Myanmar Monitor

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Economy, Investment and Trade

Malaysia will continue investing in Myanmar despite Rohingya crisis
(24 October 2017) Malaysian Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican has said that the government will not make any hasty decisions on its investments in Myanmar despite the Rohingya refugee crisis. She explained that any form of unilateral action to cut diplomatic ties with Myanmar will limit Malaysia’s ability to help the Rohingya. Approved foreign direct investments from Malaysia to Myanmar as at September 30, 2017 amounted to some US$19.7 billion.
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World Bank to delay US$200 million loan
(16 October 2017) In an official statement issued in mid-October The World Bank has said it will delay a US$200 million loan to Myanmar amid international pressure over the exodus of more than 500,000 self-identifying Rohingya from Rakhine State. The statement noted that the the Bank is “deeply concerned by the violence, destruction and forced displacement of the Rohingya” and will withhold the loan until conditions improved. The loan was pledged to improve macroeconomic stability and fiscal resilience.
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Tourist spots get a boost with UK-Aid funds
(25 October 2017) Two new travel hubs were opened in Hpa-an and Dawei and are seen as a boost for tourism in the two towns. The travel hubs, hosted in local cafes or restaurants, allow tourists can get unbiased up-to-date information about events and places to visit in the area from well-trained staff. The initiative was set up by the Business Innovation Facility (BIF) a local private sector development initiative funded by UK-Aid. BIF said it hopes to generate jobs for locals through increased activities in tourism.
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Unrest in Rakhine affecting Myanmar tourism industry
(10 October 2017) U Tint Lwin, Director General of the Hotels and Tourism Ministry, said news of the unrest in Rakhine state has scared tourists and affected the whole tourism industry in Myanmar. According to figures from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, 2.9 million tourists visited the country in 2016. More than 3.5 million tourists were expected for 2017, according to the figures, with about 2.27 million tourists visiting the country from January to August this year.
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Foreign & Internal Affairs

Bangladesh and Myanmar agree on plan to repatriate refugees
(25 October 2017) Senior Myanmar and Bangladesh officials have agreed to “finalise a bilateral arrangement on the return of displaced persons from Rakhine State” by November. The two sides have also agreed that they need to move as fast as possible to restore normalcy in Rakhine state. Myanmar has also asked Bangladesh to “hand over” suspected members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) terrorist group that launched a string of attacks on Myanmar security outposts in Rakhine in August 2017 which caused the current exodus.
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US considering placing sanctions on Myanmar
(24 October 2017) The US State Department has said that it is considering a range of further actions over Myanmar’s treatment of its self-identifying Rohingya Muslim minority. In an official statement the department said, “We express our gravest concern with recent events in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and the violent, traumatic abuses Rohingya and other communities have endured”. This comes ahead of President Trump’s visit to the region in November.
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