Thingyan cancellations slam domestic markets
Thingyan is usually an annual boom for many consumer-facing industries. People stock up on food and alcohol, spend money on concerts, parties and other events and full busses, planes and trains as they return to their homes for the holidays. But as t
Myanmar struggles with COVID-19 strategy
Myanmar has had two new COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total to three. A 47-year-old man and a 63-year-old woman died of respiratory failure brought on by the disease, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. Although at the time of writing Mya
Pandemic sparks free-speech demonstrations
The COVID-19 pandemic is fueling Myanmar’s ongoing free-speech debate. Recent protests and statements from advocacy organizations have condemned what activists call state suppression amid a national crisis. A joint statement from 264 organizati
Myanmar may take IMF, World Bank pandemic loans
Myanmar is considering taking advantage of emergency loans from global organizations to help ease the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We may seek emergency funds in the future, if things lead to the need for that,” U Aung Naing Oo, wh
First round of companies receive emergency pandemic funds
As the COVID-19 pandemic begins to take its toll on domestic markets, the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) has approved more than 400 soft loans from its new “COVID-19 fund.” Recipients of the one-year, one percent interest loans mostl
