, 75.5ft wide, with a capacity of 75 tonnes. months.

The other crosses the railway, and is 110ft long CCTV installation works at Yangon’s traffic and 61.5ft wide. lights to be finished in 15 May

The project is linked to the Thaketa bridge, Installation work is to finish on CCTV which is to provide another connection installation work at 154 Yangon intersections between Pazundaung township and Dawbon between 28 April and 15 May, a reported in township, on either side of the Pazundaung the Daily Eleven said. creek. The work was supposed to be finished on 2 Brand-new buses arrive from China for YBS August 2016.

About 100 brand-new Foton buses have However, completion was continually delayed, arrived at the Thilawa port, according to with authorities blaming car crashes into traffic numerous local media reports. lights, mechanical errors, and orders not to disrupt electricity during the exam study The buses are intended for the Yangon Bus period for students. System (YBS), and were imported by Omni Focus company from China, under the supervision of the Yangon Region government, according to an article in News Watch Weekly.

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The CCTV installation is being conducted on 11 Media has reported that local people are now busy Yangon roads between Myanmar Shwe reluctant to take ferries. Yin company and China’s CRCC. The road is being developed with a total cost The four have been fined Ks100,000 per day of Ks5.5bn ($4m), sourced from the union since 2 August 2016 due to missing the project budget. deadline. The new road is 29 miles long, eight miles YBS business plan to be made public soon longer than the old road, which many considered too steep and dangerous. Yangon Region government will publicly reveal its business plans for the Yangon Bus System Mandalay Region hemorrhages money from (YBS) shortly, military-owned Myawaddy Daily waste collection quoted region minister of planning and finance U Myint Thaung as saying on 4 May. Pyin Oo Lwin is the only Mandalay township out of 22 where waste collection is making a Yangon Region is to cooperate with Yangon profit, according to a 28 April article in The Bus Public Company to purchase new buses for Myanmar Times. the system, while the Yangon Region Transport Authority is to design the business plan for the Overall, Mandalay City Development YBS. Committee lost over Ks570m ($422,000) collecting garbage last fiscal year, the article The article also stated that the Yangon Region said, quoting MCDC director U Min Aung Myint government is responsible for 60% of Soe. investment in the Yangon Bus Public Company, and that the company has ordered over 1,000 Pyin Oo Lwin is the only Mandalay township new buses. with private waste collection, while collection in the other townships is run by the private Media reports have also stated that Omni sector. Focus began imports of Chinese-made new buses last week. The largest losses where in Meiktila township, where waste collection lost Ks100m ($74,000) The YBS has been controversial, with some in 2016-17. commuters complain it represents a down- grade on the previous service. Waste collection has been contentious in Myanmar, with administrations including Road alternative to dangerous Chindwin river Yangon Region debating whether to adapt a nearly complete private or public model.

A road connecting the Sagaing Region areas of In Mandalay, the method of collecting revenue Pin Lal Bu and Paungbyin will be complete by for garbage trucks appears to vary, though 24 May, Sagaing Region Minister of Transport often an MCDC official will accompany a truck and Communications U Than Nyunt Win said, and collect fees of Ks100 from local residents. according to a 2 May report in 7Day Daily.

The road has been constructed following the Aung Soe Moe Kyaw ferry disaster on the nearby Chindwin river in October 2016, which left dozens dead.

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YBS review proposal approved following The article said the accident occurred after the criticism driver lost control of his vehicles while speeding on a mountain road. Yangon Region parliament approved a review proposal into the Yangon Bus Service, It added the incident is the deadliest that has following a debate featuring heated occurred on the road, which officially opened controversy on the new service. two years ago.

The debate was spurred by MPs’ concerns that Water the service, launched in January, is not Ship sunk in Yangon river to be raised adequately serving Yangon commuters. A ship called the Shwe Lat War which sank at Passengers have complained of general Bargayar jetty in Yangon river on 26 April will unreliability and a lack of legal action against be pulled out of the water, according to aggressive drivers, according to an article in Democracy Today. The Irrawaddy.

However, these were also concerns during the old system under Ma Tha Hta.

Region minister for electricity, industry and transport Daw Nilar Kyaw, who also oversees the Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA), sought to downplay the criticism, and said the YRTA has handled 6,500 legal cases under the new YBS system. Authorities will cooperate with the ship The YRTA has formed 10 mobile teams in an owners to lift it out of the river. effort to crack down on aggressive drivers. First the goods on the ship will be removed, Kayin State bus accident leaves at least 19 following which the vessel itself will be hauled dead out of the river.

At least 19 people were killed when a bus in The incident was reported to be the first it has Kayin State plunged off the road into a ravine, happened at Bargayar jetty. Raising the ship is according to a 2 May article in The Bangkok expected to take a week. Post. Earlier reports said the vessel capsised due to The accident occurred on the Asian Highway overloading. near the border city of Myawaddy. YRTA to check wharfs ahead of water taxi Bus company Lwin Dawna was reportedly launch carrying 40 passengers from Taungoo in Bago Region to Myawaddy when the accident The Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA) occurred. is inspecting newly-constructed wharfs ahead of the impending launch of a water taxi A total of 19 people are dead, and 21 other system, YRTA joint secretary Dr Maung Aung passengers have been injured, including six was quoted as saying by Myawaddy Daily. with serious injuries.

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The authority is specifically looking at the A Myanmar delegation led by the Minister of safety of commuters on seven wharfs along Hotels and Tourism visited Japan from 8 to 16 the Hlaing river to the west of the city, and 11 April through an invitation from Japan’s Sakura wharfs along Nga Moe Yeik creek (Pazundaung foundation, where the direct link was creek) on the east side of the city. discussed, U Myit Htwe, director of the ministry’s information department, said. The water taxi service is to start in the third week of May with operations on the Hlaing Myanmar and Japan are now planning an MoU river, which already had constructed facilities for cooperation of tourism. that required improvement. Media reports have also said the Osaka Most of the 11 wharfs along Nga Moe Yeik University of Tourism is planning to build a creek have been built from scratch, taking $200m tourism university in the country. longer.

One missing after Kawthaung ferry accident

A ferry boat carrying 15 passengers travelling between Kawthaung, the southernmost point in Myanmar, and the Thai city of Ranong, crashed into a fishing boat.

One passenger is reported missing, with 14 more having being rescued following the 25 April incident, Daily Eleven reported on 28 Air turbulence causes injuries on flight above April. Myanmar

A further two have been sent to hospital. An estimated 27 passengers were injured during a Moscow-Bangkok Aeroflot flight on 1 The incident follows other recent accidents at May, according to international media. sea. A total of 24 Russians and three Thais were A berth boat capsized in the Yangon harbor on hurt, including several with fractures and 26 April, while an estimated 30 people died in bruising, when the plan unexpectedly hit an a boating accident on the Chindwin river “air hole” on its approach to Bangkok’s earlier this month. Suvarnabhumi Airport, according to an article by CNN citing the Russian Embassy in Bangkok. Air Discussion underway for Japan-Mandalay A total of 15 passengers remain hospitalised, direct flights with most of those injured being people not wearing seatbelts, CNN cited the Russian Direct flights between Japan and Mandalay are Embassy as claiming. under discussion, with the intention of boosting tourism between the two countries, The Boeing 777 was traveling with 318 The Voice reported officials from the Ministry passengers and 14 crew members. of Hotels and Tourism as claiming on 2 May.

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Trade and Logistics Indian district bans Myanmar pigs over Kanyin Chaung border trade zone to be disease concerns opened this year A district in southern Mizoram, India, has Kanyin Chaung border trade zone to banned pig and piglet imports for two months Bangladesh near the troubled town of due to concerns some are infected with Maungdaw in Rakhine State is to open this Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory year, military-owned Myawaddy Daily quoted Syndrome, among other diseases. a Rakhine State official as claiming. The order was issued to prevent the further spreading of disease from Lawngtlai district in The official goal of opening the zone is to Mizoram. boost Rakhine’s trade volumes, which currently lag other border areas, State minister The disease reportedly resulted in the death of of commerce U Kyaw Thein said. more than 3,000 pigs in 2013, and 4,000 in 2016, according to an article in the Arunchal Construction on the zone is taking place at Times. Kanyin Chaung village, about three miles outside of Maungdaw. The article claimed the disease had spread from Myanmar, as it is “prevalent” in the The trade zone is to include a large market and country. warehouses.

Of note, Myanmar state and military-owned media has been keen to play up economic development in troubled northern Rakhine State, following a spate of violence begun last year in the area.

Yan Long Zhai border gate to reopen

Yang Long Zhai border gate in Laukkai town of the Kokang self-administrated zone in Other northern Shan State reopened on 1 May, Japanese company, Ministry of Construction according to Myanmar Times. open heavy concrete facility

The border gate between Myanmar and China Japan’s IHI Corp officially opened its heavy was closed due to clashes between a coalition concrete facility near Yangon at Hmawbi on 30 of ethnic armed groups and the Myanmar April, according to an article in The Japan army in the Kokang Self-administered Zone, Times. most recently in in February 2017. The Tokyo-based firm is working with the The gate has been reopened again by the Ministry of Construction on the $12.2m agreement of China and Myanmar. project, which opened in the Myaungdagar Steel Industrial Zone about 50km northwest of Authorities hope that reopening the gate will Yangon, the article said. speed up the flow of goods between the area and China, as well as spurring the local economy.

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The factory is operated by I&H Engineering Company, which as a joint venture between the Roads Department of the Ministry of Construction and IHI’s Singapore subsidiary.

The facility is on a 65,272 sq m plot, and has an annual capacity of 50,000 to 70,000 tonnes of pre-stressed concrete products, such as bridge girders and spun pile.

Zwekabin cable cars to open in 2018

Cable cars to the summit of the Kayin State landmark of Zwekabin mountain will be operational by 31 March 2018, with construction having already begun, state-owned Myanma Ahlin reported on 2 May.

Union Daily reported that the initial land survey was carried out by Japanese and Australian technicians in the end of 2016, with preparatory construction work beginning in January 2017.

The cable cars will travel to a height of 680m, and a distance of 1558.5m.

The project is developed by local companies Chit Lin Myaing Toyota, and Zwekabin Development Company.

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NEW TENDERS

Organisation Description Deadline Contact

Myanma Port Authority under Ministry of Transport and Communication invites the interested companies to supply the following materials. A document detailing price is to be submitted for each document.

Payment will be made in USD

(1) 2.5m3 Grab Dredger (1) Unit (Non Propelled Barge)(The Myanma Port Supply of Design, Materials, Machineries equipments, fittings Authority under and accessories for construction) Ministry of 30/5/17 Ph- 01-8610229, 01-8610232 Transport and Communication (2) 250m3 Self-propelled Hopper Barge (1) Unit (The Supply of Design, Materials, Machineries equipments, Fittings and Accessories for Construction)

Tender closing date – 30 May 2017

Tender application form can be obtained at Myanma Port Authority, Central Stock Handling Department, Strand road, Seikkan township starting from 2 May 2017.

The road department at Pathein District under the Ministry of Construction invites interested companies to supply crushed stone for road and bridge construction in Pathein district of Ayeyarwady Region. The tender is also tp include transport to the designated construction sites. Payment will be in Myanmar kyats. Road department at Detailed tender information can be obtained at Deputy Director Pathein District (civil) office, road department of Pathein district from 10 May. 17/5/17 Ph – 042-21099 under the Ministry of Closing date to submit tender form – 17 May 2017, 3pm Construction

Tender opening place – Deputy Director (civil) office, road department of Pathein district, No. (2) area, Shwe Zi Gon pagoda road, Pathein.

Tender opening date – 18 May 2017, 10 am

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NEW TENDERS

Organisation Description Deadline Contact

Myanma Railways under Ministry of Transport and Communication invites interested companies to supply the following materials.

No. Tender Number Item types

1 08/MAMA/CME 1 item of Forklift Truck (5 tonnes) (9000) drums of railroad diesel oil Myanma 2 09/MAMA/CME (RDO 40) (200L/Drum) Railways under Ministry of (50) drums of hydraulic oil SAE 10W, 6/6/17 Ph- 294352, 291985, 291994 (5) drums of grease NLGI-3, (100) Transport and 3 10/MAMA/CE Communication Nos of battery 12 V (120 Ah, 150 Ah) with acid 4 12 (T) 1/MR (MIT) (600) of round nose tool

Tender closing date – 6 June 2017, 2:30pm Tender application form can be obtained at Supplement department, Myanma Railways, Strand road, Botahtaung township,Yangon.

The Road Department under Ministry of Transport and Communication invites interested companies to supply the road construction materials needed for Pan Taung- Taungoup road, Taungoup- road, Yangon-Kyaukpyu road (Taungoup- Maei route and Maei-Alal Chaung route) and Manaung Kyun road. The tender also include transporting the materials to construction site.

Road Payment will be made in Myanmar Kyat. Department under Ministry of Starting date to get tender application form– 11 May 2017 25/5/17 Ph 09-421748848, 043-60227 Transport and Communication Closing date to submit tender form – 24 May 2017

Tender opening date – 25 May 2017, 9 am

Place to evaluate tender – deputy director (civil) office, special road construction group (18), Taungoup

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NEW TENDERS

Organisation Description Deadline Contact

Sports and Physical Education department (Yangon Region) invites interested Myanmar-based comapnies to supply a Toyota Hilux vehicle (Vigo Doubble Cab) (2010 and above model year, 3000cc).

Tender application form can be obtained at Sports and Physical Sports and Education department (Yangon Region), Thu Mingalar road, Physical South Okkalapa township Education 1/6/17 Ph 01-8500840, 8564489 department Date to get tender form- 2 May 2017 (Yangon Region) Tender closing date – 1 June 2017

Place to evaluate tender – Yangon Region government office

Maubin district's road department invites interested companies to supply the different sizes of crushed stones for road and bridge construction in Maubin district.

Payment will be made in Myanmar Kyat.

Starting date to get tender application form– 15 May 2017 Maubin district's 22/5/17 Ph- 045-30361 road department Closing date to submit tender application form– 22 May 2017, 2pm

Tender opening date – 25 May 2017, 1pm

Tender opening place – District deputy director office, Maubin town

transport.frontiermyanmar.com Myanmar Transport Brief | 28 April - 4 May 2017 17

NEW TENDERS

Organisation Description Deadline Contact

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is seeking new vendors. It requests interested applicants submit bids to provide drivers Zaw Myint Thein and vehicle, including fuel and maintenance. The Danish [email protected] Refugee Council 18/5/17 g, The area of operation will cover Sittwe, Kyauk Taw, Maruk-U (DRC) and Maungdaw, Rakhine State. 09-787840680 Application form issuing date – 4 May 2017

Application form closure date – 18 May 2017, 4pm

The Road Department under Ministry of Construction invites interested companies to supply all sizes of crushed stone, cement, sand, rebar and wood for road and bridge construction in eastern Shan State.

Payment will be made in Myanmar Kyat.

Starting date to obtain tender application form– 12 May 2017

The Road Place to obtain tender application form- Ph- 09-5041494, Department 26/5/17 09-257575275, under Ministry of 09-420733562. Construction (1) District’s assistance manager office, road department, Mya Yadanar road, No. (4) ward, Keng Tung town, Shan State

(2) Chief officer (civil) office, road department, Mat Man township, Mat Man town, State State

Closing date to submit tender application form– 26 May 2017

Place to select tender – Chief Officer (civil) office, Road depart- ment, Mat Man township, Shan State

transport.frontiermyanmar.com Myanmar Transport Brief | 28 April - 4 May 2017 18

OPEN TENDERS

Organisation Description Deadline Contact

Road construction special group (16) in Rakhine State's Ann township invites interested companies to supply road construction materials, including transportation to construction Road sites. construction special group Ph-09-961838585, Payment will be made in Myanmar Kyat. 19/5/17 (16) in Rakhine 09-972998809, 09-787567136

State's Ann Date to obtain tender application form– 15 May 2016 to 19 township May 2017

Tender opening date – 21 May 2017, 8 am

The Mandalay Region Rural Development Department invites interested companies to build an asphalt road (13/4 miles), a stone road (13/7 miles), 12 concrete bridges and 18 box culverts. Rural Development The Mandalay Date to obtain tender application form– 2 May 2017 to 29 May Department for Mandalay Region Rural 2017 30/5/17 Region, Mandalay, Development Department Closing date to submit tender application form– 30 May 2017, 4:30 pm Ph- 02-5155148, 02-5155149.

Place to submit tender application form– Rural Development Department for Mandalay region, No. (00-11/1), 68th street, Amarapura township, Mandalay region

transport.frontiermyanmar.com Myanmar Transport Brief | 28 April - 4 May 2017 19

OPEN TENDERS

Organisation Description Deadline Contact

Myanma Railways under Ministry of Transport and Communication invites the interested parties to supply ballast sized 1’’x 1 ½’’. Payment will be made in Myanmar kyats.

Number x 100 Places to transport (Volume) carriage headed for Maw Han station 200

Pin Baw station 500

carriage headed for Sha Pyay station 1000

carriage headed for King station 1000

carriage headed for Mel Zar station 1000

carriage headed for Sel Ywar station 1000

carriage headed for Na Bar station 1000

carriage headed for Pin Wel station 1000 carriage headed for Nant Se Aung station 1000

carriage headed for Bel Lin station 4500

carriage headed for San Sel station 500 carriage headed for Shwe Nyaung station 500 Myanma Railways under carriage headed for Yay Ni station 4000 Ministry of 16/5/17 Ph 01-294352, 01-291994 carriage headed for Kyay Taw station 4000 Transport and Communication Zin Kyaik station 3000

carriage headed for Yinn Nyein station 1000

carriage headed for Taung Soon station 1000

carriage headed for Kyaw Thar station 100

carriage headed for Kalay station 200 carriage headed for See Haung station 200

carriage headed for Intaw Kyel station 500

Tender closing date – 16 May 2017, 2:30 pm

Tender application form can be obtained at Supplement Depart- ment, Myanma Railways, Strand road, Botahtaung township, Yangon starting from 24 April.

transport.frontiermyanmar.com Myanmar Transport Brief | 28 April - 4 May 2017 20

OPEN TENDERS

Organisation Description Deadline Contact

Kayin State Development Committee invites interested companies to develop the following works in Hpa-An town of Kayin state under a 30 year build-operate-transfer system.

(1) Developing playground, garden and landscaping along 6,000 ft long strand road

(2) Extension of road from base of Barme mountain to Shwe Yin Hmyaw pagoda and construction of pavement. Kayin State Kayin State Development Development (3) Construction of car parking and bank retaining work 12/5/17 Committee, Ph- 058-21683, Committee 09-255926711 Opening date to obtain tender application form: 24 April 2017 (within office hours)

Closing date for tender submissions: 12 May 2017

Tender opening date: 16 May 2017, 10:00

Tender opening place: Kayin State Development Committee, Thanlwin Road, No.(4) ward, Hpa-An town.

Myanma Railways under Ministry of Transport and Communication invites interested companies to supply ballast extracted from Thein Zayat, Mop Palin and Kyaik Hto (Mayangone) quarries, including transportation to following locations.

(1) Transportation to carriage headed for Mop Palin station – (15000x100 volume)

(2) Transportation to Phayar Gyi station – (7000x100 volume) Myanma Railways under (3) Transportation to Pyi Pone station – (8000x100 volume) Ministry of 16/5/17 Ph – 294352, 291994 Transport and Communication (4) Transportation to Phaung Taw Thi station – (9000x100 volume)

(5) Transportation to Pel Newl Kone station – (21000x100 volume)

Tender closing date – 16 May 2017, 2:30 pm

Tender application form can be obtained at Supplement Depart- ment, Myanma Railways, Botahtaung township starting from 24 April 2017.

transport.frontiermyanmar.com Myanmar Transport Brief | 28 April - 4 May 2017 21

OPEN TENDERS

Organisation Description Deadline Contact

Myanma Railways under the Ministry of Transport and Communications invites interested companies to conduct the following work:

No. Tender Number Works MR/YCR/UG/CP To upgrade pagoda road-Kyeemyindine- 1 101 (T) 2017-18 Insein-Danyingon route

MR/YCR/UG/CP To upgrade Dagyingon-Mingaladon- 2 102 (T) 2017-18 Pazundaung route

Payment will be made in Myanmar Kyats.

Tender closing date and time:

For No(1): 19 June 2017, 10:00

For No(2): 19 June 2017, 14:00 (1) Myanma Railways, Place to submit tender form: Myanma Railways, Director Gen- Director General office, eral office, Naypyitaw railway station, Pobba Thiri township, Naypyitaw station, Pobba Thiri Myanma Naypyitaw township, Naypyitaw, Railways under ph- 067-77016 the Ministry of The tender winner is to develop the following specific works. 6/6/17 Transport and (2) Supplement department, Communications (1) Pre engineering works Myanma Railways, Corner of Strand road and (51) street, (2) Railroad fixing and maintenance works Yangon, Ph- 294352, 291994 (3) Railroad upgrading work

(4) Work to ensure adequate drainage along the railway

(5) Upgrades on waterways under railway bridges

(6) Level-crossing upgrade work

(7) Signal and communication construction work

(8) Station and platform upgrade work

(9) DEMU carriage fixing factory upgrade work

(10) Civil engineering work concerning electric power transmis- sion for signal and communication work

transport.frontiermyanmar.com Myanmar Transport Brief | 28 April - 4 May 2017 22

OPEN TENDERS

Organisation Description Deadline Contact

Myanma Railways invites the prequalification and bids for Track, Signalling and Telecommunication works which will be developed with an ODA loan received from Japan International Corporation Agency.

Invitation for Description Non- PQ and Bids refundable Document Fee IFP No: MR/ CP 101 From Pazundaung to $ 100 PQ/101, Bago (70.8km) PQ/102, CP 102 from Bago to PQ/103 Nyaunglebin (79.8km) CP 103 from Nyaunglebin to Taungoo (116 km)

IFP No: MR/ CP 101, CP 102 & CP 103 $ 1000 Myanma Railways, Ministry of Transport and BD/101, package (per BD/102, package) Communications, Naypyitaw Railway Station Compound, BD/103 Pobba Thiri township, Naypyitaw. Tender closing date - 31 March 2017 Myanma 30/6/17 Ph- +95 6777024 Railways The eligible nationality of applicants should be Japanese in the case of the prime contractor. In cases where the prime Facsimile number - +95 67 contractor is a joint venture, such joint venture will be eligible 77164 provided that the nationality of the lead partner is Japanese, that the nationality of the other partners is Japanese and/ or E-mail – Myanmar and that total share of work of Japanese partners in [email protected], the joint venture is more than 50% of the contract amount. [email protected]

Interested eligible applicants may obtain the documents on the submission of a written application to the Tender office in the head office of Myanma Railway at Naypyitaw Railway Station Compound, Pobba Thiri township, Naypyitaw, Myanmar during office hours.

Bids must be delivered to the address above mentioned on or before the closing date and time.

Technical Bids will be opened on 28 July 2017 at 14:00 at the conference room, Myanma Railways Head Office, Naypyitaw in the presence of representatives from prequalified bidders.

transport.frontiermyanmar.com Myanmar Transport Brief | 28 April - 4 May 2017 23

OPEN TENDERS

Organisation Description Deadline Contact

The Department of Rural Development under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation invites interested companies to develop roads in Taunggyi, Hopong, Nyaung Shwe, Lawksawk and Kalaw of Shan State.

No. Township Road Length (1) Daw Tin Moe Myint (Director)- Kyay Lat street, 1 Taunggyi Kanlong-Zalal road 17.3 km Bridge department, Rural development department, The Department 2 Hopang Lwel Ont-Hti Bwar road 7.1 km office No. (14), Naypyitaw, of Rural ph-067-409410, Development 3 Nyaung Shwe Nyaung Shwe-Kanu road 6.5 km Fax- 067-409210, under the 4 Lawksawk Pin Pyit-War Phyar road 11.3 km 26/5/17 [email protected] Ministry of

Agriculture, Bawnai-Thayet Pu- 5 Kalaw 12.4 km Livestock and Kanpani-Supani road (2) U Kyaw Swar Aung (Director) - Rural Irrigation 6 Kalaw Kanparni-Pawtote road 5.6 km development department, No. (14), Naypyitaw, Interested parties can obtain the application form (Ks 50,000 ph- 067-409029, cost) at Rural development, Kyay Lat street, bridge department, [email protected] starting from 5 April 2017.

Application form is to be submitted no later than 26 May 2017, 14:00.

Application form should be submitted separately for each con- struction area.

Myanma Port Authority under the Ministry of Transport and Communications invites interested local companies to redevelop Seikkyi Dam, in Seikkyi Khanaungto township by "anchor type", with the use of steel sheet pile. Myanma Port Authority under the Ministry of Date to obtain tender application form: 10 April 2017 to 12 April 9/5/17 09-5025780, 09-43127468 Transport and 2017 Communications Closing date for tender submission: 9 May 2017, 13:00

Place to obtain tender application form: No. (10) Pansodan Road, Myanma Port Authority (Civil Engineering Department)

transport.frontiermyanmar.com Myanmar Transport Brief | 28 April - 4 May 2017 24

THIS WEEK’S NEW DATA

Japan exports to Myanmar

Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2017 67 83 72 2016 62 89 99 96 69 70 67 57 88 82 106 98 2015 99 103 87 110 96 107 93 74 89 101 85 84

Japan imports from Myanmar

Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2017 77 92 99 2016 72 86 89 74 44 58 59 89 106 84 69 61 2015 69 77 76 72 40 56 75 79 117 114 73 67 Singapore exports to Myanmar Jan Feb March April May June July August Sep Oct Nov Dec

2017 5 10 10 2016 17 13 11 8 5 10 33 8 19 11 7 10

2015 11 7 13 46 11 12 6 6 32 8 6 12 2014 11 6 20 5 8 13 55 5 6 49 6 16

Singapore imports from Myanmar

Jan Feb March April May June July August Sep Oct Nov Dec

2017 290 367 327

2016 326 330 307 244 195 245 214 210 266 250 219 338 2015 308 311 332 226 248 235 272 187 276 262 344 374

2014 365 185 260 208 240 242 212 202 257 202 358 303 Thailand-Myanmar monthly trade (total trade)

Jan Feb March April May June July August Sep Oct Nov Dec 2017 357 399 432

2016 351 347 380 335 379 340 333 327 326 320 350 387 2015 356 357 397 321 368 316 298 308 356 365 349 384 2014 346 346 393 339 392 319 334 340 368 355 332 377 U.S. exports to Myanmar Jan Feb March April May June July August Sep Oct Nov Dec 2017 18 18 2016 15 53 8 11 8 8 12 12 13 16 17 21 2015 14 19 12 7 11 50 7 6 6 58 23 15 2014 9 5 11 7 10 6 5 7 8 8 9 10 U.S. imports from Myanmar Jan Feb March April May June July August Sep Oct Nov Dec 2017 25 24 2016 15 18 15 19 19 16 20 31 24 25 25 18 2015 9 8 10 9 10 11 12 17 15 16 15 12 2014 5 9 6 6 6 7 7 8 9 10 7 15 All data is in US$ millions

This data is obtained from the following sources: Japan’s Ministry of Finance Statistics Singapore Bank of Thailand

Myanmar Transport Brief | 28 April - 4 May 2017 25

THIS WEEK’S NEW DATA

Japan exports to Myanmar Japan imports from Myanmar 120 140

100 120

100 80 80 60 60 40 40

20 20

0 0 Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015

Singapore imports from Myanmar Singapore exports to Myanmar 50 400

45 350 40 300 35 30 250 25 200

20 150 15 100 10 50 5 0 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2017 2016 2015 2017 2016 2015

Total trade with Thailand

500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0

2017 2016 2015

All data is in US$ millions

Myanmar Transport Brief | 28 April - 4 May 2017 26

THIS WEEK’S NEW DATA

Retail fuel prices by March-April –May 2017

W/E 4 Mar W/E 9 Mar W/E 21 Apr W/E 25 Apr W/E 2 May

Diesel Ks. 705 Ks. 710 Ks.705 Ks. 710 705

Octane 95 Ks. 760 Ks. 750 Ks. 750 Ks. 755 755

Octane 92 Ks. 710 Ks. 710 Ks. 710 Ks. 720 720

770

760

750

740

730

720 Diesel Octane 95 710 Octane 92 700

690

680

670

12-Apr 14-Apr 16-Apr 18-Apr 20-Apr 22-Apr 04-Apr 06-Apr 08-Apr 10-Apr 24-Apr 26-Apr 28-Apr 30-Apr 02-May

Source: Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association. Myanmar Ks per litre

Note: The original source refers to the figures as "fuel prices". According to our surveys of petrol stations, they are largely in line with retail prices in Yangon. The source notes that retail prices may vary from location to location due to transportation costs.

transport.frontiermyanmar.com Myanmar Transport Brief | 28 April - 4 May 2017 27

CALENDAR

15th ASEAN Ports & Shipping 2017 6-7 July 2017 , Sule Shangri-La, Yangon, Myanmar http://www.transportevents.com/ForthcomingEventsdetails.aspx? EventID=EVE133

Building and Construction Myanmar 2017 12-14 October 2017, MEP at Mindama , Yangon, Myanmar http://www.buildingmyanmar.com/bldg/2017/en/index.asp

transport.frontiermyanmar.com Myanmar Transport Brief | 28 April - 4 May 2017 28

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