January 2023 insights with key events
THIS diary contributes to newsworthy events that happened in January 2023, highlighting key events across the country, social improvement and performances and notices of the departments concerned.
To mark the 75th Independence Day (Diamond Jubilee) falling on 4 January, new designs of 1 tical and 0.5 tical gold coins were announced on 2 January.
Steps are required to develop plans to encourage digital payments for municipal services, tax payments and utility bills such as meter bills, and water bills collected by the government across the country. said Daw Than Than Swe, governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM).
She remarked at the coordination meeting on digital payment enhancement and strengthening digital payment in Nay Pyi Taw, held on 3 January 2023 in Nay Pyi Taw.
Yangon Cambodia Express (YCX) service that links Myanmar and Cambodia to Singapore and Malaysia was launched on 3 January 2023.
Under the supervision of the Yangon Region Transport Committee, Sanwayla Public Co Ltd has started operating four YBS city buses to Kungyangon, Kawhmu, Twantay and Dala townships since early January.
The Myawady-Kawkareik Asian Highway in Kayin State was closed down for 20 days due to armed clashes on 22 December 2022 and was reopened on 4 January. The traders with perishable goods were battered by the temporary closure.
On 5 January, in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee Independence Day, 7,012 prisoners across the country were released.
On the same day, the Sino-Myanmar Shweli (Ruili) border and the Kyalgaung Nantaw border resumed their trade activity and border crossing permits were granted for the people and goods on both sides.
Yangon Stock Exchange released an annual report on 6 January that K7,424.29 million worth of stocks were traded on the exchange in 2022.
On 7 January, thousands of Myanmar migrant workers were reportedly standing in long queues near the Myanmar Embassy in Thailand to receive tokens for passport renewal.
On that day, under the supervision of the Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee, illicit goods seized in border and shipping routes were put for bidding and auction bid forms were sold.
Denmark has pledged to contribute K2 billion for Myanmar's Small and Medium Enterprises and the Responsible Business Fund (RBF) announced the 6th call for proposals by 9 January 2023.
China Embassy to Myanmar announced that a 48-hour covid negative test is required to enter the country through the Ruili border on 9 January and health code registration is no longer needed.
The rules to curb ‘hundi’, an informal money transfer system, will come into force, said Daw Than Than Swe, governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar, highlighting that at a meeting of the Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing task force. She also encouraged formal and informal international cooperation that is integral during the interrogation of cross-border money-laundering cases.
The authorities concerned inspected matters regarding gold market manipulation to control the price and legal actions will be taken against those unscrupulous brokers, Yangon Region Gold Entrepreneurs Association released a statement on 12 January 2023.
Myawady-Maesot Friendship Bridge I was reopened on 12 January and people are allowed to pass it by presenting a one-day border pass between 6 am and 6 pm.
A fire broke out at the Grand Royal liquor factory on 13 January and the level-3 fire was successfully put out after 16 hours of firefighting. Some members of the fire police force and volunteers were injured in this case. A total of 550 firefighters including 450 fire brigade members and 100 auxiliary members extinguished the fire with the use of 60 fire engines. The Fire Brigade reports said that inspection for the cause of the fire and calculation of loss was under investigation.
The Ministry of Commerce also released a list of goods that can be paid in both Yuan and dollars in border trade settlements. The pulses, corn, sesame and peanuts can be paid in both currencies while rice, broken rice, other agricultural products and fishery products (eel and crabs) can be transacted in Yuan.
The CBM’s governor called on May Bank headquartered in Malaysia to cooperate in foreign salary remittance of Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia on 14 January.
On 15 January, the Supreme Court published the Judicial Strategic Plan (2023- 2027) implemented with the motto “Providing Justice By All” to ensure fair and impartial justice and the Year One Action Plan 2023 in Myanmar and English languages.
On 16 January, those operating money changer businesses are required to attend the regulatory compliance training courses regarding Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/ CFT), the CBM’s governor Daw Than Than Swe said.
Myanmar Embassy to Thailand provided contributions and compensations to the beneficiary (family members) of seven Myanmar workers who died and two were injured in an oil tanker (Smoosh Sea C22) explosion on 17 January when it was docked for maintenance in one of the tributaries of Mekong River in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand.
Chinese carrier Ruili Airlines resumed its service for the Mandalay-Mangshi direct route every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on 21 January.
Myanma Railway resumed Yangon-Bagan Express Train to facilitate homegrown visitors on 23 January, running two times a week.
Nantaw and Sinphyu borders in Muse, Shan State linking the Chinese border were resumed and the immigration office started to issue border passes.
A three-day Myanmar Travel Fair 2023 took place at the Secretariat from 25 to 29 January, intending to promote Myanmar tourism. Tourism companies, airlines, hotels and restaurants, hospitals, insurance companies, other tourism-dependent businesses and local products businesses showcased their products and services with 50 stalls.
A gala ceremony to convey the Maravijaya Buddha Image being carved for public obeisance in Buddha Park onto a jewelled throne took place in the precinct of Buddha Park in Dekkhinathiri Township of Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory on 26 January.
More than 200 apartment units of Aung Myint Mo and Thilawa affordable housing complexes developed in the Yangon Region will be sold, according to the Ministry of Construction.
Between 27 and 29 January, the 117th anniversary of Yangon Zoological Garden was held with fun activities and shopping festivals.
Myanmar labour attaché and delegation negotiated with Thailand’s counterparts for 600 Myanmar citizens detained at IDC in Ranong, Thailand for protests and they are to be repatriated in February.
On 29 January, the Maravijaya Buddha image combined with parts 1,2 and 3 were lifted 90 degrees on the jewellery throne. —TWA/EM
