adv.pmd 11 1/21/2014, 7:12 PM adv.pmd 12 1/21/2014, 6:37 PM adv.pmd 13 1/21/2014, 6:38 PM adv.pmd 12 1/21/2014, 6:30 PM adv.pmd 13 1/21/2014, 6:30 PM adv.pmd 11 1/21/2014, 6:16 PM adv.pmd 11 1/21/2014, 7:23 PM adv.pmd 11 1/21/2014, 6:33 PM adv.pmd 11 1/21/2014, 6:04 PM adv.pmd 12 1/21/2014, 6:05 PM adv.pmd 13 1/21/2014, 7:32 PM Editor’s Note This month, we would like to highlight the role of Myanmar women who can play a greater role in many areas such as politics, business and civil society. Myanmar hosted an international women's forum for the first time in December, 2013. The traditional role of women here took a revolutionary turn, which is quite a significant change in a coun- try with deep-rooted cultural traditions. However, the prospect of this becoming a sweeping change remains dim. Myanmar has several edu- cated women with higher education of MAs and PhDs. But they are not ACUMEN in high-ranking positions in the government. That impasse reflects the unequal distribution of jobs among men and women. This fact reminds Editorial Board me of a Japanese professor saying ‘‘The worst waste of all is the waste CEO / Chief Editor of human resources". He declared this at a lecture at the Institute of Dr. Htet Zan Linn Economics in Yangon years ago. We are wasting human capital and Director Dr. Hein Thu Aung, Tin Tun Kyaw the damage is incalculable. Another point I would like to make is the Executive Editor lack of reliable data about our country to be provided to potential inves- Phyo Wai tors. Here in this edition, we have included a question and answer with Editors a company offering expert research and risk quantification services. Hein Zaw, Khin Win, Khaing Minn Nyo Twenty years of strong trade restrictions and other non-market-based Contributors measures in Myanmar resulted in misleading historical data of low Hein Zaw, Myitmakha, Dr.Tin Maung Kyi, Naing Thit, Jacob Andrew Clere, quality and availability that hamper analysis of the current state of af- Khaing Minn Nyo fairs in the country. We need to address this issue urgently for the Cover development of this country in future. Last but not least, I would like to Hatt Kawt disseminate the comments made by two very well-known and success- Designers Aung Aung (AN Computer), Win Minn Thein ful entrepreneurs in Myanmar. One of them pointed out that the exorbi- Computer Operator tant prices of properties are not conducive for investors. This is also one Zin Wai Wai Shein among so many issues Myanmar needs to tackle if it is genuinely will- Marketing Department ing to beckon investors. Above all else, is the question of political stabil- January Khine Mon, Naw Keziah, Yadanar, Nan Mo ity. A Photographers Aung Kyaw Moe (New Image), Myitmakha, Hein Zaw Advisors Publisher and Copyright Dr. Htet Zan Linn Prof. Dr. Aung Tun Thet (President's Economic Advisor) Prof. Maw Than (Rector (Ret), Yangon Institute of Economics Yangon) Printer Soe Tint Aung (Special Consultant for Advocacy, PSI Myanmar) Dr. Tun Lwin (Consultant, Myanmar Climate Change Watch,Tun Lwin Foundation) Than Lwin (Deputy Governor (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], Masthead.pmd 1 1/21/2014, 6:02 PM Voices Foreign Direct Investment Under the new government, all the ob- is a pre-requisite in trying stacles have been reduced. Previously, there were import restrictions for the to develop the country. quality and the type of beans and Loans and aids are sesame. However, there were some il- legal export and import in black market required. Without money, trading. The country's economy will go we cannot establish and down if we don't do things wisely, swiftly and in collaboration with one another make a country because Myanmar is located between beautiful. big countries like China and India; Thai- land and Bangladesh. Dr. Sai Sam Tun Chairman Loi Hein Co., Ltd. U Win Myint Minister of Commerce Basic salaries need to be revised . At present, the amount each employee is getting is K1.5 lakh a month including Before constructing an over time and bonus. There are irrigation canal, we We need more factories where workers' lowest need to find out if it is educated people. We necessary or not or and income ranges from K60,000 to which is the solution. need to upgrade our K70,000. It is very sorrowful. Actually, Then the feasibility education. If we have study must be their basic salary is K40,000. It is more educated conducted. It also needs persons, we can hire necessary to pay more. It is required to check if it is commercially and house maids from to calculate the costs for the survival financially feasible. It is other countries. or the livelihood of a worker. also required to take into consideration U Yu Yu Lwin about the Chairman environmental impact. U Maung (a) Pyithit Nyunt Wai Social Welfare Organisation General Secretary U Cho Cho Federation of Trade Unions-Burma Irrigation Specialist ACUMEN ⏐ 11 Voices.pmd 11 1/21/2014, 4:41 PM Photo Feature adv.pmd 12 1/21/2014, 6:07 PM adv.pmd 13 1/21/2014, 6:09 PM News in Brief Foreign garment investment growth in towns gets 24 hours electricity On account of being high in living cost, foreign investment in garment industry is in high in town gets 24 hours electric- ity, according to Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association. ‘‘At present, the investor in garment sector invests in Bago and Pathein region, we notice" said U Myint Soe, President of Myanmar Gar- ment Manufacturers Association. The main challenges of foreign investment pended on human resource and some days, there are some protests in this area to flow into Myanmar are high property investment from Hong Kong, Singapore, and abolish order in some factories," said cost and lack of infrastructure, accord- and Japan are about to come in gar- a director from Hlaing Tharyar Indus- ing to U Aung Naing Oo, the Director ment sector. So, the garment industry is trial Zone 4. Because of some problems General of Myanmar Investment Com- growing and orders from South Korea between employees and employer, de- mission. and Japan are in high because of relax- lay process in port by government pro- Last year, most of investment de- ation from European countries. ‘‘These cedure, some order move to Vietnam. A First Myanmar Marketing Forum with Phillip Kotler, Over 80,000 business tourists visited holds in March Myanmar More than 82,000 tourists visited well-known author, marketing profes- Myanmar through visa-on-arrival appli- sor, consultant and economist. cation in 2013, according to the Immi- A Thai marketing expert and Japa- gration Department at the Yangon In- nese Market expert will participate and ternational Airport. Business people from Pro; Dr. Aung Tun Thet, President's eco- 26 countries were permitted visas-on- nomic advisor, will facilitate. arrival from June to end of 2012 and The press for the forum was held at another 22 countries mostly from Europe Trader Hotel during last year Novem- from February to end of 2013. Now the ber. In the press conference, Dr. Fahim, government has allowed visa on arriv- Chief Marketing Officer of Pro; Dr. Phillip Kotler and Dr. Htet Zan Linn, CEO/Chief Editor of Myanmar B2B Management Magazine and ACUMEN Magazine clari- fied about Forum in response to media's By the leading and conducting of Hub questions. Myanmar media published Myanmar The mission of holding this event is B2B Management Magazine and ACU- to deliver a high-quality seminar cen- MEN Magazine, Myanmar Marketing tered on the topic of Marketing. The Forum 2014, will be firstly held at Na- seminar will attract the most influential als for business people from 46 coun- tional Theatre, in Myanmar, on the date people from the Myanmar business com- tries. “Of all the tourists arriving the coun- of March 8th, 2014. munity as well as business persons from try, the number of those given visa-on- In the forum, Pro; Dr. Phillip Kotler other countries, according to the press arrival had reached 82,147 last year”, will offer lecture on Market Economic release. said U Aung Thiha, deputy director at Administration and his ideas on Mar- The forum is acknowledged and col- the Immigration Department. Most of the keting 3.0-Values Driven Marketing, and laborated by American Chamber of Com- tourists are from Thailand, Japan, response questions with appropriate merce and it is helped by other local Singapore, Canada and Spain. A professional answers. Pro; Dr. Phillip is media partners and sponsored by local companies. A 14 ⏐ ACUMEN www.myanmarb2bmagazine.com February 2014 News in Brief.pmd 14 1/21/2014, 4:48 PM Insurance firms suffer But with several international firms fisheries and livestock sector has attracted waiting to enter the market, local insur- just US$347.474 million between 26 com- under restrictive ers are worried that restrictive polices panies, representing a mere 0.79 per- policies imposed by the IBSB will make it diffi- cent of the total $1.8 billion foreign in- cult for them to succeed.