14 May, 2013
Society
A boat carrying more than 100 Rohingya Muslims capsized off western Myanmar in an attempt to flee a cyclone headed to the country. At least 50 people drowned in the accident, according to a military intelligence officer, but currently 42 people have been rescued and 8 bodies have been found. The boats were a part of the government’s plan to remove internally displaced persons (IDPs) to emergency shelters as cyclone Mahasen heads for Myanmar and Bangladesh. The 140,000 IDPs are seen as particularly vulnerable to the cyclone which is expected to make landfall on Thursday morning.

13 May, 2013
Foreign Affairs
Myanmar state media announced on Monday that US President Barack Obama had issued an invitation to President Thein Sein to visit the White House, without announcing exact dates. The state visit will be the first of a Myanmar head of state in 47 years or since dictator Ne Win visited in 1966.

8 May, 2013
Business and Investment
Thai investors will face more difficulty when investing in Myanmar after the implementation of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) due to a significant rise in wage and land costs and increased competition with international investors, according to a study by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s Centre for International Trade Studies (CITS). According to the study, the value of FDI to Myanmar will skyrocket by 200-400% in 2015 after the AEC kicks off and the cost of land in Myanmar is projected to rise by 200-300% during the period.

6 May, 2013
Business and Investment
Germany-based BMW automaker will launch its first showroom and servicing center in Myanmar, BMW’s partner in Myanmar said. Japan-based Toyota, Nissan Honda and Suzuki automobiles companies have already opened their showrooms, spare parts and servicing centres in Yangon, and the US-based Ford and South Korea-based KIA Motors are planning to open their showrooms and servicing centres in Myanmar.

3 May, 2013
Foreign Affairs
President Thein Sein plans a visit to Washington later this month, but it will be the first visit of a Myanmar head of state to the US capital in five decades. The trip would include a meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House, according to a source, who also said that the US is considering calling the nation Myanmar instead of Burma in the US foreign policy.

5 May, 2013
Foreign Affairs
Myanmar has beefed up security measures and tightened control over travelling visa after reports of possible terrorist attacks in the country, according to the Headquarters of Myanmar Police Force. Indonesian terrorist Abu Bakar Bashir has recently called for a ‘jihad’ in Myanmar, rousing Islamic militants.

7 May, 2013
Foreign Affairs
The “hacktivist” group Anonymous has said its next internet campaign is aimed at protecting Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, and will start on 1 June. Hacking attacks on the government are expected as well as possibly on democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi for not speaking out explicitly against violence on the Rohingya.

1 May, 2013
Economy
Myanmar is targeting to triple its tourist arrivals to 3 million by 2015. Minister for Hotels and Tourism U Htay Aung met with Norwegian Ambassador to Myanmar Katja Nordgarrd in Naypyidaw on Tuesday where they discussed details of the Tourism Master Plan which Myanmar is constructing with help from the Norwegian government and Asia Development Bank. The master plan will be presented at the World Economic Forum (East Asia) scheduled in June.

2 May, 2013
Economy
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will finance the construction of a 417km long Indo-Myanmar Road connecting Myanmar and India. A high level delegation of ADB’s loan consultation mission and a team from India’s Union surface transport ministry recently visited the proposed area and will soon submit a field study report.

2 May, 2013
Politics
A US government commission advised that Myanmar remains listed as one of the worst violators of religious freedom in the world, placing it in a list of 15 countries of particular concern.