Retailers association hosts programme on sharing business knowledge

Photo:  Shwe Win (Pyay)

The Myanmar Retailers Association has organised a bi-monthly a programme to share knowledge about the retail business at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), the first of which occurred on Thursday.

At the talk, General Manager Mr. Shisanupong Pitidhanyasawasdi of DHL Supply Chain-Thailand & Myanmar gave a talk on “Supply Chain Evolution for Modern Retail”. A total of 130 members of UMFCCI attended the seminar, it is learnt.—Shwe Win (Pyay)

Photo:  Shwe Win (Pyay)

Tourism industry booming in Mandalay in December

Tourist arrivals have increased in Mandalay due partly to the addition of more Mandalay-Bangkok-Yangon flights and more direct flights between Mandalay and Hong Kong in December.
Adding to the burgeoning popularity of central Myanmar is the allowance since September for foreign tourists to enter Myanmar through border entrances with an evisa, available online.
Tourists from 40 countries, including ASEAN countries, have been allowed to enter the country using the online visa system since 8 November, 2015.
By ground transport, tourists can enter Mandalay by car, motorbike and bicycle via border entrances.
Tourist arrivals from January 2015 to November reached 164,520, and from January to November the number rose to 263,145.
Foreign tourists come from China, India, Singapore, Viet Nam, Japan, Austria, New Zealand, Britain, USA, France, Italy and Germany.
The majority of foreign tourists come to Mandalay from neighbouring countries such as China, India, Singapore and Viet Nam.
Between January and November, the number of tourists who visited the cultural zones of Mandalay, Bagan, Innwa and Pyin Oo Lwin rose to 318,597.
The Hotels & Transport Supervision Department under The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism estimates the total number of tourist visits will rise to 4 million in 2016.
The ministry said tourists visiting Mandalay like riding on bicycles, motorbikes and trishaws to explore downtown  Mandalay.—Maung Pyi Thu (Mandalay)

Trade Department, USAID, host explanatory session on GSP in Mandalay, Myanmar

Jointly organized by Trade Department under the Ministry of Commerce and the USAID-Funded Private Sector Development Activity, an explanation ceremony on the American Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programmes for business entrepreneurs was held in the hall of Mandalay Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MRFCCI) in Mandalay on Monday. 

Present at the ceremony were the director-general of the Department of Trade and officials, the chairman and executive committee members of MRFCCI and entrepreneurs of its brother business associations, entrepreneurs of SMEs , officials of American Embassy and USAIDS and special guests. 

At the ceremony, the director of the Department of Trade delivered an opening speech, and vice chairman of MRFCCI explained the process of UMFCCI and cooperation of MRFCCI with the ASEAN countries including neighbouring countries. Mr. Suzanne Yountchi, Economic Officer of the US Embassy, elaborated on the American Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programmes. Mr. Erland Herfindahl, Deputy Assistant US Trade Representative for GSP and Michael Blaeley of USAIDS-Funded Private Sector Development gave a talk on "Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) ".

America suspended Myanmar’s GSP trade rights in 1989, but reinstated them on November 13, 2016.

US trade preference programs such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) provide opportunities for many of the world’s poorest countries to use trade to grow their economies and climb out of poverty. – Thiha Ko Ko (Mandalay)

2^nd WHITE art exhibition held in Mandalay

The 2^nd  Art Exhibition titled WHITE opened at the Mandalay Hill Art Gallery at the bottom of Mandalay Hill in Aungmyaethazan Township yesterday.

At the event, painting and sculpture artists delivered greetings, and Ko Nyi Ngae gave words of thanks on behalf of the members of the WHITE exhibit. The five-day event will run from 19 November to 23 November.

The 2^nd WHITE Art Exhibition is organised by 12 artists who graduated from the State School of Fine Arts in 1999. This year’s exhibit featured 75 works, including watercolours and acrylic paintings created by the artists. –Than Zaw Min (IPRD)

Mandalay expo opened at town hall

The opening ceremony for the Brand New Car Show & Special Discount Expo 2016 was held at the Mandalay Town hall on Friday.

Officials from the main sponsors of the expo cut a ceremonial ribbons to officially open the event.

The exhibition features electronic devices, food, cosmetics, textiles, fancy items for female, China-made mobiles, stationery, kitchen utensils, construction tools, herbal medicines, consumer goods, brick moulding machines, India-made televisions, motorbikes, Nissan, Ford and Hyundai cars and engine oil are being displayed. At the expo, 30 companies are exhibiting their goods at 80 booths.

The Expo is set to be held from 18 to 21 November.—Thiha Ko Ko (Mandalay)