AP is the first international news agency to open bureau as Myanmar eases ban

26 March, 2013
Politics

The Associated Press (AP) on Saturday became the first international news agency to open a bureau in Myanmar since the government decided to relax media restrictions. Japanese broadcaster NHK was also granted permission to open an office.

Garment exports to surpass US$1 billion as Myanmar’s makeover gains speed

27 March, 2013
Economy

Garment exports are on track to exceed US$1 billion for the fiscal year ending at the end of March. The garment industry is expected to grow even more when the European Union’s generalised system of preferences, which gives duty-free access to exports from least developed countries, is reinstated for Myanmar in June. “We expect that there will be about 2,000 garment factories soon and these factories will create about 1.2 million jobs,” Khin Maung Aye, managing director of Lat War garment factory, said. When the US imposed sanctions on Myanmar imports in 2003, textile exports fell from US$800 million a year to US$300 million a year and more than 80.000 workers lost their jobs.

Myanmar gas exports to hit new record of nearly US$4 billion, official says

28 March, 2013
Economy

Gas exports have already surpassed last year’s record of US$3.5 billion and are on track to total nearly US$4 billion when the fiscal year ends at the end of March, a commerce ministry official said. Next year is expected to see the value of gas exports surge again as the Shwe Gas project is expected to begin exporting in May and the Zawtika project by December.

IE Singapore to organise Singapore-Myanmar Business Forum in Yangon

31 March, 2013
Business and Investment

International Enterprise (IE) Singapore will hold a Singapore-Myanmar Business Forum on 4 April in Yangon, to further promote business and economic collaboration between the countries. The forum will provide a platform for more than 100 government and business leaders from both countries to connect and explore collaboration opportunities across industries including infrastructure development, telecommunications, financial services and hospitality. A highlight of the event is the opening of IE Singapore’s Overseas Centre in Yangon, which will be opened by Singapore’s President Tony Tan.

Canada names ambassador to Myanmar

29 March, 2013
Foreign Affairs

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird announced on Friday that Mark McDowell, a veteran Canadian diplomat, will be Canada’s ambassador in Myanmar but Canada will soon be opening an embassy in Yangon.

Burma’s ‘Kayan Beauties’ Wins Asean Film Award

2 April, 2013
Culture
The Myanmar film Kayan Beauties was honoured at the inaugural Asean International Film Festival in Malaysia last weekend. “For 27 years I’ve been trying to show off our Burmese films and movies to the world,” said director Aung Ko Latt. “Now, that dream has come true.” He said the film aims to raise awareness about human trafficking and to promote the rights of Kayan tribes.

Tension over South China Sea Rises with US Intervention

31 March, 2013
Political Security

• State-run media of China highlights a few of their Navy’s operations in the South China Sea and East China Sea, portraying the amphibious landing ship Jinggangshan’s open-ocean training mission near Malaysia and Brunei
• While China believes in negotiations to solve territorial disputes with the Philippines in the South China Sea, US has assured ‘full support’ in Philippines’ bid for arbitration through the United Nations
• In the meantime, all participants in the 19^th China-ASEAN Senior Officials’ Consultation have agreed to make a combined effort towards a code of conduct in the South China Sea

Our Focus

The private sector is evidently a crucial stakeholder to the success, or failure, of the profound regional structural reform taking shape in Southeast Asia — the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community 2015.

CARI’s research mandate is to assist the private sector understand, prepare for and transition into the regional integration, involving ten countries of ASEAN.

In gearing towards this monumental formation of economic transformation, our research aims to build a case for an integrated market of ASEAN which facilitates freer trade in goods, services, labour, capital and investment by untangling the AEC blueprint for different business sectors.

We engage frontline business community, academics, media and policy makers to produce business and corporate strategies enablers, by identifying the barriers to operating in a region coming together as an economic bloc. Ultimately, we seek to use our findings as a foundation for open dialogue with the policy makers towards lifting these roadblocks.

Suu Kyi reappointed as Myanmar opposition leader

10 March, 2013
Politics

Aung San Suu Kyi was re-elected as Myanmar opposition leader in Yangon on 10 March at the party’s first congress. The meeting highlighted the myriad challenges facing the hugely popular opposition, including its lack of experience as well as party infighting, as it eyes victory in key elections due to be held in 2015.

Singapore to maintain strong links with US, China: Foreign Minister

25 March, 2013
Political Security

• Minister for Foreign Affairs K. Shanmugam said strengthening regional relationships is the key to protecting Asean and Singapore’s interests in these turbulent times
• He said 2012 was not a year ASEAN could be proud of due to the disputes in the South China Sea, adding that the disputes painfully tested the credibility and unity of the bloc
• Looking ahead, he said ASEAN’s position on the issue – involving formal negotiations on a Code of Conduct – remains unchanged despite calls by the Philippines for a tribunal and prompt negative responses from Beijing
• He said Singapore will work together with Brunei to ensure the success of the latter’s chairmanship
• Shanmugam added that Singapore’s foreign policy stance is to maintain strong links with both the United States and China, adding that both countries are interdependent on each other