Acumen Magazine December 2013

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CEO / Chief Editor
Dr. Htet Zan Linn
Director
Dr. Hein Thu Aung, Tin Tun Kyaw
Executive Editor
Phyo Wai
Editors
Hein Zaw, Khin Win, Khaing Minn Nyo
Contributors
Hein Zaw, Myitmakha, Dr.Tin Maung Kyi, Naing
Thit, Jacob Andrew Clere,
Su Swezin Aung
Cover
Gipsy Rocker
Designers
Aung Aung (AN Computer), Thaw Tar Oo
Computer Operator
Zin Wai Wai Shein
Marketing Department
January Khine Mon, Naw Keziah, Yadanar,
Nan Mo, May Hsu Mo Mo
Photographers
Aung Kyaw Moe (New Image),
Hein Zaw, Gipsy Rocker,
Myint Thein Oo (Shweli)
Publisher and Copyright
Dr. Htet Zan Linn
Printer
Editorial Board
ACUMEN
myanmarb2b@gmail.com
ceo@myanmarb2bmagazine.com, management@myanmarb2bmagazine.com,
editor@myanmarb2bmagazine.com, marketing@myanmarb2bmagazine.com,
Advisors Advisors Advisors Advisors Advisors
Prof. Dr. Aung Tun Thet Prof. Dr. Aung Tun Thet Prof. Dr. Aung Tun Thet Prof. Dr. Aung Tun Thet Prof. Dr. Aung Tun Thet (President's Economic Advisor)
Prof. Maw Than Prof. Maw Than Prof. Maw Than Prof. Maw Than Prof. Maw Than (Rector (Ret), Yangon Institute of Economics Yangon)
Soe Tint Aung Soe Tint Aung Soe Tint Aung Soe Tint Aung Soe Tint Aung (Special Consultant for Advocacy, PSI Myanmar)
Dr. Tun Lwin Dr. Tun Lwin Dr. Tun Lwin Dr. Tun Lwin Dr. Tun Lwin (Consultant, Myanmar Climate Change Watch,Tun Lwin Foundation)
Than Lwin Than Lwin Than Lwin Than Lwin Than Lwin (Deputy Governor (Ret), Central Bank of Myanmar)
Tin Zan Kyaw Tin Zan Kyaw Tin Zan Kyaw Tin Zan Kyaw Tin Zan Kyaw (Principal, Device Business Management Academy)
Grace Swe Zin Htaik Grace Swe Zin Htaik Grace Swe Zin Htaik Grace Swe Zin Htaik Grace Swe Zin Htaik (Media Advocacy Advisor, PSI Myanmar)
Office
No. 24/26, 4B-C, Race Course Condo, South Race Course Street, Tamwe Township, Yangon.
Tel : (+959) 420033355
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77 (Hot Line), (+959) 73045140, 49317457, 73143313, (+951) 8603886, 8603887
Editors Note
We are very proud to inform you that we are organizing a unique forum in
early March in Yangon at which world-renowned author, professor and mar-
keting guru Dr. Philip Kotler will give lectures and interact with people from
different strata here. After trying for more than a year, I was able to meet with
Dr. Kotler a few months ago. Fortunately, he was very interested in the idea of
holding a forum in Myanmar. Myanmar Marketing Forum 2014 Myanmar Marketing Forum 2014 Myanmar Marketing Forum 2014 Myanmar Marketing Forum 2014 Myanmar Marketing Forum 2014 will be
a full-day event, the first ever appearance by Dr. Kotler in Myanmar. I am sure
this event will create enormous opportunities for those in the business commu-
nity. Our main job to link businesses together and we have already received
numerous calls of interest and many offers to participate. The forum will be a
win-win situation for which we are exerting our best efforts. This week we
have chosen Myanmar agriculture as our lead business story. Author Hein Zaw
argues at length why investment is so low in this main sector of the country.
There are many investors from different parts of the world, but mostly in
extractive industries, which reminds us of the need to review the situation
realistically from both economic and political perspectives. No investor will
throw money in if there are no returns, only risks. But investors are normally
courageous enough to take risks if the rewards are big and possible. We need
to consider why investors are just trying to invest in extractive industries and
not in a sector which will benefit Myanmar more in terms of technology, fi-
nance, job opportunities and expertise. One of the reasons seems to be that
people are selfish by nature. It is their right to choose to make investments in
whatever they like. But the onus is on us to check why agriculture cannot
attract attention from outsider investors. In this December edition, we have also
picked a story about how newly imported vehicles are affecting the day-to-day
lives of people. We have bought about 200,000 cars in the past two years. Most
of them are in Yangon, making the traffic terrible for so many people. There
are other good articles and we do hope you will enjoy reading them. Your
feedback would be highly appreciated. Once again, the team of ACUMEN would
like to convey the message that our aim is to promote the development of this
nation of 60 million people. Myanmar will definitely be busier in the next
couple of years and we should be taking all opportunities for our economic
development. A
Masthead.pmd 11/25/2013, 2:51 PM 1
ACUMEN 11
oices V
During 88 Crisis, We
did not have enough
food. We imported food
from China via Mu Se
way to survive. We have
to be gratful for that
help.
U Aung Min
Minister of the President's Office of Myanmar
"Fighting in jungle is
practically difficult to
legislate for nationwide
ceasefire, choosing better
words and sitting at
Nyipyidaw office."
U Phone Myint Aung
Parlimantary Representative
In future, we need
human resource
assistance to stand
by ourselves. The
trade and
investment; which
can guarantee for
sharing
technology for
business
development, for
job opportunities
to escape from
poverty are
warmly
welcomed.
U Wana Mg Lwin
Minister of Foreign Affairs
The increase electricity cost will
effect to public and local business.
The goverment elected by people is
ought to explain its reasons and give
more time for preperation to the
public.
At present, the peace
process is in step of
preperation. Political
talks are really needed
to hold. I hope that
nationwide peace sign
will happen before end
of the year. Without
ceasefire agreement and
peace agreement, it is
difficult to handle the
country issues. I
assume that both sides
need to go through
political talks. To
estabilish a peaceful
society, we have to
forgive all the hatred
and grudge rooted from
the past.
Martti Ahtisaari
Former President
Republic of Finland
U Than Maung
Advocate
Kelvin Chia Law Firm
Voices.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:11 PM 11
Photo Feature
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adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 6:30 PM 13
News in Brief
14 ACUMEN www. mya nma r b2bma ga z i ne. c om
December 2013
Redlink company has extended its
Wimax internet network by installing
more towers in Mandalay and Bagan,
according to the compnay's Vice-Presi-
dent U Thein Than Toe.
The more network in Myanmar, the
better the service would be. That is why,
we are extending the network and also
we have plans to extend new service
centers. We care for customer service."
he added.
Redlink company have plans to pro-
vide 40 microwave towers in Yangon,
now we have installed 20 towers." We
hope that the network would improve.
The network can be available even in-
side the apartments," he added.
At present, we have installed over
45 towers across Myanmar. When we
started in 2008, it was just five towers.
Year by year, the number of towers is
increased and now it is over 45. At the
end of this year, it would be over 50"
said Deputy General Manager U Myo
Myint Nyunt.
The company is ready to provide Wifi
service in public during Sea Games sea-
son. A
Myanmar first sculpture village was es-
tablished at Sei-my-gone (10 mile) near
Bago in 2012 October and will be com-
pletely in early next year.
The main reason of the project is to
In cooperation with Danish Carlsberg
Beer Group and Myanmar Golden Star
Myanmar First
Sculpture Village
Danish Carlsberg: Made
in Myanmar
attract interest from foreigners on Myan-
mar sculpture. Now, foreigners from Chi-
na, Japan and South Korea started to come
and buy the sculptures. The total quantity
of sculptures we have finished is nearly
7000 including human and animal figu-
rines" according to U Thant Zin from
Kaung Myanmar Aung Company.
The area of the village is 50 acres
with 22 buildings. The raw materials used
is the wood remained during Nargis and
15 local sculptor groups have created
those sculptures.
In the village, the resort includes swim-
ming pool, rest room, golf course for lo-
cals and foreigners. The village is now
20 percent finished and the buildings
alone will cost about Kyats two billion,"
he added. A
Breweries Co., Ltd. Myanmar Carlsberg
Brewery Plant Co., Ltd. held a ceremony
of laying foundation for beer factory in
Bago Industrial Zone in October.
We have good history with Myan-
mar since 1993. We came back to Myan-
mar. Now we are doing a research to fit
in well with the taste of Myanmar con-
sumer. Not only beer product, we have
plan to produce other products accord-
ing to demand of Myanmar consumer.
Carlsberg is international brand, so we
see great potential in Myanmar," said Mr
Daniel Sjogren, Managing Director of
Myanmar Carlsberg Co., Ltd.
Mr. Mikale Winther, Denmark Am-
bassador of Myanmar, said, We are very
strong in development assistance, our cor-
porates give assistance to Myanmar to
reduce poverty to help economic devel-
opment, health, education and also de-
mocracy. It's a business come here not
only to make money, but also benefit for
the people and the development of the
country. We look after the environment,
we use a lot of measures to reduce the
energy consumption even make things
to help the environment. I actually be-
lieve that the country will have a good
governance that will facilitate economic
development so that poverty can be re-
duced and so Myanmar people can en-
joy a better life."
U Nyan Win, Chief Minister of Bago
Region also attended the ceremony. A
Myanmar Floating Hotel
to be launched
Myanmar first floating hotel will be
launched in Botahtaung habour near
Yangon in December, according to Myan-
mar Port Authority.
Hla Hla Pa Pa Co., Ltd. , a Myanmar
company, was permitted to implement the
project. The company bought a engineless
2,000 tonne vessel from Finland for the
project. The vessel was renovated into 104
double rooms, and two dining rooms and
bars.
Myanmar has involved foreign and
Redlink extends
microwave tower for
internet network
News in Brief.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:07 PM 14
ACUMEN 15
local investors to build floating hotels by
the Botahtaung jetty.
The Yangon Port Development has al-
ready expanded as a Botahtaung port
area. The land area of the port was ex-
tended towards the Yangon River in July
last year. A local company, Pearl Myay,
has worked on the port expansion
project. A
Myanmar, Thailand, India: Trilateral Highway Plan
Japan's $51 million help to modernize Myanmar banking system
In 23
rd
ASEAN Summit in Brunei, India,
Myanmar and Thailand are in the pro-
cess of discussing the project of Trilateral
Highway".
In the summit, Thailand Prime Minis-
ter Yingluck Shinawatra, Myanmar Pres-
ident U Thein Sein and Japan Prime Min-
ister Shinzo Abe discussed Japan's pri-
vate sector to join in the project. The total
estimate project cost will be US$66 billion.
The idea of the highway - from Moreh in
Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand, via My-
anmar - was conceived at the trilateral
ministerial meeting on transport linkages
in Yangon in April 2002. The project and
the transport corridor will connect these
countries (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and
Myanmar) with the North-Eastern part of
India. A
Mr. Mikio Numata, Ambassador of Japan
to Myanmar and Dr. Khin San Yee, Dep-
uty Minister for National Planning and
Economic Development of Myanmar,
signed an agreement of grant aid to My-
anmar Banking System in October, ac-
cording to Japanese Embassy in Yangon.
In the project, three facts are includes:
modernization of financial sector, partic-
ularly strengthening of the operational
capacity of Central Bank of Myanmar
(CBM) to deal with rapid expansion of
economic activities followed by democra-
tization and economic reform as well as
to prepare for joining the ASEAN eco-
nomic community; fund settlement and
government bond settlement require huge
manual work at CBM even with the cur-
rent transaction volume, and thus there
are concerns that it will exceed the max-
imum capacity as the transaction increases
with the expansion of economic activi-
ties; settlement of current account and
government bond will be automated, and
it is expected that the volume of transac-
tion at CBM will increase reliability of
CBM operation.
Central Bank of Myanmar needs to
develop in stability of exchange rate and
cyber security" according to economist
Dr. Aung Ko Ko.
Japan International Cooperation
Agency (JICA) said that the technological
activities will be provided by Fujitsu Com-
pany, KDDI cooperation and Daieiwa Re-
search Company. The project will start
in December and finished in 2016. A
News in Brief
December 2013
Myanmar Business to
Malaysia GM Klang
Wholesale
Myanmar business investors are invited
to invest in GM Klang Wholesale, Mr .Dato
Lim Seng Kok, General Director of GM
Klang Wholesale said.
Myanmar got invited to invest in the
GM Klang Wholesale, as well as Laos, Viet-
nam, and Cambodia," he added.
Myanmar is now practicing market
economy and some businesses came to
Malaysia. In the coming year, Myanmar is
expected more investment," he said.
GM Klang Wholesale City is strategi-
cally located in Bandar Botanic Klang, a
new central business district in Klang Val-
ley, closely to seaports, airports, major high-
ways, and Coastal Ring Road. It is huge
market by thousand of Asia investors.
GM Kland will provide service of all
According to Deputy Minister for Finance
and Revenue, Dr. Maung Mg Thein, to
implement Myanmar Stock Exchange
Market, Myanmar is facing five big chal-
lenges: to organize skillful members for
Stock Exchange Commission, to build
strong Stock Exchange, to have infra-
structure, information and technology, to
provide capacity building training for com-
mission members and staffs, to educate
listed public companies.
Nowadays, to implement stock ex-
change market, there are just only five
public companies which are ready for
stock exchange market. Actually, 80 pub-
lic companies are needed at least," U Soe
Thein, Executive Director of Myanmar Se-
curities Exchange Co., Ltd. said.
The Parliament has approved the Se-
Five Big Challenges for Myanmar Stock Exchange
procedure steps of Malaysia in registra-
tion. The delegate from GM Klang is avail-
iable to come and explain all the policy to
Myanmar investors, according to compa-
ny website.
The market is opened in 2012 Octo-
ber and it is a huge market that all brands
are available with over 15,000 shops. Most
investors are from Chin, India, Pakistan,
Philippine, and Thailand. A
curities Exchange Certificate Transaction
Law on June 31 and currently waiting to
pass the by-laws to form associated or-
ganisations concerned with stock ex-
change.
In the transaction law, it didn't men-
tion about foreign companies to include
in the exchange market.
Foreign companies still have difficul-
ty to play in Myanmar stock exchange
market because of the Myanmar Compa-
nies Act which was affected in 1914.
Now the Parliament is revising to
amend the Myanmar Companies Act and
will try to announce before 2015" said U
Aung Naing Oo, Director General of De-
partment of Investment and Companies
Administration. A
adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:16 PM 11
December 2013
December 2013
Cover Story
Agriculture.pmd 11/22/2013, 3:46 PM 18
ACUMEN 19 ACUMEN 19
Slackening Sector Slackening Sector Slackening Sector Slackening Sector Slackening Sector
Agriculture sector has numerous
challenges while it is the mainstay of
Myanmars economy contributing 60
percent of the countrys GDP. While much
political support needs to be given
urgently, theres not enough official effort
for improvement. The sector fails to attract
much foreign investment as it should. In
terms of foreign investment volume it is
far less than the extractive industries such
as energy, mining, oil and gas sectors.
Though there have been more and better
relations between the West and the new
government, no western investors have
so far expressed interest in Myanmars
agriculture. And some Asian countries
have expressed their interest but are not
making any investment in growing crops
and are rather interested in building
factories like rice mills and rice-steaming
plants. Dr. Soe Tun, the Chairman of
Farmers Association and joint secretary
general of Myanmars Rice Federation,
said, Asian interest is only in setting up
factories. There s no talk yet about
investing in paddy planting.
Theres also a downward trend in
the number of local companies doing
busi ness wi th the farmers for the
expressed common good, as is indicated
December 2013
Old-fashioned agriculture Old-fashioned agriculture Old-fashioned agriculture Old-fashioned agriculture Old-fashioned agriculture
A country with more than 30 million
acres of land under cultivation, one of the
main agriculture countries in ASEAN,
Myanmar grows more rice as its main
crop. Paddy takes up about 50 percent of
the total area, oil crop and pulses and
beans about 20 percent. Due to the inability
to employ modern farming methods and
lack of other requisites, Myanmar s
agricultural sector has been conspicuously
lagging behind Thailand and Vietnam.
Around 1940 Myanmar ranked as the
topmost rice-exporting country in the
world but this golden era had gradually
declined until 1960s during socialist-
economy era when it could only export
less than two million tonnes. It was only
after the new government took office that
Myanmars rice export began to climb up
to 1.5 million mark.
Pul ses and beans, whi ch are
generally less in demand on the local
market, were exported in 2012-2013, up
to 1.4 million tonnes of them. But such
farm products as edible oil, coffee and
sugar have to be imported from abroad
having to spend in millions of dollars.
Paddy is grown mainly in good-rainfall
regions such as Ayeyawaddy, Bago and
Yangon that are often referred to as
by the fact of about 60 rice-speciality
companies dwindling to a mere 2 or 3.
And they might have their own justifiable
reasons. In fact, farmers who have been
paddy growers since their investors days
have t hemsel ves been apparent l y
disappointed with their jobs. A man, a
farmer for about 30 years, said Its been
all the same with my family every year.
We havent become any richer. Were
doing this farmers job for lack of material
resources. Though admittedly this
agriculture sector gives jobs to 68 percent
of Myanmars population, it cannot raise
the living standard of these people. Their
average yearly income of about US$200
or 300 just do not meet the basic needs of
food, clothing and shelter. Thats why there
has been an increase in the number of
farmers who, after selling off their paddy
fields move to towns and cities, some of
them going overseas for better job
opportunities. And those few who stay put
sticking to cultivation can manage to live
a fairly decent life by combining paddy
growing business with some other kinds
of job such as small scale trading business,
whereas the rest of them remain just as
miserable as ever, struggling hard to get
out of debt burden.
Contented by nature, they would be happy with what little mother nature has given them.
Cover Story
ACUMEN 21
Myanmars rice bowls. As Myanmars
agriculture relies heavily on the amount
of rainfall the rainy season average is 9
times that of hot season average. Though
Myanmar has several useful rivers such
as Ayeyawaddy, Thanlwin, Chindwin and
Sittaung; using them for irrigation accounts
for only six percent of the countrys total
land areas. Thats why some say that
Myanmar is allowing its precious fresh-
water resources to drain away down into
the sea. Though the official estimate places
the irrigated land at over 13 million acres
the actual figures are less than that
numbers. Some of the over 200 dams are
said to be not of much use to the main
crop areas.
Myanmar, a t ropi cal monsoon
country, has three seasons: summer, rainy
season and winter. In the rainy season
the Rakhine, Bago and Ayeyawaddy and
other coastal areas receives an ample
rainfall of 120-200 inches, whereas
Mandalay and similar central Myanmar
get a scanty 20-40 inches consequently,
in the rainy season the flow water would
devastate the paddy fields, whereas
paddy fields in central Myanmar do not
get enough water. The global climate
change has effected the Myanmar farmers
creating uncertainty about what the
weather would be at a particular time.
Yet another problem is the yearly
i nundat i on of paddy f i el ds i n t he
Ayeyawaddy and Bago regions.
Weak assurance Weak assurance Weak assurance Weak assurance Weak assurance
One of the factors that hinder the
development of Myanmars agricultural
sector is the continuous use of traditional
ways of land cultivation as well as the
fact of most farmers being too poor and
ignorant of modern farming methods
when it rains they would simply start
sowing and then they would fertilize the
fields with a scanty amount of manure
they have been accustomed to for years.
Contented by nature, they would be happy
with what little mother nature has given
them. When asked about their way of
growing paddy, they would say, Weve
been doing this way since childhood. We
just do as we already know. A government
agricultural employee said It takes a lot
of talking to persuade them to use the
seeds weve provided to them. Some
farmers just cant wear themselves away
from the old-fashioned ways.
Lack of insufficient support by the
government is also to blame for this state
of things. Thereve been frequent media
reports on the state-level officials making
Kirk Siang/Flickr
Eric Brochu/Flickr
Theres no market
assurance for their
products and
Myanmar still lacks
a crop insurance
scheme like the ones
in most developed
countries. Though
for 10 years there
have been a free
market in place of
direct purchase by
the government,
farmers remain in
just the same plight
as ever due to lack of
crop assurance.
December 2013
an inspection tour of model paddy fields
but it is impossible for a few hundred
government employees to do a thorough
personal study of thousands of paddy
fields, as a farmer of Kawa township,
Bago region said, Not a single government
employee has ever come to help us. No
one has ever bothered to know how
many acres of land have been planted
with paddy. All they do is a guesswork.
Theres no market assurance for
their products and Myanmar still lacks a
crop insurance scheme like the ones in
most developed countries. Though for 10
years there have been a free market in
pl ace of di rect purchase by t he
government, farmers remain in just the
same plight as ever due to lack of crop
assurance.
The price of paddy and other crops
would often plummet a month or two after
the harvest and then soar high when
there is not a single grain in hands.
Poverty-ridden they have but to go with
the hard old way as a 60-year old paddy
grower said Harvest time is a time for
us to clear up our debts. Money lenders
want to get the money back. So, weve
got to sell our paddy at whatever price
they offer. We cant negotiate.
Paddy price at the harvest time is
about K300,000 per one hundred baskets
a price that cant earn the farmers as much
profit as they should, when input and
output are taken into account. Summer
crops can have a yield of 100 baskets per
acre but rain crops are less than 40-50
baskets. With such a small profit, Myanmar
farmers have a hard time struggling to
get out of debt. Formerly the governments
loan to farmers was just K10,000 per acre,
but this year it is K100,000. The interest
rate being still so high, farmers do not
ever have enough money for the basic
needs of their families much less for
recouping paddy planting costs. Even
those farmers who are comparatively
well-off would not take risk in a situation
where paddy prices and other crop prices
are unpredictable; pulses and beans which
are so heavily dependent on Indias
demand are ever more unpredictable in
terms of price.
Investment still far away Investment still far away Investment still far away Investment still far away Investment still far away
Though amply blessed with water
and arable land resources, it seems
Myanmar cannot attract enough foreign
investment in the agriculture sector.
Foreign investment in this sector to date
is US$163 million (0.48 percent) by 9
companies. In the schedule of investment
Cover Story
ACUMEN 23
Annual Rates of Agricultural Growth in Myanmar, 1985/86 to 2009/10
Area Production
Cereals
paddy, GOM 2% 3%
paddy, USDA n.a. 1%
maize 3% 6%
Oilseeds 3% 6%
Pulses 7% 9%
Horiticulture
onion 5% 7%
garlic 4% 7%
chillie 3% 6%
beetle leaves 8% 8%
potatoes 3% 5%
vegetables 6% n.a.
fruits 4% n.a.
Poultry meat n.a. 6%
Source : Annex Table C11.
allowed by the Directorate of Investment
and Company Administration, DICA,
theres only $192 million (0.44 percent)
by 12 companies. In domestic investment
it is $547.90 million (0.12 percent). These
DICA figures are only for the whole of
agriculture sector from which one can
safely guess how much it could be in the
i nvestment al l owed for the paddy
segment. A majority of farmers are hoping
for a kind of joint-venture with foreign
investors.
Said one of them I think itll be of
more profitable to us and the investing
companies working together. What the
farmers want to get from foreign investors
is technology and the capital.
According to Dr. Soe Tun, the
agriculture sector though potentially highly
profitable is a highly risky sector. One of
the officials of a loan company said, Since
2008-2009 when loan to farmers started
there have been cases of debt wrritten
off due to the farmer inability to pay back.
That explains why theres been a gradual
decrease in the member of agricultural
loan companies.
Not enough input Not enough input Not enough input Not enough input Not enough input
In a combined report presented by
the Michigan State University and the
Myanmar Development Resource Institute
it is said that Myanmar spends only $0.06
on research for a product worth $100
compared with its neighbouring countries
which spends $0.41 Myanmar still has to
import high-quality seeds from abroad, it
does not have the technology to produce
them locally. The research the ministry
concerned did with the help of foreign
exports did not produce any practical
results. One of the persons deeply
involved in agriculture said, International
Inst i t ut e of Ri ce Research of t he
Phi l i ppi nes had worked wi t h t he
Myanmar counterparts here for some 37
Factors of production such as farming machines and energy fuel should be made available at cheap prices,
because mechanized farming will play an important role in the countrys future developments.
December 2013
years. But all they managed to do was
research papers and hold seminars. What
is needed is practice of research findings.
Expenditure on agricultural research is
only 0.13 percent of the entire Ministry of
Agriculture and Irrigations budget.
Myanmars agriculture has two other
problems to deal with: land seizure and
shortage of labour. What amounts to the
monopolization of land by the military and
moneyed people has reduced some
farmlands to grasslands or simply fenced-
off empty compounds. The years 2012 and
2013 saw a series of land ownership
problems. A refined agronomist said,
Some people have come to think that
they have the right to do whatever they
like to the countrys land for their own
good as well as for the good of their kith
and kin to the detriment of the toiling
farmers. These agriculture problems will
remain difficult to solve. The shortage of
labour due to thousands of farmer workers
leaving the country for countries such as
Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and
recently to South Korea and UAE has
adversely affected Myanmars agriculture,
for example by raising labour charges.
Factors of production such as farming
machines and energy fuel should be made
available at cheap prices, because
mechani zed f armi ng wi l l pl ay an
important role in the countrys future
developments.
Some ways to change Some ways to change Some ways to change Some ways to change Some ways to change
The success of the governments
projects of reduction of poverty rests a
great deal on the countrys agricultural
development. Though there is an explicitly
stated policy in this regard, there seems
to be not enough attention paid to the
agricultural sector.
In carrying out reforms, short-term
and long-term strategies should be
adopted. First farmers will have to be
coaxed into the domain of modern
methods of farming and also into the
culture of exchanging ideas and views
with government agencies concerned. On
the governments side there still remains
I think itll be of more profitable to us and the investing compa-
nies working together.
I think itll be of more profitable to us and the investing compa-
nies working together.
Cover Story
ACUMEN 25
December 2013
a lot more to do for the farmers. The
Myanmar farmers association is only a
recently formed organization with about
two-hundred thousand members of whom
only a few hundreds have so far received
farming related training. Useful data and
information can be effectively disseminated
through TV channels. To help relieve the
strain on the farmers family budget loan
should be extended to them at a lower
rate of i nterest. It s now ti me the
government started a crop insurance
scheme; rice farmers are eagerly waiting
for it.
In Myanmars agriculture special
attention should be paid to international
standard research and development for
better-quality crop and higher yield.
International co-operation should be
sought in this field of R&D.
Anomalies in global climate coupled
with the growing world population in
likely to make agriculture all the more
important in future. Now that Myanmar
is back in contact with the global market,
it can expect more opportunities for
economic growth, but that can happen
only when it switches over to the modern
forming method. At the moment people
are hoping for changes in Myanmars
agriculture. A
The interest rate being still so high, farmers do not ever have enough money for the basic needs of their
families much less for recouping paddy planting costs.
Cover Story
adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:16 PM 11
December 2013
Feature
December 2013
Asean Tiger-Jacob.pmd 11/22/2013, 3:52 PM 28
ACUMEN 29 ACUMEN 29
C
ash. Bricks and bags and buckets
of cash. These bills have been the
lifeblood of commerce in Myanmar
for decades running. Ask yourself, how
unsafe does a country's financial system
have to be for a business person to prefer
to stuff their mattress with kyat notes,
rather than keeping it in a bank? Such is
Myanmar in 2013 - but not for long. Fi-
nance in Myanmar is changing faster than
fashion. The last season's options for busi-
ness loans and transactions are quickly
being outshone by this season's line-up.
SWIFT, Visa, MasterCard, Western Union,
ATMs and mobile phone SIMs. The op-
tions for new approaches in transacting
your business dealings are bountiful.
How did we get here? Where will it
lead? Advertising a Myanmar gold rush"
has a certain feeling of fleeting tran-sience
and snake-oil salesmanship. To be sure,
Myanmar has had a few bumps along
the road in its path to devel-opment".
This column is the first in a three-part
series that will introduce readers to the
present financial context. Too often I en-
counter major international investors and
corporate executives who fly into and out
of this country without the slightest
grounding in Myanmar's storied financial
history. For instance, the 2003 banking
crisis. 10 years is not ancient history but if
you speak with the portfolio prospectors
and carpetbaggers you might be led to
believe otherwise. Serious investors ought
to understand why there was a banking
crisis and what calamities happened as
a result. They ought to know what the
demonetizations" were and they should
be mindful of the money laundering mala-
dies that tarnished the reputations of sev-
eral tycoons.
So we begin.
Before you think this is just another
business column, you should understand
that finance and private enterprise are
about more than money. Myanmar's long-
broken financial system is directly corre-
lated with decades of poor economic per-
formance and concomitant human mor-
bidity. Fixing access to finance in
December 2013
Myanmar - a process that has been un-
derway in various stages since 1988 - is
a necessary condition for long-term, sus-
tainable economic growth in Myanmar.
Recent reforms are immensely encour-
aging, but let us first review how we got
here.
Under British rule, Myanmar was a
source of raw commodities. Teak, oil,
pulses, gems, rice - the British thirst for
exports could seemingly not be slaked.
As such, all early development" efforts
were aimed at improving systems to in-
crease the export of those commodities.
This had its positives (linkages to foreign
markets) and its negatives (endemic rac-
ism). Scholars will surely argue over these
things for decades to come. But it is true
that development" as a goal with loftier
notions than merely product exports was
an objective first pursued under U Nu,
Burma's first democratically elected prime
minister. Prime Minister U Nu was to be
the only elected leader Myanmar would
have until the present era. Under U Nu's
governance, prospects for the country
seemed quite bright. Major infrastructure
developments were planned and begun.
Reconciliation with the ethnic states
seemed possible, for an instant. However,
even in the tropics seasons change. Eth-
nic chaos crept in, and democracy was
abandoned in favor of unity. General Ne
Win and his cohort seized power in a
coup d'tat in 1962.
I do not want to focus on Ne Win, but
he must be mentioned. His Burmese Way
To Socialism" - an official economic strat-
egy which forced the nationalization of
all major industries and financial institu-
tions, was an economically ruinous policy
of epic proportions. Myanmar went from
among the wealthiest nations in Asia to
the poorest. In many other contexts, a
Feature
The Myanmar Kyat currency is exchanged for
US dollars in Yangon, Myanmar.
ACUMEN 31
leader like Ne Win would have been
ousted by a dissatisfied populace, but what
he lacked in economic acumen he pos-
sessed in cruelty and military cunning.
All democratic expression was shut-out,
even going so far as to dynamite the Stu-
dent Union building of the University of
Rangoon. The Student Union had been a
symbol of free and democratic expres-
sion and public gathering. Blowing it up
sent a very clear signal that such senti-
ments would no longer be tolerated. Ne
Win held ultimate power in one position
or another until the events of 1988. After
1988, General Than Shwe became the new
strongman of Burma, officially rebranding
the country as Myanmar." (Incidentally,
both 'Myanmar' and 'Burma' reference the
Bamar ethnic group and mean the same
thing, etymologically land of the swift and
strong ones.")
Despite not being universally loved,
Senior General Than Shwe's
junta embarked on a shift to
i ndust ri al pri vat i za-t i on,
opening the country to ma-
jor private industry and fi-
nance for the first time since
the early '60s. (Ne Win had
made some minor moves to-
wards privatization, begin-
ning in the mid-1970s, but
they were limited in scope
and focused on agricultural
production.) So, while the
nation was disheartened by
the arrest of Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi and the de-legiti-
mization of the elections of
1990, some things changed.
The first private bank
since 1962 began operating
i n 1992. Several ot hers
started shortly thereafter,
CB Bank ATM in Yangon, Myanmar
December 2013
many of them had ownership and invest-
ments entangled with newly re-arrang-
ing and forming military conglomerates.
For a few years it seemed as though
Myanmar might be able to emulate what
was happening in Vietnam during the
same time period. Vietnam had also shed
its socialist mantle and embraced market
reforms under its doi moi approach. In-
ternational interest in the region was high,
but the legal and regulatory environment
was far from clear in Myanmar. Invest-
ments flowed into other Southeast Asian
nations where the frameworks and fu-
ture seemed a bit more defined.
Nevertheless, domestic entrepreneurs
did not need to wait for international in-
vestors to pursue the opportunities they
were seeing right in front of them. In this
newly loosened market economy, busi-
ness opportunities proliferated. Construc-
tion boomed. Private banks blossomed
(too much of that blossoming coincided
with the blossoming of poppies in Shan
State). Loans were granted - a lot of loans,
in fact. Far too many. There was a loans
crisis in 1996 that provoked the current
rigid regulations on loans to SMEs. Dur-
ing the '96 loans crisis, non-performing
loans reached as high as 50 per cent All
that irrational exuberance produced a
regulatory backlash that explains the
plight of SMEs to obtain loans in the cur-
rent environment.
The loans crisis aside, public appe-
tite for financial products still could not be
Those who think that ATMs only just
made it to Myanmar might be surprised
to learn that Mayflower Bank launched
Myanmar's first ATM in 1997.
Yes, 1997.
Feature
ACUMEN 33
met by the fledgling banks on the '90s.
Entities referred to as general service
companies" (GSCs) arose and began craft-
ing Ponzi-esque schemes. The (GSCs)
were creatures of Myanmar's restricted
financial environment in the late'90s and
early '00s. They were not actual, regis-
tered banks and they flaunted the laws
governing financial institutions, despite ef-
fectively providing money lending services
similar to banks. You could buy shares"
and received guaranteed dividends. It
seemed too good to be true. It was too
good to be true.
Around this same time, those intrepid
international corporates who had moved
into Myanmar in the early '90s - Pepsi,
Standard Chartered, Levi-Strauss, etc. -
all had to pull back out. Starting around
1997, the United States, Europe and Ja-
pan began to target increasingly restric-
tive sanctions against the junta and its
affiliates. This had the effect of choking
the brief, nascent economic growth the
country had experienced during the pre-
vious handful of years. Undeterred, Chi-
nese and Thai businessmen were all to
happy to fill that economic vacuum and
kept some of the foreign investment mo-
mentum going.
Those who think that ATMs only just
made it to Myanmar might be surprised
to learn that Mayflower Bank launched
Myanmar's first ATM in 1997. Yes, 1997.
Asia Wealth Bank (AWB) was even
working on developing inter-net bank-
ing around the same time. It was all very
promising. What happened? Just as the
future of banking in Myanmar seemed to
be heading into exciting new frontiers,
the entire industry realized it was built
on pillars of sand.
So what happened in 2003? Like any
good banking crisis, rumors played a
major role in provoking a bank run. Sev-
eral of the GSCs went bankrupt. The col-
lapse of the GSCs began in 2002 and
shook public confidence in Myanmar's fi-
nancial sector. In a country with decades
of financial instability behind it, rumors
that the current boom was a fiction were
all too easy to
believe. Rumors
spread in early
2003 that there
was a crisis at
AWB, Myan-
mar' s l argest
private bank at
the time. As ear-
ly as February
6, 2003, l ong
queues were
f ormi ng t o
withdraw de-
posits. The gov-
ernment began
issuing official
statements on
February 9
aimed at restor-
ing confidence
by reminding
depositors that
AWB operates
under the su-
pervision of the
Government of
Myanmar and
its Central Bank
- such st at e-
ments did not
restore confi-
dence. The
bank run continued and spread to other
banks. Limits on maximum weekly with-
drawals were soon initiated, followed by
more stringent limits. By February 24, the
maximum weekly withdrawal amount
was equivalent to about $100. The Cen-
tral Bank provided some liquidity assis-
tance for banks suffering from the crisis,
but orders were also given for loan terms
to be immediately redrawn. In many cas-
es, borrowers were required to repay 20
to 50 percent of the amount of loans re-
ceived before the end of March.
It would take a full year before banks
would return to normal operations. How-
ever, the regulatory backlash to the crisis
was severe. The capital adequacy ratio
was replaced by an equity to deposit"
regulation requiring banks to restrict de-
posits to no more the 7-times the bank's
paid-up capital. Also, the main crisis-af-
fected banks of AWB, Mayflower Bank
and Universal Bank ultimately did not sur-
vive. Money laundering allegations shut-
tered whatever chance they might have
had at resurgence. KBZ, Ayeyarwady,
AGDB and CB rose from the ashes to be-
come the new dominant players in
Myanmar's private banking sector.
Check out part two of this series in
the next issue of Acumen where we will
examine the current players and forces
in Myanmar's increasingly dynamic finan-
cial environment - from microfinance to
retail banks to investment funds.. A
December 2013
December 2013
Feature
Gas Pie Story.pmd 11/22/2013, 3:57 PM 34
ACUMEN 35 ACUMEN 35
December 2013
As China has started enjoying natural gas
from Rakhine State being sent via the gas
pipeline that had been constructed for
three years, lives of residents along the
pipeline have changed.
A farmer who had been working on ten
acres of farmland in Kho-mone Village of
Kyaukme District in North Shan State was
able to send his children to school while
he grew his farmland four years ago.
But now he is concerned about his
uncertain future following the pipeline
construction.
He received K1 million for two-acre
land as a compensation for having to let
the pipelines cross on his farmland. But
he said it's unfair to be given just a com-
pensation of K1 million as the soil in his
farmland was severely damaged by the
pipelines.
He can earn the amount he received in a
year growing crops on two-acre farmland
where the pipelines have been placed in
trenches.
That fertile soil has been damaged
so much so that it can no longer be used
as farmland. He can earn about K800,000
every year if crops are grown in this soil.
But now he has lost his annual income
from crops as the soil were damaged.
Soil damage has reduced my fam-
ily income directly. Besides, there are no
big trees in our surroundings as they
were cut down owing to the pipeline
project. The deforestation due to the pipe-
line has impacted hugely to the environ-
ment. As a result, weather conditions are
unfavourable for agriculture that we de-
pend on," the farmer said.
He has no idea how to make a liv-
ing for his family in the coming years due
to soil damage even though it has been
said he has received K1 million as a com-
pensation for two acres, he continued.
As the reserve forest, farmlands and
the orchards have been removed in 21
townships along the pipelines from
Rakhine State to the border between
Myanmar and China, perennials cannot
be grown any more in the damaged soil
where the pipelines have been placed in
trenches.
Although the Chinese firm has pro-
vided compensation money to the affected
locals living along the pipelines, they are
facing difficulty in growing crops and it
will have to take about 50 years to re-
cover from the damaged soil, said a farmer
from Kho-mone Village of Kyaukme Dis-
trict.
Perennial crops can't be grown in
the pipeline areas. As they [the Chinese
company] have dug trenches to place the
pipelines, soil were damaged. Now I can't
grow crops in the right season and I can't
afford to do anything since land repair
costs too much in terms of money as well
as time. I think I can grow crops only
after recovering from the damaged soil,"
said U Myint Han, a farmer of Kho-mone
Village.
In addition to many hardships born
of inability to grow crops on account of
the damaged soil, communities along the
route of the pipelines are suffering from
unfair compensation for farmland dam-
age, environmental impact and irrespon-
sible attitude towards potential explosions
and leakages, said a resident of Mandalay.
We have difficulty in making a liv-
ing. We can't grow crops and besides we
have not received a decent compensa-
tion for our damaged farmland. We have
reported on our hardships not only to the
Chinese firm but also to the local authori-
ties. However, none of them has given
much attention for the grievances," he
explained.
It is reported that Shwe Gas Pipe-
line was constructed in 2009 after sign-
ing MOU as a joint venture between
Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise under
the Ministry of Energy and China National
Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), the Chi-
nese state-run firm and completed in June
2013, crossing through 800 kilometers
within Rakhine State, Magway Region,
Mandalay Region and Shan State and 12
billion cubic meters of natural gas per year
will be transported from Kyaukphyu of
Rakhine State to Kunming, the capital city
of Yunnan Province in China.
Many f arm-
l ands, orchi ds,
mangroves and for-
ests in Kapaing Vil-
lage, Lakekhamaw
Village and Lar-
akyun Village in
Kyaukphyu Town-
ship and four vil-
l ages of Taung-
philar Village Tract
in Ann Township
and Rakhine State
have been affected
by pl aci ng t he
pipelines, accord-
ing to somes envi-
ronmentalists.
We've found that
many acres of man-
grove have been
destroyed by the
Kyaukphyu-Kun-
ming natural gas
pi pel i ne. No re-
pl acement has
been found so far.
And some of the
forests on the Yo
mountain range in
Ann Townshi p
along the pipeline
have severely been
damaged. As the
company's heavy
bul l dozers have
moved the earth on the mountain to place
the pipelines, many forests have been
destroyed. Such environmental damage
has affected local residents depending on
environment to make a living," said U
Maung Maung Thein Pe, chair of Yetkh-
ita Environmental Conservation Associa-
tion.
The company in collaboration with
the government has confiscated farmlands
on the grounds of the pipeline projects
and they have made local residents re-
ceive unfair compensation for losing farm-
lands. Everyone knows whether it is fair
to do so or not. We've not known whether
December 2013
Feature
ACUMEN 37
or not the authorities concerned have
accepted bribes there. But it's no need to
say how the persons concerned have
become prosperous although local people
turned into farmers without farmland
because of the pipeline projects. We'd like
to request not only the authorities con-
cerned but also domestic companies and
foreign firms not to confiscate farmlands
as there are plans to build industrial zones
and now towns. We willingly welcome
the projects for local development," said
U Tun Lwin, chairman of the Committee
of Watch Group for the Natural Gas Pipe-
line in Kyaukphyu.
Shwe Gas Pipeline Project will likely pro-
vide Myanmar with about US$ 1.8 billion,
the first $900 million of which comes from
the gas pipeline and the other $900mil-
lion from the crude oil pipeline per year
and accordingly, Myanmar will earn $29
billion by thirty-year delivery of natural
gas from Rakhine offshore's Shwe Gas
Project, according to figure released by
Shwe Gas Movement, a civil society group.
Natural resources should be utilized
as tools for immediate development of
human resources and the government can
use those earnings from the gas pipeline
projects for national development process,
said Dr Nay Zin Latt, an advisor of Presi-
dent U Thein Sein.
Well, let's think about how long it
will take to conduct capacity building for
a soul. If one wants to earn a doctorate,
one needs to have passed the tenth stan-
dard first and go on trying to get a de-
gree and work hard to gain a master
degree and then finally one has to try to
achieve PhD. How long will it take to pass
this process? Of course, one has to spend
many times on passing it. Had we looked
on such process without utilizing natural
resources as tools for human resource de-
velopment, we would have wasted so
many times. That's why we need not only
extract natural resources but also to build
up human capacity at the same time," he
ACUMEN 37
December 2013
explained.
In addition, the prices of land plots
along the Mandalay-Muse highway have
dramatically gone up, according to main
real estate agents in North Shan State.
Land has been in demand as soon
as the pipeline project commences. Buy-
ers offered exorbitant prices we've never
heard for the land plots. Farmers have
willingly sold their land because of good
price. Now they want to buy those land
plots back, they can't afford," said a prop-
erty agent of Kyaukme.
The prices of land plots along the
Mandalay-Lashio highway that have in-
creased about five of six times since the
start of the pipeline project in 2008-2009
have reached more than two figure mil-
lion per land plot in 2011-2012, real es-
tate agents say.
Land prices have risen not only along
the Mandalay-Muse highway but also
around the border area close to China,
said a real estate agent in Muse.
Chinese buyers come here to pur-
chase land plots and they offer prices
ranging from two figure million up to
three figure million for them," he said.
Although local residents are delighted
that they [the Chinese company] have
supported in education and health sec-
tors for the rural areas along the route of
the pipelines, the affected locals along the
route of the pipelines have been facing
difficulty in making a living as they have
not given aids in economic sector for them,
said U Myint Han, an affected farmer in
Kyaukme District.
They have provided us with school
buildings and health care centers in some
rural areas, but have not supported eco-
nomic development here," he said.
It is said that local residents are
worried about po-
tential hazards in
the future because
foreign-based Shwe
Gas Movement, a
civil society organi-
zation pointed out
that the Chinese
company dug
trenches only about
two meters deep in
21 townships along
the route claiming it
was deep enough to
be safe instead of
digging them five
met ers deep re-
quired under inter-
national standards.
C h i n e s e
state-run media say
that Chinese people
are enjoying full energy through gas
transported on the gas pipeline from
Kyaukphyu of Rakhine State while local
residents in Rakhine State western part
of Myanmar are calling for adequate elec-
tricity power.
Chinese communities in many towns
including Kunming in Yunnan are pro-
vided with electric power generated by
gas transported on the gas pipeline from
Kyaukphyu.
They (the authorities concerned and
the Chinese company) promised us to pro-
vide 20 per cent of 200 million cubic feet
earmarked for Myanmar. So far, we don't
have electric power. We've known nei-
ther when the gas turbines will arrive
here nor how gas will be allocated to the
company and local residents. That locals
in Kyaukphyu enjoy electricity paying K35
per kilowatt-hour means the first kilowatt-
hour not all. Locals have to pay K460 the
remaining kilowatt-hours. I think 20 per
cent will be mostly used for special eco-
nomic zone in Kyaukphyu," said a resi-
dent from Kyaukphyu.
Kyaukphyu's local residents are still
depending on the electric power gener-
ated by diesel engines paying K450 per
kilowatt-hour and have not heard that
charges for electricity will be reduced, he
said.
Although natural resources such as
oil and natural gas have been extracted
by the governments along the history to
sell them to the neighbouring countries,
they are not able to fulfill the needs of
electricity for local residents in Rakhine
State, said another resident in Kyaukphyu.
We have to give a lot from our state,
but we've got only a little back. Local people
along the route of the pipelines not only
in Rakhine State but also in central part
of Myanmar and Shan State have many
difficulties due to the pipelines. We have
protested against the pipeline projects
since the start of the projects because the
company has failed to have transparency
and to give proper compensation for the
farmlands along the pipelines," he said.
Gas delivery has been launched in
August 2013 via the gas pipeline from
Myanmar to China and some of gas from
sub-terminals that have been installed in
Kyaukphyu of Rakhi ne State,
Yenangyaung of Magway Regi on,
Taungtha of Mandalay will be used for
local residents living in those townships,
according to the government.
Gas will be shared with local people
in some townships along the route of the
pipelines and 20 million cubic feet for
Kyaukphyu Township, 23 million cubic
feet for Yenangyaung Township and 75
million for Taungtha Township will be
used, according to the government. A
Feature
adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:17 PM 11
December 2013
Feature
December 2013
Are car Story.pmd 11/22/2013, 3:50 PM 40
ACUMEN 41 ACUMEN 41
U Yin Maung, about 45, is disappointed to
see a long queue of vehicles under the
Hledan flyover and he think he will have
to spend about half hour to pass through
the Hledan stoplight due to such traffic
jam.
He coul d go t o hi s of f i ce i n
Shwegondai Tower l ocat ed i n
Shwegondai Township from Kamaryut
Township where he live in about 20 min-
utes before and but he have to lose nearly
one hour or more than 40 minutes to go
to his office on such occasion when many
roads are heavily congested, he groaned
with disappointment.
There is increasing of new model
cars day by day. We have to spend too
much times on the road because of much
traffic congestion. It is no longer easy for
us to go by car to one place to another,"
he added.
Before 2011, there were a few people
who could have own cars in Myanmar
because vehicles worth around K100 mil-
lion each were beyond the reach of ordi-
nary people and however, the car mar-
ket nearly dead has changed owing to
the government's release of policy on car
importation in September 2011 after U
Thein Sein government has taken power.
Despite such a release of car importation
during 2011, the prices of vehicles are
still high in comparison with those in glo-
bal car market, analysts point out.
No matter how some people criticize,
the prices of Toyota Caldinas have dra-
matically slumped from around K90 mil-
lion - K1 billion before up to around K20
million after releasing policies on car im-
portation, the market sources say.
If you came to see Hanthawaddy Car
Trading Compound several years ago, you
might found dealings in cars were de-
pressed. It was not easy to sell even a
car at that time. If one broker had sold a
car, he enjoyed much brokerage. He was
so happy as if he won the government's
lottery," said Ko Zaw, an veteran broker
who has had a 20-year experience in car
dealings.
As almost everybody can import au-
tomobiles at present, those who want to
December 2013
import new model cars have more op-
portunities now than the previous years,
said U Zaw Moe Kyaw, a car dealer.
Having seen the arrivals of tens of
thousands of imported cars after releas-
ing policies on car importation, he is think-
ing of venturing into car importation of-
fering a Japan motorcar company to co-
operate with him in doing so, he said.
I've offered a Japan company for
making a joint venture in importing cars
made in Japan and it is too early to re-
veal the name of Japan Car Company. I
intend to open showrooms in both
Yangon and Mandalay. Besides, I want
to run car service centers that can offer
the best service, but I can't find the suit-
able places yet as there are many car
showrooms that have already opened in
many strategic points around Yangon.
Japanese businessman fears whether our
business is OK because of high prices of
land rental here," he added.
In spite of unprecedented range of
new model vehicles flooding into the
country, there need still many car ser-
vice center that can offer ex-
cellent service for those
new model automo-
biles imported and
he has thus de-
cided to set
up t he
car ser-
vice centers in association with Japanese
experts, he said.
The maj ori t y of i mport ed cars i n
Myanmar are Probox, AD Van and
Honda Fit, all of which are worth around
K10 million, say the sources of car im-
porters.
Myanmar government has earned
nearly K500 billion of revenues from more
than 153,000 cars that have been im-
ported within 18 months between 25 Oc-
tober 2011 and 6 April 2013, according to
announcement of Customs Department.
However, there are many unlicensed
vehicles that are being smuggled into the
country from the border areas and those
unlicensed cars can hurt the domestic car
market, car dealers say.
Some smugglers import vehicles
through the illegal routes and then
they plot to get licenses for
their smuggled automo-
biles. The ar-
Feature
rivals of many unlicensed cars harm all
of us, car importers, dealers and brokers
legally doing business," said U Zaw Moe
Kyaw.
Some of the foreign companies that
are interested in investing in car busi-
ness come to take the entry of unlicensed
vehicles smuggled from the border areas
into the country into consideration, he said.
Japan companies have been think-
ing of investing in Myanmar since 2011.
Having seen unlicensed cars entering the
domestic market, some of them hesitate
to do so," he added.
The majority of those unlicensed automo-
biles may
ACUMEN 43
come from China and they are being
smuggled through the illegal inland routes
into the country, said a man of Motorcars
Importers & Sellers Association.
It is reported that action is taken
against both those who have smuggled
unlicensed cars into the country and those
who have issued fake licenses for the
smuggled cars by the government depart-
ments such as Road Transport Adminis-
tration Department and Directorate of
Trade.
It is heard that as the import of the partly
damaged cars can hurt not only the do-
mestic car market but also the
state's revenues, the companies that have
broken the rules and regulations such as
On Time Authorized Agency, Cherry Cus-
toms Clearing Agency, Grade One Import
& Export Agency, Safe Mover Import &
Export Agency and Alliance Freight For-
warding Agency.
Punishment is putting a ban on the
import of cars just for one year. Lawbreak-
ers do not care such kind of punishment.
If their names are banned to import ve-
hicles, the other names can be used for
importing cars. Those lawbreakers should
be severely punished," said Ko Nyan Lin
Aung from Farmer Auto Car Showroom.
In the market, there is a widening
gap of prices between the legally
imported automobiles and
the partly damaged
vehi cl es i m-
p o r t e d
December 2013
breaking the rules and regulations and
unlicensed cars smuggled through the il-
legal inland routes and although a legally
imported Land Cruiser sells for around
K50 million, the same type of that car in-
cluded in the kind of the latter is sold for
just around K7 million, it is said.
Motorcar licenses are issued for those
unlicensed vehicles in the branches of
Road Transport Administration Depart-
ment in each of States and Regions and
such measures encourages the lawbreak-
ers who have been smuggling unlicensed
cars, the market sources say.
On the other hand, a person who
wants to import a car need to submit a
legal document known as slip stating that
the car is being imported to replace a
former one and as such a slip costs
around K12 million in the market, it is
hard for a person without an old car or a
slip to import a car through the legal chan-
nel, the car dealer sources say.
Road Transport Administration De-
partment has announced that it receives
old cars for substitution scheme depend-
ing on serial alphabets in Myanmar that
it has issued so far, it will receive them
both Myingyan and Insein. The old cars
are so much that they cannot be put into
the blasting furnaces," said a high rank-
ing official of Road Transport Adminis-
tration Department in Myinthar.
Road Transport Administration De-
partment has received US$97.35 of reg-
istration fees for issuing licenses for 27,971
cars from the time of permit to import
cars up to 14 June 2012, according to
announcement of Ministry of Railways
Transportation.
The prices of cars in the market in
Myanmar are 15 percent to 30 percent
higher than those all over the world, ana-
lysts on the car markets say.
The car ownership condition has
increased from two persons in one thou-
sand people before 2010 to twenty in one
thousand in 2013, point out CIA World
Fact Book, a watching website posted by
CIA.
Accordingly, opportunities concern-
ing rules and regulations imposed for car
importers and car prices may meet the
international standards, say the sources
of analysts on the car markets. A
relying on span of cars from the start 2014
instead of serial alphabets.
There are few old cars here. Then
how do they [the authorities concerned]
go on? They should practice the system
as some foreign countries do. No slip is
needed to import cars there. They im-
pose tariff and other taxes on vehicles
depending on type of car, manufactured
date and model. If this system is adopted
in our country, there will not be partly
damaged cars and unlicensed cars
smuggled in the market," said Ko Kyargyi,
a broker of Yangon.
The figures of Customs Department
are quoted as saying that among the im-
ported cars, 90 percent is imported for
household use, 1.5 percent for buses and
coaches and 10 percent for trucks say the
sources of Motorcars Importers & Sellers
Association.
No matter how much we do, our
government departments are always
blamed for something. They say we de-
lay receiving old cars. I want them to come
and see here. There are rarely spaces
where so many old vehicles are placed
in the compound of blasting furnaces in
Feature
adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:18 PM 11
December 2013
Interview
First, could you please tell me how you started and First, could you please tell me how you started and First, could you please tell me how you started and First, could you please tell me how you started and First, could you please tell me how you started and
what you are doing now? what you are doing now? what you are doing now? what you are doing now? what you are doing now?
I noticed the coffee plants when I went to Pyin Oo Lwin
and Thipaw as a tour guide many years ago. I went to France
in 2001 and soon afterwards, I got a job in a French chocolate
company. The company wanted other products that are simi-
lar to their existing one. As chocolate and coffee are related, I
told them quality coffee is available in Myanmar. I can say this
is the start of Ananda Coffee in Myanmar. Then I started the
business of buying coffee beans from Pyin Oo Lwin through the
Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. What we are doing now
is producing coffee by growing it by ourselves. We also buy
coffee from the farmers if required. We process it by ourselves.
We grow cocoa and produce chocolate first in Myanmar. We
The custom of coffee drinking has become deeply-rooted in the world and
Myanmar is no exception. Coffee market has grown rapidly with people's lifestyle
changing towards more international tastes in this country with changing economic
systems. Although Myanmar has favourable land, water and climate for coffee
plants, the area under coffee is still low which means there are opportunities for
those who want to grow coffee. Daw Soe Amy Kyaw, Managing Director of
Ananda Coffee Production and Distribution Company shares her experiences
with the ACUMEN which would be of benefit to those who are interested to
grow coffee.
December 2013
Anada or A coffee which reaches france.pmd 11/22/2013, 3:48 PM 46
ACUMEN 47
have opened a coffee shop called Ananda Coffee Shop'. It's our
present business.
When you di d i t, the government made connecti ons When you di d i t, the government made connecti ons When you di d i t, the government made connecti ons When you di d i t, the government made connecti ons When you di d i t, the government made connecti ons
between you and French and European businessper- between you and French and European businessper- between you and French and European businessper- between you and French and European businessper- between you and French and European businessper-
sons, didn' t it? Were you successful then? sons, didn' t it? Were you successful then? sons, didn' t it? Were you successful then? sons, didn' t it? Were you successful then? sons, didn' t it? Were you successful then?
We were very successful. The government gave a lot of
supports.
We f i nd t he cof f ee shop i n t he pamphl et t oo. It i s We f i nd t he cof f ee shop i n t he pamphl et t oo. It i s We f i nd t he cof f ee shop i n t he pamphl et t oo. It i s We f i nd t he cof f ee shop i n t he pamphl et t oo. It i s We f i nd t he cof f ee shop i n t he pamphl et t oo. It i s
menti oned as No. 1 i n France si nce 1999' . Then how menti oned as No. 1 i n France si nce 1999' . Then how menti oned as No. 1 i n France si nce 1999' . Then how menti oned as No. 1 i n France si nce 1999' . Then how menti oned as No. 1 i n France si nce 1999' . Then how
much coffee did they accept? much coffee did they accept? much coffee did they accept? much coffee did they accept? much coffee did they accept?
European magazines wrote cover stories about our
coffee at that time. And our Myanmar coffee was awarded a
prize as the sixth in the top ten coffees of the world. We met
with both radio and television for coverage of our success in
coffee business. The media said they recorded it in their history
for getting pure coffee from Myanmar. It all happened in France.
I' ve heard Ananda reaches even firms like Starbucks. I' ve heard Ananda reaches even firms like Starbucks. I' ve heard Ananda reaches even firms like Starbucks. I' ve heard Ananda reaches even firms like Starbucks. I' ve heard Ananda reaches even firms like Starbucks.
So could you please tell me about it? So could you please tell me about it? So could you please tell me about it? So could you please tell me about it? So could you please tell me about it?
We distributed Myanmar coffee to European countries such
as France and Germany before sanctions were imposed. We
distributed coffee to America through a friend of ours as he
wanted it. That's why it reached Starbuck.
What happened to your market after the sanctions? I What happened to your market after the sanctions? I What happened to your market after the sanctions? I What happened to your market after the sanctions? I What happened to your market after the sanctions? I
think many changes took place. think many changes took place. think many changes took place. think many changes took place. think many changes took place.
Of course, there were many changes. We also lost a great
deal. We lost all our customers. But the one that stood firmly
beside us was Cafe Buddy which runs coffee bars which are
the oldest and the best in the world. It is in Rue Satonore in
Paris in France. It has joined hands with us undauntedly dis-
regarding sanctions. It was very satisfying.
How are you distributing in the local market? How are you distributing in the local market? How are you distributing in the local market? How are you distributing in the local market? How are you distributing in the local market?
Regarding local markets, we are mainly distributing only
to such high level markets as hotels, international restaurants,
coffee bars and well-known super markets.
Coffee mix has a market here as many people begin Coffee mix has a market here as many people begin Coffee mix has a market here as many people begin Coffee mix has a market here as many people begin Coffee mix has a market here as many people begin
t o dri nk i t . There are al so a vari et y of l ocal and t o dri nk i t . There are al so a vari et y of l ocal and t o dri nk i t . There are al so a vari et y of l ocal and t o dri nk i t . There are al so a vari et y of l ocal and t o dri nk i t . There are al so a vari et y of l ocal and
foreign brands. Then don' t you have difficulties when foreign brands. Then don' t you have difficulties when foreign brands. Then don' t you have difficulties when foreign brands. Then don' t you have difficulties when foreign brands. Then don' t you have difficulties when
you produce onl y pure coffee mai nl y targeti ng onl y you produce onl y pure coffee mai nl y targeti ng onl y you produce onl y pure coffee mai nl y targeti ng onl y you produce onl y pure coffee mai nl y targeti ng onl y you produce onl y pure coffee mai nl y targeti ng onl y
high level markets without producing coffee mix? high level markets without producing coffee mix? high level markets without producing coffee mix? high level markets without producing coffee mix? high level markets without producing coffee mix?
Our line of business is only pure coffee of Myanmar. As it is
coffee mix, it is different from production of pure coffee. We
don't try to enter that market as it is a different line. Our mis-
sion and vision are very different from theirs.
What kinds of competition are there in the pure cof- What kinds of competition are there in the pure cof- What kinds of competition are there in the pure cof- What kinds of competition are there in the pure cof- What kinds of competition are there in the pure cof-
fee market now? fee market now? fee market now? fee market now? fee market now?
Of course, there is competition there. In some places, cus-
tomers are taken by someone at a time and then taken by
another later alternatively. One has to struggle for oneself as
there is competition. One of our advantages is that our business
focuses more on quality than on quantity. These high level mar-
kets like only our coffee. Tourism industry is now open. As
foreigners have coffee drinking culture, they like to drink only
pure coffee.
As l ocal producti on i s smal l , how about the market As l ocal producti on i s smal l , how about the market As l ocal producti on i s smal l , how about the market As l ocal producti on i s smal l , how about the market As l ocal producti on i s smal l , how about the market
penetration of foreign products or brands? penetration of foreign products or brands? penetration of foreign products or brands? penetration of foreign products or brands? penetration of foreign products or brands?
There are imports. How did they enter? They provided
coffee machines. When there were sanctions previously, export
was difficult. We ourselves provided coffee machines. We had
to face many problems including the machines that broke down.
So we stopped giving machines and ran by controlling quality
and service. Now we often find foreign companies using our
policy. We often hear or notice how much coffee they have to
buy and how many machines they have to provide when they
buy coffee. It is also heard some have stopped doing it. It's the
policy we followed.
ACUMEN 47
December 2013
Regarding quality, things are really going towards a Regarding quality, things are really going towards a Regarding quality, things are really going towards a Regarding quality, things are really going towards a Regarding quality, things are really going towards a
high level. Exportation is also being carried out. What high level. Exportation is also being carried out. What high level. Exportation is also being carried out. What high level. Exportation is also being carried out. What high level. Exportation is also being carried out. What
are the important things regarding quality? are the important things regarding quality? are the important things regarding quality? are the important things regarding quality? are the important things regarding quality?
When coffee is grown, it should be classified. The names of
two kinds of coffee are Arabica and Robusta. The next to them
is Cartimore. Arabica is popular all over the world. Especially
foreigners like it very much. Its taste is also very good. Robusta
comes second. It's very rich in caffeine. It is better to produce
espresso by combining Robusta and Arabica. Arabica is harm-
less whatever amount it is drunk. So we mainly grow Arabica.
We also planted shade trees among the coffee trees systemati-
cally. In plucking, we have to pluck only cherry red fruits. The
quality begins there. If the plucked fruits don't meet the re-
quired quality, it affects the quality of the product. To get the
required quality, great care must be taken in plucking the fruits.
Other green and yellow fruits must not be plucked together.
And only when drying process is performed step by step sys-
tematically, will we get coffee product of required quality. Great
care must be taken when plucking is done. Storing of fruits also
need to be systematic. We have to store raw coffee beans if we
want to distribute them fresh to the customers. For the local
market, we have to roast them depending on the order. But we
export only raw coffee beans. We control the quality in this way.
We have the knowl edge that producti on of Ananda We have the knowl edge that producti on of Ananda We have the knowl edge that producti on of Ananda We have the knowl edge that producti on of Ananda We have the knowl edge that producti on of Ananda
coffee is a dry process. Could you please explain a coffee is a dry process. Could you please explain a coffee is a dry process. Could you please explain a coffee is a dry process. Could you please explain a coffee is a dry process. Could you please explain a
little about that process? little about that process? little about that process? little about that process? little about that process?
In a wet process, wet beans are crushed after harvest.
After being crushed, they are fermented until all the mucus on
the surface is cleared. Then they are washed again with water
and dried. When the cover of the beans changes into silver
colour, we can start using the coffee. We carry out stripping the
raw coffee beans by the machine, stripping them one by one
with hands and peeling them until the colour of jade appears.
As you not only grow coffee but also buy it from the As you not only grow coffee but also buy it from the As you not only grow coffee but also buy it from the As you not only grow coffee but also buy it from the As you not only grow coffee but also buy it from the
farmers, what are the di fferences i n terms of profi t farmers, what are the di fferences i n terms of profi t farmers, what are the di fferences i n terms of profi t farmers, what are the di fferences i n terms of profi t farmers, what are the di fferences i n terms of profi t
and quality? and quality? and quality? and quality? and quality?
In self-planting we can choose the variety and quality of
coffee for the convenience of all. We have chances to give sys-
tematic treatment. In plucking the fruits, we can tell our work-
ers to do systematically in the type we like, using the formula
we like. It's one of the points. Then in drying too, we can do step
by step systematically by the process we are accomplished at.
That's why we get the benefit of very good quality. If we buy coffee
from the farmers, we give them methods. We share them with
them. We buy coffee with care from the farmers who grow it by
Daw Soe Amy Kyaw
Managing Director
Ananda Coffee Production
and Distribution Co., Ltd.
Daw Soe Amy Kyaw
Managing Director
Ananda Coffee Production
and Distribution Co., Ltd.
Interview
ACUMEN 49
the methods we give to them. And we do processing ourselves.
What i s t he area of Myanmar' s cof f ee pl ant at i on? What i s t he area of Myanmar' s cof f ee pl ant at i on? What i s t he area of Myanmar' s cof f ee pl ant at i on? What i s t he area of Myanmar' s cof f ee pl ant at i on? What i s t he area of Myanmar' s cof f ee pl ant at i on?
How many busi nesspersons are mai nl y t aki ng part How many busi nesspersons are mai nl y t aki ng part How many busi nesspersons are mai nl y t aki ng part How many busi nesspersons are mai nl y t aki ng part How many busi nesspersons are mai nl y t aki ng part
i n cof f ee growi ng? And i n whi ch regi ons cof f ee i s i n cof f ee growi ng? And i n whi ch regi ons cof f ee i s i n cof f ee growi ng? And i n whi ch regi ons cof f ee i s i n cof f ee growi ng? And i n whi ch regi ons cof f ee i s i n cof f ee growi ng? And i n whi ch regi ons cof f ee i s
mainly grown? Could you please tell me a little about mainly grown? Could you please tell me a little about mainly grown? Could you please tell me a little about mainly grown? Could you please tell me a little about mainly grown? Could you please tell me a little about
i t? i t? i t? i t? i t?
In Myanmar, coffee can be grown in Pyin Oo Lwin,
Naungcho, Taunggyi and Thantaung. Robusta is grown on a
large scale in Thantaung. But it is not very widely known. Ma-
jor plantations are in Pyin Oo Lwin and Naungcho. The num-
ber of farmers who grow more than ten acres is around 80.
There are also farmers who grow coffee on their own farm on
a manageable scale. Present total coffee plantation area is about
18,000 acres. The number of acres where fruits can actually be
plucked is only about 5,400 acres. It's still a small number.
What are the al ti tude and the temperature best for What are the al ti tude and the temperature best for What are the al ti tude and the temperature best for What are the al ti tude and the temperature best for What are the al ti tude and the temperature best for
growing coffee? growing coffee? growing coffee? growing coffee? growing coffee?
More than 3,000 feet above sea level is the best.
It i s heard t hat t here are di sput es bet ween cof f ee It i s heard t hat t here are di sput es bet ween cof f ee It i s heard t hat t here are di sput es bet ween cof f ee It i s heard t hat t here are di sput es bet ween cof f ee It i s heard t hat t here are di sput es bet ween cof f ee
growi ng busi nesspersons and l ocal peopl e on l and growi ng busi nesspersons and l ocal peopl e on l and growi ng busi nesspersons and l ocal peopl e on l and growi ng busi nesspersons and l ocal peopl e on l and growi ng busi nesspersons and l ocal peopl e on l and
ownership. There are also notifications urging those ownership. There are also notifications urging those ownership. There are also notifications urging those ownership. There are also notifications urging those ownership. There are also notifications urging those
who have reclaimed land for coffee plantation to grow who have reclaimed land for coffee plantation to grow who have reclaimed land for coffee plantation to grow who have reclaimed land for coffee plantation to grow who have reclaimed land for coffee plantation to grow
coffee in time in 2014. Could you please discuss these coffee in time in 2014. Could you please discuss these coffee in time in 2014. Could you please discuss these coffee in time in 2014. Could you please discuss these coffee in time in 2014. Could you please discuss these
problems a little? problems a little? problems a little? problems a little? problems a little?
It started with a plan of the State to reclaim 100,000 acres
of land to grow coffee. As I was distributing Myanmar coffee
with Ananda brand at that time, departmental officials urged
me to take some land and grow coffee. They also provided me
with necessary assistance. They also held meetings in a large
scale and invited people who wanted to grow coffee to come. I
still remember a lot of people who wanted to grow coffee at-
tended the meetings at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irriga-
tion in Yangon. One of the questions the participants of the
meeting raised was whether ownership of the land was guar-
anteed if they went there. The businesspersons had concerns
about making investments in distant places. The plots of land
were those reclaimed from uncultivated virgin land. As the or-
der to grow 100,000 acres of coffee had been issued and they
also guaranteed the ownership, we started the business. When
we actually went there, we had to reclaim the land ourselves
by actually clearing the forests together with other fellow farm-
ers. We had to build roads by pooling our own money. We
had to work holding mattocks and investing huge amounts of
December 2013
money in the desolate places. Then when coffee was grown,
shade trees were put in. We had to take about three years to
cultivate such shade trees. Only then we were able to grow
coffee plants. As we also had to wait for the growth of coffee
plants for three or four years, it took about seven years to
reach the stage of coffee production. There were also some
difficulties caused by the land. We had to plant shade trees
again and again when they die. Coffee plants also died and we
had to substitute them too. It took a very long time. There are
farmers who discarded infertile land and made planting only
on fertile land. About two years ago after passing a decade,
some people who we didn't recognized came with one or two
local villagers and claimed the land telling us to leave. When
we first went there a decade ago, we went with doubts as to
whether there was real security for us and whether the land
was really fertile there. At that time, departmental personnel
themselves came to the field and showed us the maps. We
carried out the farming only after obtaining documents made
by village authorities and native farmers from nearby villages
that the land was really virgin and uncultivated. Land owner-
ship problems of today sound like a popular style. I think they
think they will get something whenever they claim something
by giving some reason.
Then are there protecti on and settl ements provi ded Then are there protecti on and settl ements provi ded Then are there protecti on and settl ements provi ded Then are there protecti on and settl ements provi ded Then are there protecti on and settl ements provi ded
and made by the departments? and made by the departments? and made by the departments? and made by the departments? and made by the departments?
There are neither protection nor settlements that they
have provided or made. We have to pay attention to our self-
protection and to settle disputes in accordance with the laws.
We are poised to solve the problems ourselves as nobody takes
responsibility. At last we are in a situation where all are grow-
ing the plants in competition with others.
If we are compared t o t he count ri es i n t he regi on If we are compared t o t he count ri es i n t he regi on If we are compared t o t he count ri es i n t he regi on If we are compared t o t he count ri es i n t he regi on If we are compared t o t he count ri es i n t he regi on
particularly ASEAN countries, what is the position of particularly ASEAN countries, what is the position of particularly ASEAN countries, what is the position of particularly ASEAN countries, what is the position of particularly ASEAN countries, what is the position of
cof f ee pl ant i ng of our count ry? In whi ch count ri es cof f ee pl ant i ng of our count ry? In whi ch count ri es cof f ee pl ant i ng of our count ry? In whi ch count ri es cof f ee pl ant i ng of our count ry? In whi ch count ri es cof f ee pl ant i ng of our count ry? In whi ch count ri es
cof f ee i s grown most ? What i s our posi t i on i n t he cof f ee i s grown most ? What i s our posi t i on i n t he cof f ee i s grown most ? What i s our posi t i on i n t he cof f ee i s grown most ? What i s our posi t i on i n t he cof f ee i s grown most ? What i s our posi t i on i n t he
competition with them? Could you please tell me about competition with them? Could you please tell me about competition with them? Could you please tell me about competition with them? Could you please tell me about competition with them? Could you please tell me about
i t? i t? i t? i t? i t?
Vietnam produces coffee most. The kind of coffee they pro-
duce is Robusta. It is available at a cheap price but the taste is
not very good. The quality of Indonesian coffee is good but it is
Interview
ACUMEN 51
sometimes banned as it is suspected of carrying bacteria or
viruses. The quality of Myanmar coffee is good but the volume of
production is still very small. It is not widely known in the
ASEAN region and in the world. So our Ananda Coffee is mak-
ing efforts by giving more priority to quality than to quantity. We
are also working hard to promote Myanmar coffee.
Next, as you are producing chocolate, are you happy Next, as you are producing chocolate, are you happy Next, as you are producing chocolate, are you happy Next, as you are producing chocolate, are you happy Next, as you are producing chocolate, are you happy
with your quality? Which technology do you use? And with your quality? Which technology do you use? And with your quality? Which technology do you use? And with your quality? Which technology do you use? And with your quality? Which technology do you use? And
pl ant i ng condi t i ons? pl ant i ng condi t i ons? pl ant i ng condi t i ons? pl ant i ng condi t i ons? pl ant i ng condi t i ons?
I'm very satisfied that I can do a business which no one
else in Myanmar has done before. I'm also very happy as I am
allowed to do so. The technology is from France and it's an
ancient traditional method which doesn't contain any chemical.
We make it with cocoa powder from cocoa beans which we
grow ourselves. We will go on trying to get better and to im-
prove the quality.
How are you doing with the chocolate market? How are you doing with the chocolate market? How are you doing with the chocolate market? How are you doing with the chocolate market? How are you doing with the chocolate market?
There are demands from two hotels. But we are still sell-
ing it only at our store. We have arrangements to send it to the
hotels. We are making efforts. There are also demands from
places such as Inlay and Mandalay. We have to buy moulds for
the blocks they have demanded. As for orders, they are in-
creasing a great deal.
The last one is the dream of Ananda. What is your The last one is the dream of Ananda. What is your The last one is the dream of Ananda. What is your The last one is the dream of Ananda. What is your The last one is the dream of Ananda. What is your
idea for the future regarding both chocolate and cof- idea for the future regarding both chocolate and cof- idea for the future regarding both chocolate and cof- idea for the future regarding both chocolate and cof- idea for the future regarding both chocolate and cof-
fee? What is the trend of coffee production industry fee? What is the trend of coffee production industry fee? What is the trend of coffee production industry fee? What is the trend of coffee production industry fee? What is the trend of coffee production industry
in the whole country? Could you please comment on it? in the whole country? Could you please comment on it? in the whole country? Could you please comment on it? in the whole country? Could you please comment on it? in the whole country? Could you please comment on it?
Our objective is to let the ASEAN and Asian countries know
the message that coffees and chocolates which meet the inter-
national standards are being produced and available in
Myanmar. There are also plans to penetrate the international
market. If all of them can be implemented, our Ananda will be
able to mark a milestone in history. And as regards the trend of
coffee planting in Myanmar, I think Myanmar coffee will be
able to stand strong if farmers will systematically grow coffee,
can establish a firm organization, grow it in accordance with
specific standards and export it. I also think we'll have to work
collectively taking time. A
December 2013
B2B Talk
December 2013
Market Penetration.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:04 PM 52
ACUMEN 53 ACUMEN 53
Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Greeting to all. Todays Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Greeting to all. Todays Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Greeting to all. Todays Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Greeting to all. Todays Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Greeting to all. Todays
discussion will be about the advertisement business. I discussion will be about the advertisement business. I discussion will be about the advertisement business. I discussion will be about the advertisement business. I discussion will be about the advertisement business. I
have invited four persons to this discussion this month. have invited four persons to this discussion this month. have invited four persons to this discussion this month. have invited four persons to this discussion this month. have invited four persons to this discussion this month.
They are Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt, president and owner They are Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt, president and owner They are Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt, president and owner They are Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt, president and owner They are Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt, president and owner
of Sai l Market i ng and Communi cat i ons, as wel l as of Sai l Market i ng and Communi cat i ons, as wel l as of Sai l Market i ng and Communi cat i ons, as wel l as of Sai l Market i ng and Communi cat i ons, as wel l as of Sai l Market i ng and Communi cat i ons, as wel l as
presi dent of Myanmar Market i ng Servi ces Associ a- presi dent of Myanmar Market i ng Servi ces Associ a- presi dent of Myanmar Market i ng Servi ces Associ a- presi dent of Myanmar Market i ng Servi ces Associ a- presi dent of Myanmar Market i ng Servi ces Associ a-
tion; Daw Aye Hnin Swe, managing director of Mango tion; Daw Aye Hnin Swe, managing director of Mango tion; Daw Aye Hnin Swe, managing director of Mango tion; Daw Aye Hnin Swe, managing director of Mango tion; Daw Aye Hnin Swe, managing director of Mango
Media Limited; U Aung Thura, chief strategist of Ig- Media Limited; U Aung Thura, chief strategist of Ig- Media Limited; U Aung Thura, chief strategist of Ig- Media Limited; U Aung Thura, chief strategist of Ig- Media Limited; U Aung Thura, chief strategist of Ig-
ni t e Market i ng Communi cat i on; and Daw Nan Nwe ni t e Market i ng Communi cat i on; and Daw Nan Nwe ni t e Market i ng Communi cat i on; and Daw Nan Nwe ni t e Market i ng Communi cat i on; and Daw Nan Nwe ni t e Market i ng Communi cat i on; and Daw Nan Nwe
Hl ai ng, managi ng di recter of Future Com. Adverti s- Hl ai ng, managi ng di recter of Future Com. Adverti s- Hl ai ng, managi ng di recter of Future Com. Adverti s- Hl ai ng, managi ng di recter of Future Com. Adverti s- Hl ai ng, managi ng di recter of Future Com. Adverti s-
i ng. Fi rst I woul d l i ke t o di scuss t hei r busi ness i ng. Fi rst I woul d l i ke t o di scuss t hei r busi ness i ng. Fi rst I woul d l i ke t o di scuss t hei r busi ness i ng. Fi rst I woul d l i ke t o di scuss t hei r busi ness i ng. Fi rst I woul d l i ke t o di scuss t hei r busi ness
begi ni ngs and current si t uat i ons, st art i ng wi t h Dr. begi ni ngs and current si t uat i ons, st art i ng wi t h Dr. begi ni ngs and current si t uat i ons, st art i ng wi t h Dr. begi ni ngs and current si t uat i ons, st art i ng wi t h Dr. begi ni ngs and current si t uat i ons, st art i ng wi t h Dr.
Khin Khin Kyawt. Khin Khin Kyawt. Khin Khin Kyawt. Khin Khin Kyawt. Khin Khin Kyawt.
Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : I started the marketing business
unexpectedtly since 1984, during the socialist era. It began as
Pharmaceutical Advertising and Marketing. As I wasnt able
to go into service after graduating as a physician. I went into
the marketing business as a western pharmaceutical agent and
supplied foreign medicines to the market. Besides that I opened
the first colour photo shop in Myanmar as a family business.
We printed the calendar each year as a job of the USA Color
Lab (San Aung. RIT) and on finding that the color separation
process was not of the quality we wanted we took the business
to Singapore. In 1991, as soon as an open market policy was
formalized we founded the San Aung Imaging Company Lim-
ited. We imported western medicines into the market and did
advertisement. We imported and sold Kodak films and did
advertisements. We ereted the first billboards. Liking what we
did for Kodak, Nestle contacted, so we had to do marketing for
Milo and Nescafe. Liking what we did for Nestle we were
offered to do total marketing for Lux Beauty Soap and Unilever
Products. At that time no one could systematically do interna-
tional marketing. From there we formed the first advertising
agency. McCann-Erickson, a top international company came
searching for us, the single company in Myanmar. We formed
with them the Sail McCann-Erickson company as a joint ven-
ture. We were doing business as so when we were put under
trade sanction and Unilever left. At that time we had to reduce
work and go low profile. Hit by the sanction the customers we
had raised left the country. We were able to help little local
products. We were also able to help NGOs like PSI with our
expertise. At that time we got free from sanction, and as it was
my responsibility we started contacting more higher foreign
companies and American companies and continued business.
Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I thank you very much Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I thank you very much Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I thank you very much Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I thank you very much Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I thank you very much
for answeri ng so compl etel y, Dr. Khi n Khi n Kyawt. for answeri ng so compl etel y, Dr. Khi n Khi n Kyawt. for answeri ng so compl etel y, Dr. Khi n Khi n Kyawt. for answeri ng so compl etel y, Dr. Khi n Khi n Kyawt. for answeri ng so compl etel y, Dr. Khi n Khi n Kyawt.
Now, could Daw Aye Hnin Swe tell me a little about Now, could Daw Aye Hnin Swe tell me a little about Now, could Daw Aye Hnin Swe tell me a little about Now, could Daw Aye Hnin Swe tell me a little about Now, could Daw Aye Hnin Swe tell me a little about
the Mango Media Limited. the Mango Media Limited. the Mango Media Limited. the Mango Media Limited. the Mango Media Limited.
December 2013
Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : I started the media business in 1994.
As soon as I started business. I went into the advertisement
business. It also became a work I liked much. I went into
Unilever for a year. But I just wanted to go back to the advertis-
ing business. I wanted to do that work again. I became to real-
ize more and more that it was a job I liked. When 2002 came
the market dropped a little. When I saw this drop I thought it
would be a good time to follow up education. Luckily I got a
scholarship from Canada and went abroad. After going abroad
and then finishing my studies at Bates in 2004. I consulted with
my former teacher. The time was just right. He urged me to
return to Myanmar and start an advertising business. From
2002, we couldnt imagine it would become like this, this day,
this time. But my friends, colleagues, those that worked with
me in foreign companies, also, were calling me back. They too
wanted to be together. And I also didnt want to live on in
foreign country so I returned to Myanmar. Besides the adver-
tisement business I did another business too. I had to establish
it with difficulties. Starting from 2004 it has succeeded quite
B2B Talk
ACUMEN 55
well in 2013, now. There is a need to put in more effort. Under
these nine years time there was a lot of difficulties as well as
happinesses.
Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Thank you very much. Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Thank you very much. Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Thank you very much. Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Thank you very much. Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Thank you very much.
This is also a sign of progress of our country. Study- This is also a sign of progress of our country. Study- This is also a sign of progress of our country. Study- This is also a sign of progress of our country. Study- This is also a sign of progress of our country. Study-
i ng abroad, and ret urni ng f rom worki ng abroad t o i ng abroad, and ret urni ng f rom worki ng abroad t o i ng abroad, and ret urni ng f rom worki ng abroad t o i ng abroad, and ret urni ng f rom worki ng abroad t o i ng abroad, and ret urni ng f rom worki ng abroad t o
l end a hel pi ng hand i n any way one can i n t hi s l end a hel pi ng hand i n any way one can i n t hi s l end a hel pi ng hand i n any way one can i n t hi s l end a hel pi ng hand i n any way one can i n t hi s l end a hel pi ng hand i n any way one can i n t hi s
ref orm process, we t hank you very much. Now, U ref orm process, we t hank you very much. Now, U ref orm process, we t hank you very much. Now, U ref orm process, we t hank you very much. Now, U ref orm process, we t hank you very much. Now, U
Aung Thura, as you yourself is a chief strategist, could Aung Thura, as you yourself is a chief strategist, could Aung Thura, as you yourself is a chief strategist, could Aung Thura, as you yourself is a chief strategist, could Aung Thura, as you yourself is a chief strategist, could
you tell us a little how you started the business. you tell us a little how you started the business. you tell us a little how you started the business. you tell us a little how you started the business. you tell us a little how you started the business.
U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : When I went into the advertisement busi-
ness on my return from America, I work for three years at Dr.
Khin Khin Kyawts Sail Marketing. In 1999 when all left the
country the McCann-Erickcon business also went. I was lucky.
I met a good patron and immediately got a post in Lao. So I left
for Lao. After two years in Lao. I spent five years in Vietnam. I
got a lot of experiences. There too it was with the McCann-
Erickson company. After staying in Vietnam for five years I
started to feel the stress. In the long-term the Vietnamese were
not like the Myanmars at work. They tried harder and are
more aggressive. Those became pressure for me. When look-
ing for another chance I got work at McCann-Ericks on Thai-
land in Thailand. There I worked as a strategic planning direc-
tor. The job was mainly communication planning. Those were
message planning, strategy planning. There I worked for five
years. After staying there for some time I started to feel the
stress. This job, I decided not to do this advertising business
anymore. I said enough and changed jobs. I got the marketing
director job at the PSI. Then I also wanted to return to Myanmar.
It was 2009 and we didnt think there would be any reform.
When doing the good business of PSI, such as Aphaw and
malaria and family planning I got very much interested about
the communication matter. After working there for two years,
the market situation changed. While working at McCann Thai-
land, I consulted with clients from Myanmar. On returning to
Myanmar I was able to contact with these clients again and as
there was a little limitations concerning the PSI culture in 2011
I founded the Ignite Marketing Communications. In the agen-
cies I was quite a late comer. Now the plan was mainly finding
clients to grow the business later we had to grow the people.
Those two jobs were done.
Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : You mentioned that you Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : You mentioned that you Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : You mentioned that you Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : You mentioned that you Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : You mentioned that you
returned and the other thi ng you sai d was that the returned and the other thi ng you sai d was that the returned and the other thi ng you sai d was that the returned and the other thi ng you sai d was that the returned and the other thi ng you sai d was that the
economi c structure changed. Before no one had the economi c structure changed. Before no one had the economi c structure changed. Before no one had the economi c structure changed. Before no one had the economi c structure changed. Before no one had the
sense to advertise. None realized what advertisement sense to advertise. None realized what advertisement sense to advertise. None realized what advertisement sense to advertise. None realized what advertisement sense to advertise. None realized what advertisement
meant . What t he publ i c needed t o know was what meant . What t he publ i c needed t o know was what meant . What t he publ i c needed t o know was what meant . What t he publ i c needed t o know was what meant . What t he publ i c needed t o know was what
marketing was. The people understood only commer- marketing was. The people understood only commer- marketing was. The people understood only commer- marketing was. The people understood only commer- marketing was. The people understood only commer-
cial marketing. That is why government organizations cial marketing. That is why government organizations cial marketing. That is why government organizations cial marketing. That is why government organizations cial marketing. That is why government organizations
need thi s soci al marketi ng very much. Though they need thi s soci al marketi ng very much. Though they need thi s soci al marketi ng very much. Though they need thi s soci al marketi ng very much. Though they need thi s soci al marketi ng very much. Though they
t hought t hat advert i si ng di d not concern t hem, PSI t hought t hat advert i si ng di d not concern t hem, PSI t hought t hat advert i si ng di d not concern t hem, PSI t hought t hat advert i si ng di d not concern t hem, PSI t hought t hat advert i si ng di d not concern t hem, PSI
was doing health care, business in AIDS matters and was doing health care, business in AIDS matters and was doing health care, business in AIDS matters and was doing health care, business in AIDS matters and was doing health care, business in AIDS matters and
mal ari a. No soci al marketi ng can be seen i n educa- mal ari a. No soci al marketi ng can be seen i n educa- mal ari a. No soci al marketi ng can be seen i n educa- mal ari a. No soci al marketi ng can be seen i n educa- mal ari a. No soci al marketi ng can be seen i n educa-
tional matters. And another thing is that, listening to tional matters. And another thing is that, listening to tional matters. And another thing is that, listening to tional matters. And another thing is that, listening to tional matters. And another thing is that, listening to
the dialouge of the four here, it is clear the dialouge of the four here, it is clear the dialouge of the four here, it is clear the dialouge of the four here, it is clear the dialouge of the four here, it is clear that that that that that marketing marketing marketing marketing marketing
and and and and and communication in the communication in the communication in the communication in the communication in the advertisement sector is im- advertisement sector is im- advertisement sector is im- advertisement sector is im- advertisement sector is im-
portant. Without communication, marketing is not pos- portant. Without communication, marketing is not pos- portant. Without communication, marketing is not pos- portant. Without communication, marketing is not pos- portant. Without communication, marketing is not pos-
sible. Advertising would also become impossible. Now sible. Advertising would also become impossible. Now sible. Advertising would also become impossible. Now sible. Advertising would also become impossible. Now sible. Advertising would also become impossible. Now
could you tell me how Daw Nan Nwe could you tell me how Daw Nan Nwe could you tell me how Daw Nan Nwe could you tell me how Daw Nan Nwe could you tell me how Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing Hlaing Hlaing Hlaing Hlaings Future s Future s Future s Future s Future
Com. Advertising company got its beginning? Com. Advertising company got its beginning? Com. Advertising company got its beginning? Com. Advertising company got its beginning? Com. Advertising company got its beginning?
Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : I started my main business in 2003.
Because I started working at Bates Advertising in 1995. From
that time till 2003 I worked there. Daw Aye Hnin Swe is also
my teacher and guide in this subject. I worked together with
them. As Daw Aye Hnin Swe mentioned just now, in 2002 she
went for further studies. At the time she was gone, I worked in
the media department from 1995 to 2003. About 2003 in June,
December 2013
sanction was laid down and Bates left the country. At that time
I had no one to depend on the media department. Only two
friends were left with me. As we were all that was left Bates
told us, to clear up the whole job by August the latest. At that
time, coincidently I was in full pregnancy. If we didnt clear up
the business by that time it would be difficult for them to leave.
And another thing was the attitude of our clients because the
plan set had been for the whole year till December. And so
there was only three, four months left. In Myanmar we had
these dealings with our colleagues, suppliers and journal houses.
There were also stations. Though they left, the clients, and job
remained still. At the media department I had quite a responsi-
bility.
Four years before Bates left, I and Daw Aye Hnin Swe and
Daw Kay Myat Khaing and U Aung Kyaw Oo, the four of us had
founded the Zenith Media. In 2002 when Daw Aye Hnin Swe
went for studies in Canada, the three of us were left and there
the trouble started. So when Bates left, I looked around and
found the journalists and stations trusting us. And so our chief
WPP summoned us and asked if we would continue working
for us. They said they would give control from that side. So that
set me thinking. If they can provide control from that side what
could we do. I said I would recover the work for them and
tried to recover all the jobs. So I met the clients and found that
they were quite sad. They didnt know which agency to run to
Competing brands held the other agencies. So what they re-
quested was that though Bates had curtailed their business a lot
of Bates, ASEAN brand clients were left and they wanted us to
continue the business. When working at Bates as I was media
I wasnt much in touch with the clients. But at Zenith Media I
had to do media works with the clients and in that four years
period became very close with them. Here I had to neglect the
clients for about four months. At that time my pregnancy sud-
denly fell out. Today is the tenth anniversary of the childs
death. Coincidentally I had a chance to talk about it in the
interview today.
At that time I certainly worked hard. I had to recover for
this side too without expecting any kind of fees I worked for
them for four whole months. I thought about the matter only up
until that time. But as my clients wanted me to continue I went
joint with Daw Kay Myat Khaing. The 2 October of 2013, the
previous month in the tenth anniversary of our Future Com.
Advertising.
Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I n t hi s B2B panel Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I n t hi s B2B panel Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I n t hi s B2B panel Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I n t hi s B2B panel Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I n t hi s B2B panel
discussions we discuss the pros and cons of business discussions we discuss the pros and cons of business discussions we discuss the pros and cons of business discussions we discuss the pros and cons of business discussions we discuss the pros and cons of business
wi t h ent repreneurs as much as we coul d, so t hat wi t h ent repreneurs as much as we coul d, so t hat wi t h ent repreneurs as much as we coul d, so t hat wi t h ent repreneurs as much as we coul d, so t hat wi t h ent repreneurs as much as we coul d, so t hat
ordinary people would understand. It has only three, ordinary people would understand. It has only three, ordinary people would understand. It has only three, ordinary people would understand. It has only three, ordinary people would understand. It has only three,
four years since Myanmar has gone on to real eco- four years since Myanmar has gone on to real eco- four years since Myanmar has gone on to real eco- four years since Myanmar has gone on to real eco- four years since Myanmar has gone on to real eco-
nomi cs. Bef ore i t was possi bl e not t o advert i se i n nomi cs. Bef ore i t was possi bl e not t o advert i se i n nomi cs. Bef ore i t was possi bl e not t o advert i se i n nomi cs. Bef ore i t was possi bl e not t o advert i se i n nomi cs. Bef ore i t was possi bl e not t o advert i se i n
business, advertising was a waste. Another thing that business, advertising was a waste. Another thing that business, advertising was a waste. Another thing that business, advertising was a waste. Another thing that business, advertising was a waste. Another thing that
was needed was the international clients. So, due to was needed was the international clients. So, due to was needed was the international clients. So, due to was needed was the international clients. So, due to was needed was the international clients. So, due to
t hese current ref orms, now we have more power. t hese current ref orms, now we have more power. t hese current ref orms, now we have more power. t hese current ref orms, now we have more power. t hese current ref orms, now we have more power.
We want t he audi ence t o know t here are a l ot of We want t he audi ence t o know t here are a l ot of We want t he audi ence t o know t here are a l ot of We want t he audi ence t o know t here are a l ot of We want t he audi ence t o know t here are a l ot of
advertising channels in the media. Now there is online advertising channels in the media. Now there is online advertising channels in the media. Now there is online advertising channels in the media. Now there is online advertising channels in the media. Now there is online
media, There are billboards. In the newspapers too, media, There are billboards. In the newspapers too, media, There are billboards. In the newspapers too, media, There are billboards. In the newspapers too, media, There are billboards. In the newspapers too,
there i s suppl ement pages wi th ful l page ads. They there i s suppl ement pages wi th ful l page ads. They there i s suppl ement pages wi th ful l page ads. They there i s suppl ement pages wi th ful l page ads. They there i s suppl ement pages wi th ful l page ads. They
are al so ful l i n the j ournal s. The same i n shoppi ng are al so ful l i n the j ournal s. The same i n shoppi ng are al so ful l i n the j ournal s. The same i n shoppi ng are al so ful l i n the j ournal s. The same i n shoppi ng are al so ful l i n the j ournal s. The same i n shoppi ng
gui des. gui des. gui des. gui des. gui des.
Definitely a lot. As there are a lot of things that Definitely a lot. As there are a lot of things that Definitely a lot. As there are a lot of things that Definitely a lot. As there are a lot of things that Definitely a lot. As there are a lot of things that
can be advert i sed, we woul d l i ke t o di scuss here can be advert i sed, we woul d l i ke t o di scuss here can be advert i sed, we woul d l i ke t o di scuss here can be advert i sed, we woul d l i ke t o di scuss here can be advert i sed, we woul d l i ke t o di scuss here
what ki nd of servi ces t he advert i si ng company can what ki nd of servi ces t he advert i si ng company can what ki nd of servi ces t he advert i si ng company can what ki nd of servi ces t he advert i si ng company can what ki nd of servi ces t he advert i si ng company can
provide, how it makes the decision and how to ad- provide, how it makes the decision and how to ad- provide, how it makes the decision and how to ad- provide, how it makes the decision and how to ad- provide, how it makes the decision and how to ad-
vert i se. vert i se. vert i se. vert i se. vert i se.
Dr. Khi n Khi n Dr. Khi n Khi n Dr. Khi n Khi n Dr. Khi n Khi n Dr. Khi n Khi n
Kyawt : Kyawt : Kyawt : Kyawt : Kyawt : So you
are asking about
the media sector.
There are many
kinds of advertis-
ing agencies. That
i ndust ry has
changed. Before
the advertising
agencies created
the ads and in-
serted in the me-
di a. They al so
went down into
the field and got
in touch with the
public. There is
total communica-
tion as well as
above the line,
below the line
ads. Above the
line means using
t he medi a by
public communication strategy. Below
the line means doing direct promotion marketing. As for us up to
now we are total, being various departments I will answer your
question starting with the media. We mainly use the T.Y. T.V is
the majority.
It has more penetrating power. We use the print media
and also bill boards. Besides that we use the radio media. Then
theres internet and online currently in vogue. In future, the
media will change. Currently censorship has been lessened in
the Myanmar media scene. It has become very lively and all
forms can be seen. As a media company we are always look-
ing at it.
B2B Talk
ACUMEN 57
Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Incidentally we provide service as
you said. We advise our clients how we must get their products
successfully into the market, how to penetrate. We give them
ideas. We provide the best we can and the final decision is
theirs. Thats why our effort and our ability is to persuade them
that what we have done for them is the best. We have to work
to get that result. When we show it to them they may modify it.
We agree to it when they say they want to go along just in this
trend, we have to do it. As for us we are not the final decision
maker. But why is it necessary to go along with this strategy.
Its like building a bridge between the customers and clients.
We tell what kind of materials we will use, what kind of bridge
we will build. We advice what kind of media should be used
dependi ng on
each merchan-
dise. As an ad-
vertising agency
its important to
present t he
right media to
choose. Onl y
t hen woul d
their money be
not wast ed.
Now in the mar-
ket T. V i s
mai nl y used.
Sometimes we
tell our clients,
will their goods
really get into
the market by
using just TV.
Thi nk care-
fully. Is it nec-
essary? And
do t he cus-
tomers really
view it? I al-
ways advise them to think carefully. Because we may get a lot
of money for giving them expensive services, that money is not
honest money. Not good money. If success is obtained with a
little expense that is an advertisement business success. I re-
peat, we dont decide. We present the data ready-made so the
clients can make the decision.
Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : That s an i mport ant Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : That s an i mport ant Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : That s an i mport ant Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : That s an i mport ant Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : That s an i mport ant
fact. Because it is a service industry the client makes fact. Because it is a service industry the client makes fact. Because it is a service industry the client makes fact. Because it is a service industry the client makes fact. Because it is a service industry the client makes
the final decision while the service person acts as a the final decision while the service person acts as a the final decision while the service person acts as a the final decision while the service person acts as a the final decision while the service person acts as a
consul t ant . What t he i mpact wi l l be t hi s way. How consul t ant . What t he i mpact wi l l be t hi s way. How consul t ant . What t he i mpact wi l l be t hi s way. How consul t ant . What t he i mpact wi l l be t hi s way. How consul t ant . What t he i mpact wi l l be t hi s way. How
Advertising in Print media is
one of the ways to promote
the brand
sales could rise. The consultant gives these advices. sales could rise. The consultant gives these advices. sales could rise. The consultant gives these advices. sales could rise. The consultant gives these advices. sales could rise. The consultant gives these advices.
How much it will cost on TV? How much it will cost How much it will cost on TV? How much it will cost How much it will cost on TV? How much it will cost How much it will cost on TV? How much it will cost How much it will cost on TV? How much it will cost
i n t he newspapers? Those advi ces are i mport ant . i n t he newspapers? Those advi ces are i mport ant . i n t he newspapers? Those advi ces are i mport ant . i n t he newspapers? Those advi ces are i mport ant . i n t he newspapers? Those advi ces are i mport ant .
Because advertising agencies have to choose strategy Because advertising agencies have to choose strategy Because advertising agencies have to choose strategy Because advertising agencies have to choose strategy Because advertising agencies have to choose strategy
for the clients. Now, U Aung Thura, how is your per- for the clients. Now, U Aung Thura, how is your per- for the clients. Now, U Aung Thura, how is your per- for the clients. Now, U Aung Thura, how is your per- for the clients. Now, U Aung Thura, how is your per-
formance in the media channel sector. formance in the media channel sector. formance in the media channel sector. formance in the media channel sector. formance in the media channel sector.
U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : I think relevancy is important. Does our
target audience watch, listen, read or use this media is the first
matter to be studied that is most important in media planning.
Because only after studying if these people watch this channel,
listen to this radio, read this newspaper could the communica-
tion strategy be drawn. The research information needs to be
correct. If it is correct the recommendation of the agency will be
right. If the information was not impeccable, have gaps or not
received on time, it is quite difficult. In that step, we have to go
to the client and present the media plan. Telling them we will
insert this advertisement, in this program broadcasted at this
time. And they will ask why and we need to explain it. This is
the foundation key.
Client must also be logical. Thats right. If they can deliber-
ate the matter they too need to study this media habit. Some-
times the clients present this dilemna. They come with, my
brother-in- law likes this program, insert it in it. This is my
friend and he reads this journal, insert it in it. Though we listen
to those suggestions, sometimes we dont. Because we cant decide
the matter just because his brother-in-law likes that program.
The key factor is to give them good advices. It depends on the
agencys recommendation, how much values creativity. Some
clients lay down such directives such as put the logo here, use
this movie star, let her hold the merchandise in her hand. If it
is as so they dont need an agency. They can do it themselves.
But if they engage an agency due to various reasons. To get the
true value of the agency they need to engage an agency that
can really do it. Theres one thing. The agencys role, the clients
role. Client role means to know the marketing director and
brand manager clearly. If they lack transparency the market-
ing director and brand will get fused. Then the agency wont
get true value. You asked about decision making. But thats
relevant. Because the brand manager likes to give recommen-
dations very much, likes use this actor, use this actress instead.
In design too they want to give feedback. They listen to the
presentation at presentation time. And some do it, as some say,
with regards. If they think its wrong, as they are the ones with
experience, more or less they debate the matter when you
meet a lawyer, you have to listen to his recommendation. If you
suggest to the lawyer to do this or that, he would be obliged, but
if it will be good or bad for you is another matter.
Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Mainly it concerns the planning
matter. Ten years ago there were not so much TV channels.
Advertising in Print media is
one of the ways to promote
the brand
December 2013
There was MRTV and Myawady, so you could close your eyes
and insert an ad find it a hit. The market demand is good. In
this recent time, since about a year, it has been quite a struggle.
There are now sleepless nights. Because before drawing the
main plan clients ask for a precise reporting. Mainly we have
to do researches. The main weak point of Myanmar is in re-
search. We have research data of only about five cities. We
dont have data of remote areas. That is why when we draw
plans sometimes we have to do with our gut feelings. This is
not fair. We shouldnt do it with gut feelings. But the situation is
that up till now half is still with gut feelings. Because we cant
do full research we dont have complete data in our hand. So
we have much responsibility to deal with this. We cant do the
planning factor lightly as before. Now when drawing up a plan
they ask us to estimate.
How much is the GRP? Whats the weight? How deep will
we reach? What will be cost per rating? So now we cant draw
a plan, write a gist, or such. Now when they launch it, if they set
down a budget for us even we have to do the complete pre-
planning. Compute carefully. While we compute, they sit and
watch. When they watch, when we advice, they question us
and ask for a second option. Then to draw a third option. They
are more skills than us. Their techniques are exceptionally good.
Our current research is at the manual stage. Theres no elec-
tronics. Are there viewers, are there readers, we have to calcu-
late on that. Sometimes we arent able to present it. In truth,
doing it is the only way we know how to do it. Now when the
time comes to present it, honestly we tell our clients, for ten
whole years we had our eyes closed, without exposure. Thats
why could you share what you have, we honestly request. Now
they have templates of international agencies. So they do pro-
vide us. They tell us to fill in the template. So we have to fill in
the appropriate data, Saya. There are a lot of matters we are
completely unfamiliar to. But we try to provide the best. Now in
the planning sector it is not as light as before. Its been a year
now, things havent been light. Things have to be done strategi-
cally. As the planning sector has been fully discussed just now,
I would like to state that research and strategy is much needed
now.
Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : What I want to tal k Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : What I want to tal k Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : What I want to tal k Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : What I want to tal k Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : What I want to tal k
about now i s t he ads I had seen i n Yangon and about now i s t he ads I had seen i n Yangon and about now i s t he ads I had seen i n Yangon and about now i s t he ads I had seen i n Yangon and about now i s t he ads I had seen i n Yangon and
Mandalay. Ads in such big cities. Their target seems Mandalay. Ads in such big cities. Their target seems Mandalay. Ads in such big cities. Their target seems Mandalay. Ads in such big cities. Their target seems Mandalay. Ads in such big cities. Their target seems
very limited. What I want to know is it s nationwide very limited. What I want to know is it s nationwide very limited. What I want to know is it s nationwide very limited. What I want to know is it s nationwide very limited. What I want to know is it s nationwide
aspect. In the future we will have to be thinking of aspect. In the future we will have to be thinking of aspect. In the future we will have to be thinking of aspect. In the future we will have to be thinking of aspect. In the future we will have to be thinking of
t hi s f act or. There i s a t el ecommuni cat i on operat or t hi s f act or. There i s a t el ecommuni cat i on operat or t hi s f act or. There i s a t el ecommuni cat i on operat or t hi s f act or. There i s a t el ecommuni cat i on operat or t hi s f act or. There i s a t el ecommuni cat i on operat or
here now. When we get 3G, 4G, it won t be like this. here now. When we get 3G, 4G, it won t be like this. here now. When we get 3G, 4G, it won t be like this. here now. When we get 3G, 4G, it won t be like this. here now. When we get 3G, 4G, it won t be like this.
It won t be necessary to go and di scuss the matter It won t be necessary to go and di scuss the matter It won t be necessary to go and di scuss the matter It won t be necessary to go and di scuss the matter It won t be necessary to go and di scuss the matter
with MRTV. All the strategies are not for tomorrow. with MRTV. All the strategies are not for tomorrow. with MRTV. All the strategies are not for tomorrow. with MRTV. All the strategies are not for tomorrow. with MRTV. All the strategies are not for tomorrow.
How woul d i t be i n advert i si ng, t hree years, f i ve How woul d i t be i n advert i si ng, t hree years, f i ve How woul d i t be i n advert i si ng, t hree years, f i ve How woul d i t be i n advert i si ng, t hree years, f i ve How woul d i t be i n advert i si ng, t hree years, f i ve
years, ten years from now. In the second sector, what years, ten years from now. In the second sector, what years, ten years from now. In the second sector, what years, ten years from now. In the second sector, what years, ten years from now. In the second sector, what
I want to say is, now in the international advertising I want to say is, now in the international advertising I want to say is, now in the international advertising I want to say is, now in the international advertising I want to say is, now in the international advertising
agency factor, previ ous ones are comi ng back. Now agency factor, previ ous ones are comi ng back. Now agency factor, previ ous ones are comi ng back. Now agency factor, previ ous ones are comi ng back. Now agency factor, previ ous ones are comi ng back. Now
how can we j oi n wi th them. Wi l l we compete wi th how can we j oi n wi th them. Wi l l we compete wi th how can we j oi n wi th them. Wi l l we compete wi th how can we j oi n wi th them. Wi l l we compete wi th how can we j oi n wi th them. Wi l l we compete wi th
t hem. Go TV wi t h t hem. That s a di f f erent opt i on. t hem. Go TV wi t h t hem. That s a di f f erent opt i on. t hem. Go TV wi t h t hem. That s a di f f erent opt i on. t hem. Go TV wi t h t hem. That s a di f f erent opt i on. t hem. Go TV wi t h t hem. That s a di f f erent opt i on.
Would you mind discussing a little about that? Would you mind discussing a little about that? Would you mind discussing a little about that? Would you mind discussing a little about that? Would you mind discussing a little about that?
Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : For us time is changing. There are
also challenges. As Myanmar, progresses, transforms, for all of
us entrepreneurs everything is an opportunity. For the public,
for the business person I am happy always to be in motion. I
dont like it being dead. Rise or fall, as long as it is in motion, it
is an opportunity. We are constantly in motion in this opportu-
nity. Its our department too every day we appoint more staff.
We open more departments. We give the youths training. Then
investing in professional from foreign, we appoint them. In
recruiting the staff locally, they have the experience. The
Myanmar is slow, heavy, the kids are simple. To initiate them,
to lead them, we appoint foreigners. Communication business,
media businesses will become multifarious.
We invest for that too. For that too we go digital. And in the
research factor too, we are weak there so we personally have
to buy all satellites and record every thing. Personally we also
try to get media reports. Because there are only two research
New way to promote the brand
B2B Talk
ACUMEN 59
agencies and in that sector we have to depend on MMRD. Of
course, we also invest by ourselves. We take records and moni-
tor it. Going like that, it was really exhausting for us at this time.
The local clients too cant be sleeping. Now, goods are being
imported. There too, millions of dollars are being used. Here
we cant do it haphazardly. They too have responsibility. We
must do it scientifically. And so we cant perform that with
Myanmars. We have to give priority to foreign professionals
and their skills. Paying millions of dollars in honorarium to
foreign professionals. It wont do if these foreign experts are
not invited. After calling them, as local entrepreneurs we pro-
vide administration and raise the kids. Invent how businesses
Invest.
Thats the only job we have to do. So to go joint venture or
not with foreign companies, as we respect their skill and work,
we cant keep on skining in a bamboo hollow. Of course, there
are difficulties will they bring along expertise or finance? They
would bring along one thing or another. As for us we have
done the investing. When they come it must be brought along
from their side. It may not be immediately brought along. Then
one has to be very careful. There is also that kind of situations,
Saya.
Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : As for me it would be better if we
could group as the advertising agency. There are difficulties we
face. Difficulties we have with the media vendor, media. We
could brainstorm these matters and overcome them as best as
we can. Besides that we could establish the advertising indus-
try nicely. It must be said that we do advertising. From the start
we did so. We dont have any advertising school here. In the
communication sector too there are no schools. We should all
group together and found this industry. Putting aside our per-
sonal benefit how are we going to form this advertising world.
Thats a point, Saya. It would be good if there was such a factor.
The media too. Currently, it can be said that the media land-
scape has changed. But I want to say, its just slightly. The TVs
have become from two, to four, five stations. But all are the
same Saya. This policy is used. This form is done. Not a change,
Saya.
The way we worked 15 years ago hasnt changed at all.
Much progress and transformation must be done from their
side. Besides that previously they didnt update once even in a
years time. Now update has to be done frequently. That change
is something to be glad about. But the policy must change. The
media policy. Our advertising is in the media. Some media
have come to admit that their revenue is important. This matter,
our government is also drawing up some laws concerning this
matter. When discussing about revenues they get from adver-
tising businesses we dont hear a peep from their meeting once.
When sitting with relevant personal at meetings I ask them
about the matter. How it could be so. I understand it, Saya. In
this period when our country is having to do a lot for transfor-
mation, in the media too advertising is right at the bottom. It
may be in a time still unimportant, Saya. But it needs to be
thought about. Some media- such as the Myanmar broadcasting
and Myawady - they call it PBS. Say they will survive as such.
Income from advertisement is not an important factor for them.
But is commercial, advertisement is an important factor. Cur-
rently that can be monopolized. How long would this last. Are
we ready for the time we could not monopolize it. Advertising
business is done linked up to all things. As for us, we have
advertisers. On the other side there is the media outlet. Only if
all together develop will this whole industry progress. Now,
when we do media planning it has advanced a little than choos-
ing a program by hunch. Only when the two operators that
have been granted the online media licence complete the
proceedure and formulate their plan would it happen.
Currently, using the internet is just finding ourselves get-
ting older, sitting and watching this little circle rotate, Saya.
When all that changes will digital media advertising will be a
reality. Our countrys situation is that mainly, 70 percent of the
population is in the rural areas. And so mainly we need to
communicate with them. With basic commodities such as soaps.
They arent gone online yet. We would have to wait at least
about a year. TV is the media that gets most money. It isnt in
the condition where other media can overwhelm it, Saya.
Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : There is a message I Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : There is a message I Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : There is a message I Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : There is a message I Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : There is a message I
want to give in our B2B chat room. Would we each want to give in our B2B chat room. Would we each want to give in our B2B chat room. Would we each want to give in our B2B chat room. Would we each want to give in our B2B chat room. Would we each
cut a piece of this present pie or make the pie bigger. cut a piece of this present pie or make the pie bigger. cut a piece of this present pie or make the pie bigger. cut a piece of this present pie or make the pie bigger. cut a piece of this present pie or make the pie bigger.
We need t o enl arge t hi s advert i si ng market . Some- We need t o enl arge t hi s advert i si ng market . Some- We need t o enl arge t hi s advert i si ng market . Some- We need t o enl arge t hi s advert i si ng market . Some- We need t o enl arge t hi s advert i si ng market . Some-
t i mes our i dea i s t o cat ch up what i s i n hand and t i mes our i dea i s t o cat ch up what i s i n hand and t i mes our i dea i s t o cat ch up what i s i n hand and t i mes our i dea i s t o cat ch up what i s i n hand and t i mes our i dea i s t o cat ch up what i s i n hand and
t ake more pi eces. So rat her t han t ake more, here, t ake more pi eces. So rat her t han t ake more, here, t ake more pi eces. So rat her t han t ake more, here, t ake more pi eces. So rat her t han t ake more, here, t ake more pi eces. So rat her t han t ake more, here,
t hi s i s t he message. From t hi s program, f or our t hi s i s t he message. From t hi s program, f or our t hi s i s t he message. From t hi s program, f or our t hi s i s t he message. From t hi s program, f or our t hi s i s t he message. From t hi s program, f or our
country s economy to progress, we need to make the country s economy to progress, we need to make the country s economy to progress, we need to make the country s economy to progress, we need to make the country s economy to progress, we need to make the
pi e bi g. We must enl arge t he advert i si ng i ndust ry. pi e bi g. We must enl arge t he advert i si ng i ndust ry. pi e bi g. We must enl arge t he advert i si ng i ndust ry. pi e bi g. We must enl arge t he advert i si ng i ndust ry. pi e bi g. We must enl arge t he advert i si ng i ndust ry.
The bigger it gets the more shares we will have. If The bigger it gets the more shares we will have. If The bigger it gets the more shares we will have. If The bigger it gets the more shares we will have. If The bigger it gets the more shares we will have. If
not, it will be getting along with what we have. An- not, it will be getting along with what we have. An- not, it will be getting along with what we have. An- not, it will be getting along with what we have. An- not, it will be getting along with what we have. An-
ot her t hi ng i s, our market i ng personnel , previ ousl y ot her t hi ng i s, our market i ng personnel , previ ousl y ot her t hi ng i s, our market i ng personnel , previ ousl y ot her t hi ng i s, our market i ng personnel , previ ousl y ot her t hi ng i s, our market i ng personnel , previ ousl y
all they understood was competition. Like competing all they understood was competition. Like competing all they understood was competition. Like competing all they understood was competition. Like competing all they understood was competition. Like competing
for competition sake. for competition sake. for competition sake. for competition sake. for competition sake.
The thing this side understood, what mention just The thing this side understood, what mention just The thing this side understood, what mention just The thing this side understood, what mention just The thing this side understood, what mention just
now, was coexistence. They and we did not have the now, was coexistence. They and we did not have the now, was coexistence. They and we did not have the now, was coexistence. They and we did not have the now, was coexistence. They and we did not have the
same cl i ent base. Not the same customer base. You same cl i ent base. Not the same customer base. You same cl i ent base. Not the same customer base. You same cl i ent base. Not the same customer base. You same cl i ent base. Not the same customer base. You
take this, I will take this. I won t join you. You don t take this, I will take this. I won t join you. You don t take this, I will take this. I won t join you. You don t take this, I will take this. I won t join you. You don t take this, I will take this. I won t join you. You don t
join me. That is one thing. Another thing is, lastly, if join me. That is one thing. Another thing is, lastly, if join me. That is one thing. Another thing is, lastly, if join me. That is one thing. Another thing is, lastly, if join me. That is one thing. Another thing is, lastly, if
possible to combine and take over this whole indus- possible to combine and take over this whole indus- possible to combine and take over this whole indus- possible to combine and take over this whole indus- possible to combine and take over this whole indus-
try. And so this too is a lesson. To understand this try. And so this too is a lesson. To understand this try. And so this too is a lesson. To understand this try. And so this too is a lesson. To understand this try. And so this too is a lesson. To understand this
whol e i ndustry, to have understandi ng, my i ndustry whol e i ndustry, to have understandi ng, my i ndustry whol e i ndustry, to have understandi ng, my i ndustry whol e i ndustry, to have understandi ng, my i ndustry whol e i ndustry, to have understandi ng, my i ndustry
must be like this. If the advertising agency was like must be like this. If the advertising agency was like must be like this. If the advertising agency was like must be like this. If the advertising agency was like must be like this. If the advertising agency was like
this it would be beneficial to all. Now, I would like to this it would be beneficial to all. Now, I would like to this it would be beneficial to all. Now, I would like to this it would be beneficial to all. Now, I would like to this it would be beneficial to all. Now, I would like to
set down two questions. The first one is that it can t set down two questions. The first one is that it can t set down two questions. The first one is that it can t set down two questions. The first one is that it can t set down two questions. The first one is that it can t
December 2013
be done now. We have already said so. But what I be done now. We have already said so. But what I be done now. We have already said so. But what I be done now. We have already said so. But what I be done now. We have already said so. But what I
woul d l i ke you t o hi ghl i ght a l i t t l e more i s, i n t he woul d l i ke you t o hi ghl i ght a l i t t l e more i s, i n t he woul d l i ke you t o hi ghl i ght a l i t t l e more i s, i n t he woul d l i ke you t o hi ghl i ght a l i t t l e more i s, i n t he woul d l i ke you t o hi ghl i ght a l i t t l e more i s, i n t he
current challenges what are they. That s the first fact. current challenges what are they. That s the first fact. current challenges what are they. That s the first fact. current challenges what are they. That s the first fact. current challenges what are they. That s the first fact.
Could Daw Khin Khin Kyawt start the discussion. Could Daw Khin Khin Kyawt start the discussion. Could Daw Khin Khin Kyawt start the discussion. Could Daw Khin Khin Kyawt start the discussion. Could Daw Khin Khin Kyawt start the discussion.
Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : The current challenge is as I had
said. The service industrys asset is people. Mainly people, Saya.
Frankly speaking, as presented previously, there are no ad-
vertising agency schools we have to train them at the agency. I
have already taught over two hundred students at my Sail
Advertising. Some are in foreign countries. Some are business-
men. Some have become even foreign representatives. These
are kids we have trained since 1994. Now too, I have to train
only new ones. Theres no plug and play. Wanting client ser-
vice, creativity, I just cant go and plug it in, Saya. We must train
hard.
We appoint a foreigner only as a last resort. My spouse
too, very patiently and earnestly trains Myanmars only. Be-
cause, these talents going around in this industry and working
internationally. They wont be loyal to us. They will come, then
change agency. We could not tolerate this kinds so, it is good if
our kids succeed and get dollars at other places. Now we can
provide the persons we trained. Because Myanmar is no longer
sanctioned. And we, like a school has to make sacrifices and
train again.
The main problem is we dont have human capacity to
formulate an advertising agency growth. Another challenge is
the change of the media landscape. Now when international
agencies come we will need auditable accounts, and transpar-
encies. We will need banking infrastructure and banking sys-
tems. When they ask for their payment to be done by cheque,
the media business persons dont understand what a cheque is.
They are the businessmen that request the payment be done in
bank notes. Those in the government, those of media business
persons too. In Myanmar, banks have to pack bank notes start-
ing from the smallest kyat. I cant do that. It is also not our
money. The cash basic is not ones own money. It has been
good up until now. As the business grows bigger the risk gets
larger. After taking the risk the money comes immediatelly. It
gets blocked. The station here demands it from us.
There are many difficulties. And here we have to adventur-
ously innovate and immediately use the pin of pickaxe, as ap-
propriate. Building roads for the latter. Here, hotels and other
things, ask two rates for foreigners. If you want kyats, make it
kyat. If you want dollars make it dollar. And try the exchange
rate accept the dollar. Up to now in Myanmar, there is the dollar
and kyat. If the FEC vanishes the dollar needs to vanish, I think.
Only with this kind of transparency would companies like those
come. It has been done since ten years ago and without that kind
of transparency, that rate and this rate and black market and, I
think the whole lot of this system should be abolished.
Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Now we have got Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Now we have got Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Now we have got Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Now we have got Prof essor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Now we have got
these two challenges. Now what more? these two challenges. Now what more? these two challenges. Now what more? these two challenges. Now what more? these two challenges. Now what more?
Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : In Myanmar the advertising business
is locked down, as if it is a signboard drawing job. Like that. As
Myanmar economic opens a lot of foreign commodities come in,
there will be a lot of income here too. As a lot of money comes
in circulation into our business lets say its a promotion. Adver-
tising service has not progressed in Myanmar. This little ser-
vice. I think our elders should do a little checking on it, Saya.
There is trade industry organizations here. There is protection
for them. When rules and regulations are drawn they are drawn
emphatically for the protection of these organizations. As I said
just now, in marketing advertising. There are no laws drawn
for this advertising business, Saya. If the client gives us a twist
we have to grim and bear it. As long as the media business that
Billboards are everywhere in Myanmar.
B2B Talk
ACUMEN 61
concerns us can find them money, they accept us, Saya. But
they dont have a precise rule and regulation and law used as
a bench mark. We have to make their business grow. They will
look when they want, wont when they dont want. Advertising
is stuck in this. As I said just now, we dont have any protection.
Theres no law if something goes wrong. There is no personal.
Nobodys protecting. It would be good if a little protection is
available. This is the big challenge. Especially the rates change.
Each year the media want to demand more fees. When it is
raised there must be a time limit. Because the price will be
raised in November, we are issued on the 1st or 2nd of October,
as you know, Saya, we are working with foreign organizations
so we have to work it out in a months advance. Three months
advance. A year in advance. As other peoples money has to be
used, it hurts us a lot. As that, the time limit can be understood.
The relevant media will understand. Organizatons will also
understand. If there is a law, it will be very good for us. That is
the biggest challenge we are facing.
Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I thi nk thi s poi nt i s Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I thi nk thi s poi nt i s Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I thi nk thi s poi nt i s Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I thi nk thi s poi nt i s Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : I thi nk thi s poi nt i s
important. Protection by law. It has that meaning. But important. Protection by law. It has that meaning. But important. Protection by law. It has that meaning. But important. Protection by law. It has that meaning. But important. Protection by law. It has that meaning. But
as you know when AEC comes protection is not the as you know when AEC comes protection is not the as you know when AEC comes protection is not the as you know when AEC comes protection is not the as you know when AEC comes protection is not the
word to use. Instead of protect we shoul d use pro- word to use. Instead of protect we shoul d use pro- word to use. Instead of protect we shoul d use pro- word to use. Instead of protect we shoul d use pro- word to use. Instead of protect we shoul d use pro-
mote. Set aside advertising for the moment, we want mote. Set aside advertising for the moment, we want mote. Set aside advertising for the moment, we want mote. Set aside advertising for the moment, we want mote. Set aside advertising for the moment, we want
to promote the service industry. That s why let s try to promote the service industry. That s why let s try to promote the service industry. That s why let s try to promote the service industry. That s why let s try to promote the service industry. That s why let s try
to promote the law first. What kind do we want? As to promote the law first. What kind do we want? As to promote the law first. What kind do we want? As to promote the law first. What kind do we want? As to promote the law first. What kind do we want? As
we said just now we will need the protection of the we said just now we will need the protection of the we said just now we will need the protection of the we said just now we will need the protection of the we said just now we will need the protection of the
l aw cont ract of t he l aw. Anot her t hi ng i s what we l aw cont ract of t he l aw. Anot her t hi ng i s what we l aw cont ract of t he l aw. Anot her t hi ng i s what we l aw cont ract of t he l aw. Anot her t hi ng i s what we l aw cont ract of t he l aw. Anot her t hi ng i s what we
said just now. Relevant to the association what I can said just now. Relevant to the association what I can said just now. Relevant to the association what I can said just now. Relevant to the association what I can said just now. Relevant to the association what I can
think of is that when this advertising agency associa- think of is that when this advertising agency associa- think of is that when this advertising agency associa- think of is that when this advertising agency associa- think of is that when this advertising agency associa-
tion comes into being, capacity development will be tion comes into being, capacity development will be tion comes into being, capacity development will be tion comes into being, capacity development will be tion comes into being, capacity development will be
needed. The need of our industry. At the MBA course needed. The need of our industry. At the MBA course needed. The need of our industry. At the MBA course needed. The need of our industry. At the MBA course needed. The need of our industry. At the MBA course
at the Institute of Economics we teach marketing but at the Institute of Economics we teach marketing but at the Institute of Economics we teach marketing but at the Institute of Economics we teach marketing but at the Institute of Economics we teach marketing but
not specializing in advertising. The most we can spe- not specializing in advertising. The most we can spe- not specializing in advertising. The most we can spe- not specializing in advertising. The most we can spe- not specializing in advertising. The most we can spe-
cialize is that when our students write a thesis, those cialize is that when our students write a thesis, those cialize is that when our students write a thesis, those cialize is that when our students write a thesis, those cialize is that when our students write a thesis, those
that are interested in the matter finish by writing as that are interested in the matter finish by writing as that are interested in the matter finish by writing as that are interested in the matter finish by writing as that are interested in the matter finish by writing as
advertising MBA thesis. If it really becomes an asso- advertising MBA thesis. If it really becomes an asso- advertising MBA thesis. If it really becomes an asso- advertising MBA thesis. If it really becomes an asso- advertising MBA thesis. If it really becomes an asso-
ciation, industry training should be given with a di- ciation, industry training should be given with a di- ciation, industry training should be given with a di- ciation, industry training should be given with a di- ciation, industry training should be given with a di-
pl oma certi fi cate. pl oma certi fi cate. pl oma certi fi cate. pl oma certi fi cate. pl oma certi fi cate.
U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : The previous speaker have covered quite a
lot of matters. In relevant to capacity our service is an intellec-
tual service without any structural process. But our Myanmar
social culture has never had the capacity for a creative product.
There are few who have. We need to promote it. For instance,
this problem always occurs. All is good in their economics. So
when this occurs in progress, they go a little laxly in creativity.
Here we control everything. So what do we want. We want
our new Myanmar to develop. But develop how? As you just
said, Saya. In 2015 ASEAN Free Trade matter, when we go
free trade then, all the goods starting from shampoo and tooth-
paste that comes into our country will be Thai, Singapore, America,
French brands. There wont be any made-in-Myanmar. Myanmar
brands exported to their market. Even with Thanakar, the Thais
remake it and sell it. A culture is needed for such factors to be
possible. If asked how could we build such a culture immedi-
ately, I wouldnt have a quick answer. How Myanmar can be
competitive in this region is a matter opened. And there must
be capacity building. There needs to be a right attitude. To di-
rect the matter, there must be also personnel who can fulfil it.
But more than that what needed is personnel who can do
more than demanded. Previously, Myanmar personnel that could
follow orders have been bred. Its time we bred those who can
do better than ordered.
Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Now there are three Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Now there are three Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Now there are three Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Now there are three Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Now there are three
chal l enges. As t here wi l l be AFTA, t here s a l ot of chal l enges. As t here wi l l be AFTA, t here s a l ot of chal l enges. As t here wi l l be AFTA, t here s a l ot of chal l enges. As t here wi l l be AFTA, t here s a l ot of chal l enges. As t here wi l l be AFTA, t here s a l ot of
December 2013
chal l enges. A l ot of brands wi l l come. One t hi ng I chal l enges. A l ot of brands wi l l come. One t hi ng I chal l enges. A l ot of brands wi l l come. One t hi ng I chal l enges. A l ot of brands wi l l come. One t hi ng I chal l enges. A l ot of brands wi l l come. One t hi ng I
want t o t hi nk. I know advert i si ng agenci es are i n want t o t hi nk. I know advert i si ng agenci es are i n want t o t hi nk. I know advert i si ng agenci es are i n want t o t hi nk. I know advert i si ng agenci es are i n want t o t hi nk. I know advert i si ng agenci es are i n
Singapore, Lao, Thai. But I think, as they can come to Singapore, Lao, Thai. But I think, as they can come to Singapore, Lao, Thai. But I think, as they can come to Singapore, Lao, Thai. But I think, as they can come to Singapore, Lao, Thai. But I think, as they can come to
Myanmar, so could Myanmar advertising agencies go Myanmar, so could Myanmar advertising agencies go Myanmar, so could Myanmar advertising agencies go Myanmar, so could Myanmar advertising agencies go Myanmar, so could Myanmar advertising agencies go
to them. I al ways encourage that. In encouragi ng, I to them. I al ways encourage that. In encouragi ng, I to them. I al ways encourage that. In encouragi ng, I to them. I al ways encourage that. In encouragi ng, I to them. I al ways encourage that. In encouragi ng, I
urge our own people to be strong. Now, the people urge our own people to be strong. Now, the people urge our own people to be strong. Now, the people urge our own people to be strong. Now, the people urge our own people to be strong. Now, the people
are worried what will we do when they come. That are worried what will we do when they come. That are worried what will we do when they come. That are worried what will we do when they come. That are worried what will we do when they come. That
depends on t he at t i t ude. What i s rel evant wi t h t he depends on t he at t i t ude. What i s rel evant wi t h t he depends on t he at t i t ude. What i s rel evant wi t h t he depends on t he at t i t ude. What i s rel evant wi t h t he depends on t he at t i t ude. What i s rel evant wi t h t he
mi ndset i s that peopl e forget the opportuni ty. They mi ndset i s that peopl e forget the opportuni ty. They mi ndset i s that peopl e forget the opportuni ty. They mi ndset i s that peopl e forget the opportuni ty. They mi ndset i s that peopl e forget the opportuni ty. They
are baised thinking how will we face it. That is all are baised thinking how will we face it. That is all are baised thinking how will we face it. That is all are baised thinking how will we face it. That is all are baised thinking how will we face it. That is all
rel evant wi t h t he f ol l owi ng orders, submi ssi ve at t i - rel evant wi t h t he f ol l owi ng orders, submi ssi ve at t i - rel evant wi t h t he f ol l owi ng orders, submi ssi ve at t i - rel evant wi t h t he f ol l owi ng orders, submi ssi ve at t i - rel evant wi t h t he f ol l owi ng orders, submi ssi ve at t i -
tude. Now, whats your opinion, Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing. tude. Now, whats your opinion, Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing. tude. Now, whats your opinion, Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing. tude. Now, whats your opinion, Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing. tude. Now, whats your opinion, Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing.
Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : My challenges are in the main
transformation. In reality matters that havent transformed in
the decade needs change. A lot of meetings have been called
for that transformation. Before we had only the role of the
listener. Now we have the chance to speak back. Thats quite
different. In the best meeting when I spoke for four hours, I got
what I requested them, today. I am very glad of it. So now
when we have the chance to speak effectively, comprehen-
sively we need not keep our mouths shut, say what we must.
Sometimes there are things we dont do because we dont know.
So what is our challenge, Ill try my best and talk about it. Its
like trying our best to listen to the other side and do our best. As
we expect that kind, Im beginning to speak about it. If I believe
that a few words, spoken initiates a little change and is ac-
cepted a little, it is benefitial to all of us and with that in mind. I
have come here. So Ill tell about the biggest challenge as much
as I can. Rather than doing it or not, that there may be a little
inkling of the matter that, it being accepted when said it is a
matter needed to be done. Thats an achievement for us.
Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Fi nal l y, the chatti ng Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Fi nal l y, the chatti ng Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Fi nal l y, the chatti ng Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Fi nal l y, the chatti ng Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Fi nal l y, the chatti ng
t heme, we have been havi ng t hese t al ks f or our a t heme, we have been havi ng t hese t al ks f or our a t heme, we have been havi ng t hese t al ks f or our a t heme, we have been havi ng t hese t al ks f or our a t heme, we have been havi ng t hese t al ks f or our a
year. To say marketing in the former era, it was B2G. year. To say marketing in the former era, it was B2G. year. To say marketing in the former era, it was B2G. year. To say marketing in the former era, it was B2G. year. To say marketing in the former era, it was B2G.
It was communi cati ng deal i ng wi th the government. It was communi cati ng deal i ng wi th the government. It was communi cati ng deal i ng wi th the government. It was communi cati ng deal i ng wi th the government. It was communi cati ng deal i ng wi th the government.
That was the nature. It was a mixture of politics and That was the nature. It was a mixture of politics and That was the nature. It was a mixture of politics and That was the nature. It was a mixture of politics and That was the nature. It was a mixture of politics and
economics. At one time it was, B2G. Later small busi- economics. At one time it was, B2G. Later small busi- economics. At one time it was, B2G. Later small busi- economics. At one time it was, B2G. Later small busi- economics. At one time it was, B2G. Later small busi-
ness were B2C, not governmental concern. But as the ness were B2C, not governmental concern. But as the ness were B2C, not governmental concern. But as the ness were B2C, not governmental concern. But as the ness were B2C, not governmental concern. But as the
economy sl owl y rai sed i t become B2B (Busi ness t o economy sl owl y rai sed i t become B2B (Busi ness t o economy sl owl y rai sed i t become B2B (Busi ness t o economy sl owl y rai sed i t become B2B (Busi ness t o economy sl owl y rai sed i t become B2B (Busi ness t o
Busi ness). As I heard j ust now, al l f our are B2B Busi ness). As I heard j ust now, al l f our are B2B Busi ness). As I heard j ust now, al l f our are B2B Busi ness). As I heard j ust now, al l f our are B2B Busi ness). As I heard j ust now, al l f our are B2B
enterpreneurs. Having to contact constantly with cli- enterpreneurs. Having to contact constantly with cli- enterpreneurs. Having to contact constantly with cli- enterpreneurs. Having to contact constantly with cli- enterpreneurs. Having to contact constantly with cli-
ents and vendors, the nature i tsel f was B2B. There ents and vendors, the nature i tsel f was B2B. There ents and vendors, the nature i tsel f was B2B. There ents and vendors, the nature i tsel f was B2B. There ents and vendors, the nature i tsel f was B2B. There
wasnt much B2C. Of course one wants it to round off, wasnt much B2C. Of course one wants it to round off, wasnt much B2C. Of course one wants it to round off, wasnt much B2C. Of course one wants it to round off, wasnt much B2C. Of course one wants it to round off,
in doing B2B with one s client, or one s service pro- in doing B2B with one s client, or one s service pro- in doing B2B with one s client, or one s service pro- in doing B2B with one s client, or one s service pro- in doing B2B with one s client, or one s service pro-
vider. So let s conclude with the discussion with your vider. So let s conclude with the discussion with your vider. So let s conclude with the discussion with your vider. So let s conclude with the discussion with your vider. So let s conclude with the discussion with your
experi ences. experi ences. experi ences. experi ences. experi ences.
Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : Dr. Khin Khin Kyawt : As I said before. In B2B, those of us
doing advertising agency work are professionals. Professionals
means skilled staff. As there are skilled employees in the agen-
cies, those that come and engage our agencies from those big
international companies are not owners. They too are profes-
sionals. They are experts who have been marketing their prod-
ucts internationally for years and we are a local agency. Now
when foreign agents come they work with local agents. Skilled
personnel working together. And so with the media too, when
we use it as a subject in former times, we did as he directed.
This kind cant be done now. One must be a professional who
can present ones skills precisely with complete facts and data.
Then only will a lot of money be spent. In penetrating the
market, it must have transparency in the eyes of the sharehold-
ers, auditors. And in a professionals work, there must be ex-
penditure evidence as well as beneficial profitability. And so as
we dont have these professionals, we ourselves have to do, the
job, share our skill as well as welcome foreign professionals.
Only then would we get a lot of income from foreign companies
and that is what our agencies are for. Myanmar is trying to do.
B2B Talk
ACUMEN 63
Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : Daw Aye Hnin Swe : B2B, it always is, depending on each
other. I like this very much. In English it can be said win-win
situation. When working together, one could not just have ones
benefit in mind. We have to deal with the client. Also with the
media. I always keep telling my colleagues, if ones wants to be
favored by the client dont step on them working with you, may
then gain good benefit, let them progress. Besides that when
the clients wish a thing if impossible just say so. But one thing is
that the client is a person who wants value added service. To
give a simple example. When buying vegetables at the market,
the seller adds a little green chilli for free, I end up always
buying at that shop. At the butchers too, I am pleased when the
butcher talk nicely, selects a good chop adds a tidbit. This is
very simple B2B. Dont seek self gain only. Have in mind the
success and the progress of those relevant and develop to-
gether. That is my benefit relevant to B2B.
U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : U Aung Thura : You refer to it as B2B, Saya. But here, at
other agencies too, it is referred as partnership. Because as
Daw Aye Hnin Swe has mentioned, it has a riposte logic of
depending. Of course, partnership is not the kind that nods
agreement to everything and does all. If it has a credibility to
rightly pointout a mistake, that agency is B2B partnership, will
succeed. Another thing, if what you mentioned just now Saya. I
want to distinct the customer and client. Because that always
gets mixed up. For instance before going into the ad business I
worked in the hotel business for about six years. Hotel work is
service as advertising is. But the difference is that, in the hotel
business, we have to provide the hotel guests all the services
during his two, three days stay. If the hotel is clean, food is good
for him, it is accepted that this hotel service is good. But when
the agencies come the service wont be short-term but long-
term.
For instance, ten year. What should I give as all example.
Lets say like getting married. As if getting married with the
client. When one gets to know one intimately one knows about
the other as the other knows about one. The other knows if we
are lying. If one is talking rubbish the other knows. And the
other too comes with the attitude to keep on joining hands.
There must be a long-term view. But a short-term look is also
needed. Only if this current project can be successfully done
will the only projects be continued. What one had last done for
them is what they use as a benchmark. Whatever one had
done before, if the last project had been wrong, its a problem.
When there is satisfaction, the client has to do a long-term
investment.
Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Theres only one thing. Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Theres only one thing. Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Theres only one thing. Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Theres only one thing. Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : Theres only one thing.
That concerns all of us. Especially as spectators think- That concerns all of us. Especially as spectators think- That concerns all of us. Especially as spectators think- That concerns all of us. Especially as spectators think- That concerns all of us. Especially as spectators think-
ing in short-term. Be it a customer or client, in the ing in short-term. Be it a customer or client, in the ing in short-term. Be it a customer or client, in the ing in short-term. Be it a customer or client, in the ing in short-term. Be it a customer or client, in the
current period to think of life time value. When en- current period to think of life time value. When en- current period to think of life time value. When en- current period to think of life time value. When en- current period to think of life time value. When en-
gagi ng i t i s not a si ngl e engagement . Now we can gagi ng i t i s not a si ngl e engagement . Now we can gagi ng i t i s not a si ngl e engagement . Now we can gagi ng i t i s not a si ngl e engagement . Now we can gagi ng i t i s not a si ngl e engagement . Now we can
guess. When t hi nki ng of t hi s cust omer t he engage- guess. When t hi nki ng of t hi s cust omer t he engage- guess. When t hi nki ng of t hi s cust omer t he engage- guess. When t hi nki ng of t hi s cust omer t he engage- guess. When t hi nki ng of t hi s cust omer t he engage-
ment is not for once, or twice. To attract the guest ment is not for once, or twice. To attract the guest ment is not for once, or twice. To attract the guest ment is not for once, or twice. To attract the guest ment is not for once, or twice. To attract the guest
after. When coming to Myanmar, staying at the hotel, after. When coming to Myanmar, staying at the hotel, after. When coming to Myanmar, staying at the hotel, after. When coming to Myanmar, staying at the hotel, after. When coming to Myanmar, staying at the hotel,
t o t hi nk of no ot her hot el t han t hi s. What happens t o t hi nk of no ot her hot el t han t hi s. What happens t o t hi nk of no ot her hot el t han t hi s. What happens t o t hi nk of no ot her hot el t han t hi s. What happens t o t hi nk of no ot her hot el t han t hi s. What happens
now is that we have had little business experience, it now is that we have had little business experience, it now is that we have had little business experience, it now is that we have had little business experience, it now is that we have had little business experience, it
is an exclusive case. When its concluded its the end. is an exclusive case. When its concluded its the end. is an exclusive case. When its concluded its the end. is an exclusive case. When its concluded its the end. is an exclusive case. When its concluded its the end.
They won t be coming back. That s why between us They won t be coming back. That s why between us They won t be coming back. That s why between us They won t be coming back. That s why between us They won t be coming back. That s why between us
and them there is no long-term. Customer s life time and them there is no long-term. Customer s life time and them there is no long-term. Customer s life time and them there is no long-term. Customer s life time and them there is no long-term. Customer s life time
value is simply not thought of. What I want to urge is value is simply not thought of. What I want to urge is value is simply not thought of. What I want to urge is value is simply not thought of. What I want to urge is value is simply not thought of. What I want to urge is
to do this also. Could Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing continue to do this also. Could Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing continue to do this also. Could Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing continue to do this also. Could Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing continue to do this also. Could Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing continue
a little about B2B. a little about B2B. a little about B2B. a little about B2B. a little about B2B.
Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : Daw Nan Nwe Hlaing : For us to be able to join hands for
long-term, for the past decade we have acted as a one stop
agency providing all services. But in reality now the clients, too,
do not use one stop services, Saya. Which agency is stronger.
They choose that. Now they are carefully choosing. Only then
will it be more effective for them. So as B2B if I am to do it for
my client in which part am I strong in there two years. In
which sector am I weak. We speak about it with them frankly.
I can do this. If I cant, then sorry. I cant do this. We deal with
our clients honestly. The sector they cant workout, who of our
side would be able to provide service, as for it slowly, as there
is more transparency, the better. The time has come when we
must really set it down frankly and gently. And so in the B2B
sector, for me it is to provide, honestly the best service I can for
my clients.
Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : We all already know Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : We all already know Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : We all already know Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : We all already know Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet : We all already know
t hi s mat t er. In busi ness you pi ck what you l i ke. It t hi s mat t er. In busi ness you pi ck what you l i ke. It t hi s mat t er. In busi ness you pi ck what you l i ke. It t hi s mat t er. In busi ness you pi ck what you l i ke. It t hi s mat t er. In busi ness you pi ck what you l i ke. It
isn t like now, like that high target a situation not to isn t like now, like that high target a situation not to isn t like now, like that high target a situation not to isn t like now, like that high target a situation not to isn t like now, like that high target a situation not to
go to others except one s self. Sometimes there may go to others except one s self. Sometimes there may go to others except one s self. Sometimes there may go to others except one s self. Sometimes there may go to others except one s self. Sometimes there may
be reasons to outsource. As advertising agencies, hav- be reasons to outsource. As advertising agencies, hav- be reasons to outsource. As advertising agencies, hav- be reasons to outsource. As advertising agencies, hav- be reasons to outsource. As advertising agencies, hav-
ing to outsource one s except ional artists. And so in ing to outsource one s except ional artists. And so in ing to outsource one s except ional artists. And so in ing to outsource one s except ional artists. And so in ing to outsource one s except ional artists. And so in
this discussion, these four with I, have completly dis- this discussion, these four with I, have completly dis- this discussion, these four with I, have completly dis- this discussion, these four with I, have completly dis- this discussion, these four with I, have completly dis-
cussed this matter. The transformation of the countrys cussed this matter. The transformation of the countrys cussed this matter. The transformation of the countrys cussed this matter. The transformation of the countrys cussed this matter. The transformation of the countrys
economy and as it does the service industry that will economy and as it does the service industry that will economy and as it does the service industry that will economy and as it does the service industry that will economy and as it does the service industry that will
come more i nport ant . Besi des t he servi ce i ndust ry come more i nport ant . Besi des t he servi ce i ndust ry come more i nport ant . Besi des t he servi ce i ndust ry come more i nport ant . Besi des t he servi ce i ndust ry come more i nport ant . Besi des t he servi ce i ndust ry
what is more important is the advertising. Advertis- what is more important is the advertising. Advertis- what is more important is the advertising. Advertis- what is more important is the advertising. Advertis- what is more important is the advertising. Advertis-
ing, as said just now is not a thing to be little. In our ing, as said just now is not a thing to be little. In our ing, as said just now is not a thing to be little. In our ing, as said just now is not a thing to be little. In our ing, as said just now is not a thing to be little. In our
country advertising is really needed. Let s say brand- country advertising is really needed. Let s say brand- country advertising is really needed. Let s say brand- country advertising is really needed. Let s say brand- country advertising is really needed. Let s say brand-
ing. Besides the sale of goods, in our country brand- ing. Besides the sale of goods, in our country brand- ing. Besides the sale of goods, in our country brand- ing. Besides the sale of goods, in our country brand- ing. Besides the sale of goods, in our country brand-
ing is also important. What I want to urge is to think ing is also important. What I want to urge is to think ing is also important. What I want to urge is to think ing is also important. What I want to urge is to think ing is also important. What I want to urge is to think
of the emergence of an adverti si ng agency associ a- of the emergence of an adverti si ng agency associ a- of the emergence of an adverti si ng agency associ a- of the emergence of an adverti si ng agency associ a- of the emergence of an adverti si ng agency associ a-
t i on. As we sai d bef ore t he capaci t y i s weak. Con- t i on. As we sai d bef ore t he capaci t y i s weak. Con- t i on. As we sai d bef ore t he capaci t y i s weak. Con- t i on. As we sai d bef ore t he capaci t y i s weak. Con- t i on. As we sai d bef ore t he capaci t y i s weak. Con-
cerning this we have to reform our creativity mindset. cerning this we have to reform our creativity mindset. cerning this we have to reform our creativity mindset. cerning this we have to reform our creativity mindset. cerning this we have to reform our creativity mindset.
As it has to be reformed this too is not an established As it has to be reformed this too is not an established As it has to be reformed this too is not an established As it has to be reformed this too is not an established As it has to be reformed this too is not an established
i ndust ry I nnovat i on i s needed. I t s a busi ness t hat i ndust ry I nnovat i on i s needed. I t s a busi ness t hat i ndust ry I nnovat i on i s needed. I t s a busi ness t hat i ndust ry I nnovat i on i s needed. I t s a busi ness t hat i ndust ry I nnovat i on i s needed. I t s a busi ness t hat
needs except i onal t hi nki ng. Thanks f or gi vi ng me needs except i onal t hi nki ng. Thanks f or gi vi ng me needs except i onal t hi nki ng. Thanks f or gi vi ng me needs except i onal t hi nki ng. Thanks f or gi vi ng me needs except i onal t hi nki ng. Thanks f or gi vi ng me
your time. your time. your time. your time. your time. A
adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:18 PM 11
adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:19 PM 11
December 2013
Opinion
S
canning the pages of a newspaper
a few days ago, I came across a
news item about a ballot held in a
European parliament. The parliament was
the Greece parliament and a motion of
no confidence had been set for ruling.
When the ballot cast by the parliamen-
tarians were counted it fell into the gov-
ernment favour and the government sur-
vived another crisis.
Be it confidence or trust or belief or
faith all of them have similarities. They
are intangible yet have more power than
any tangible instrument that can make or
break a nation or an army or a business
or a person.
It was Barack Obama, the president
of the United States, who said, If the
people cannot trust their government to
do the job for which it exists to protect
them and to promote their common wel-
fare-all else is lost.
There are things that man can do
just so much. And when the necessity to
delegate that action arises, who he chooses
is a very important matter. Only the right
choice could make the expected result
come true.
Learning to trust is one of lives most
difficult tasks, said Isaac Walts. Learning
to trust and finding the right person are
two matters very relevant. If a person
employed as a door keeper cannot be
trusted to guard the door open and close
it as the occasion rises, it can be said he
has defaulted the trust placed in him.
But few may find it appropriate la-
beling that trifle matter, a door mans duty,
with a grandiose word as trust. Yet how-
December 2013
Turst An Essential Asset.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:09 PM 66
ACUMEN 67
ever low or high the matter, it cant be
denied that it is trust that makes the world
go round.
Because we trust our leaders would
do their best for the country, because we
trust our army has the might to provide
us security, because we trust our banks
will keep the finance rolling, we sleep
blessed with sweat dreams.
As said afore, it is not easy to trust,
but it is more difficult to get other per-
sons trust. Yet once you get that trust, you
have your life made.
During the tumultuous times of the
1930s great depression a tycoon had his
The history of mankind is full of
stories of people who were naughty but
gradually won the peoples confidence
that made it possible for him to make one
and alls dream come true. One such very
distinct person was Sir Winston Churchill.
Believing he had the ability, he was
entrusted with the task to save Britain
from the claws of the Nazis and was
elected to the post of prime minister.
While he had been elected so, his
antagonist Hitler also became the chan-
cellor of Germany, because the people
trusted him, believing that he could raise
Germany from the sewage of international
Myanmar too suffered in the hands
of a defaulter. In the latter years of 1950s
the interim government of General Ne
Win, issued an official report entitled Trust
Vindicated. In that report his government
professed that it had been true to the trust.
U Nu, the prime minister of Myanmar had
placed on it by handing over governmen-
tal power to subdue the country that was
in turmoil.
But a year later, General Ne Win,
grabbed back power by coup detat and
from then on for the Myanmar citizens
trust has been a feeling they no longer
have control of.
millions wiped out and approached the
Wall Street Magnate JP Morgan for a loan.
He refused to give him any financial aid,
but offered a hands linked walked through
the environs of the Wall Street stock ex-
change. That intimate posture was suffi-
cient to gain the trust of other financiers
and soon Mr Morgans friend had all the
money he needed to start anew.
Theres a business saying, The world
runs on credit and the laws of the uni-
verse couldnt be truer. From nations that
get millions of loans from various inter-
national organizations to street ride hawk-
ers who get their few thousand kyats
worth goods in a short term credit-pur-
chase system trust is the latchkey. It is
what gets one into the inner chambers of
success.
politics it had been trodden into.
Of those two both fulfilled their obli-
gation. But that Hitler was corrupted and
that corruption ended by selling the whole
world ablaze and obliterating millions of
humanity from the face of the earth is
another matter.
What I wish to spot-light is that Hitler
seems to be the last dictator who put up a
facade of authenticity when going after
power. Of course he may have adapted
some tactics of Lenin who had preceeded
him in history for about 20 years. Lenin
came on to the political scene by calling
the poor citizens of Russia to trust him, in
his self-proclaimed mission to lead them
to a tangible paradise. That he forfeit their
trust and how is now history.
Until now, with this nascent govern-
ment, even people are having to place
their trust on the political table, hoping
for the best. What they will get in return
for the stake they have laid, is very de-
batable currently. Will we be a democ-
racy country soon? Will be a flourishing a
free country? Will we still be a free coun-
try tomorrow or will we be again prone
under another dictators heel? All are se-
rious enough.
Trust is an essential asset. When
it can be placed safely, very good! But
when forced to trust.? Should we just
keep on blind faith of heed the words of
Rene Descartes, who said, The senses
deceive from time to time, and it is pru-
dent never to trust wholly those who have
deceived us even once. A
ACUMEN 67
Turst An Essential Asset.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:10 PM 67
Opinion
B
eing a HR manager is very tough
because j ust t hree si mpl e
words would make a change for
a person's life.
You are hired" or You are fired".
I have been working in HR industry
for almost five years now.Throughout the
years, I had hired and fired many em-
ployees. I also gave advices to many cli-
ents.
However, this is my very first year
that I have my own HR consulting firm in
Yangon. Most employers find it very hard
to get the right employees here in
Myanmar. What are the obstacles in re-
December 2013
cruiting and what are the issues in hu-
man resource management?
Here, I would like to focus on re-
cruiting than other HR issues because,
recruitment is one of the three major func-
tions in the HRM and most demanding
services we are providing to clients at
our consulting firm.
According to an analysis, there are
three main issues. The first one is lack of
skilled candidate. When I describe a
skilled candidate, I mean to say someone
who has the right qualifications and the
right experience for a particular position.
An accountant should have accounting
degree or diploma and other related cer-
tification. When I once tried to recruit mar-
keting manager for one of my clients, I
found some candidates who have good
marketing experience but their educa-
tional qualification are in legal or medical
studies. I wonder why they did not choose
the career in what they had studied. Ev-
erybody should be professionals by train-
ing as well as by career.
That would have a good impact for
civil society in a country. As for me, I would
rather choose someone who has knowl-
edge and theory background, and train
that person to give a relevant position.
Are you hiring.pmd 11/22/2013, 3:52 PM 68
The second problem is clients want
candidates with good experience but are
reluctant to pay less than the salary the
candidates expect. On the other hand,
there are candidates who ask for high
remunerations but their qualification and
experience does not even meet the job
descriptions and job requirements. This
is because of high expectation. My advice
for employers is simple. If you want to
hire someone for higher remunerations
than you offer, you just negotiate with the
candidate to the amount that you can only
offer. And then, you should have a proba-
tionary period for three months and you
may increase their salary depending on
their performance every 6 months. Oth-
erwise, you just have to release them af-
ter the probation period if they are not
the right person for your organisation.
The last but not the least important
problem is a mutual loyalty between em-
ployer and employee. As a recruiter, I have
been dealing with hundreds of job seek-
ers. Among them, I found out that only a
few candidates would take any better
opportunity. We cannot blame them be-
cause they have their own right and
choice. Plus, most of employees have hard-
ships in their living because their whole
family depends on them, and most are
family members in Myanmar. Therefore,
they need to seek something that will
benefit them and their family issues. As
for the employer, they normally ignore
their employees' personal problems. The
employers probably never give a chance
for increasing their salary, and never give
a chance in helping them when they are
in need. It is a culture in Myanmar that a
boss always takes care of his or her staff
and treats them as family. I have seen
some employees who are working with
the same employees for a decade or two.
When I have checked their relationship
at work, I can vividly see that they have
built up trust, respect and appreciation,
and I can feel the family vibe at their
workplace. And I can tell that this is what
most of Myanmar employees are seeking
at their workplace.
ACUMEN 69
Human Resource Management is still
very new to many organisations in
Myanmar. I believe that every small or
large size of company needs a reliable
HR manager because they can manage
on organisational structure and human
resource development, and also they can
create transparency between employers
and employees. If it is a small company,
then it can associate with recruitment firm
for their organisational development.
However, HR manager is a must-have for
all the large organisations. In this way,
they can keep their company's brand and
image. I would like to give some tips to
the readers, in case if you probably need
to recruit or retrench in the future.
When you are recruiting employees for
your organisation, you need to be aware
of the following facts:
- As an interviewer, you need to
be prepared before you actually
talk to interviewees such as
reading their cover letter and
resume.
- You need to always do the per-
sonal interview in a systematic
way first. The personal inter-
views give the idea to check the
candidate's personality and for
better understanding about that
candidate.
- You need to trust your gut feel-
ings if you trust your candidate.
You should have certain chem-
istry with your interviewee.
- You must get the points of what
you need to know from that can-
didate.
- You must mention them about
who exactly you are looking for
and what they are expecting
from them.
Why you rely on a recruiting firm Why you rely on a recruiting firm Why you rely on a recruiting firm Why you rely on a recruiting firm Why you rely on a recruiting firm
to get the right candidates for your to get the right candidates for your to get the right candidates for your to get the right candidates for your to get the right candidates for your
company? company? company? company? company?
- You save money on job adver-
tisements and other resources
- You save time on screening and
reviewing hundreds of resumes
- You can get the luxury of check-
ing only the short listed candi-
dates and choose what you re-
ally want
- You do not need to negotiate a
salary package with job appli-
cant as the recruiter will just try
to meet the candidate who ac-
cepts your offer at the first place
How you maintain and retain your How you maintain and retain your How you maintain and retain your How you maintain and retain your How you maintain and retain your
good employees in Myanmar? good employees in Myanmar? good employees in Myanmar? good employees in Myanmar? good employees in Myanmar?
- Employers need to review per-
formance evaluations for re-
wards, bonus, perks and things
that will motivate their willing-
ness to do work.
- Employer should provide con-
tinuous training opportunity for
their employees' skills improve-
ment.
- You, as an employer, should cre-
ate a working environment that
fills with mutual respect, under-
standing and trust.
- An employer should be aware
of employee situations and cir-
cumstances, and fulfil their needs
and catch up with them occa-
sionally.
- It is very important for you to
consider who you are going to
keep at your organisation. You
do keep employees who are
energetic, enthusiastic, and re-
spected individuals. And you
might have to ask a resignation
letter from those who are unfo-
cused, upset and unreliable.
To conclude, it is never too late to
restructure your organisation. We should
never let our company less productive and
competitive because of the wrong employ-
ees. The owner or the manager of com-
pany is the only one who should get
blame for mistakes. I wish the best for
your organisation to get the right candi-
dates for the right positions. A
Are you hiring.pmd 11/22/2013, 3:52 PM 69
adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:19 PM 11
adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:19 PM 11
December 2013
Culture
The three Pyu guardians are discovered
at Hmawza, at Threkettara, near Pyi
(Prome) in 1926. The two were in Kaba-
aye Museum, Yangon and the other one
in Calcutta Museum. (Luce, 1985, p. 138)
These are repouse images of Pyu guard-
ians discovered from Khin Ba mound in
1926-7, near Kalagan Gon village,
Threkettra.
The three guardians were studied
by a Thai scholar who published his find-
ing in the Journal of the Siam Society
some years ago.
Mr. Luce notes runs something like
this: Each is a silver plate of repouse
(without any letter of description) mea-
December 2013
suring 7 and a half inches. Each shows a
stout standing guardian holding a club,
wearing a pant and a hair style deco-
rated with different bird feathers. Ear
bores are enormously wide and the lobe
long touching the shoulders, indicating that
formerly they wear large ear plugs.'
Mr. Luce's opinion on them stout or
robust' seemed to be based on their fat
body. This is reasonable as their appear-
ance was as such.
Considering the artist who worked
on these, we can judge his talents as su-
perb. He did these at a time of backward-
ness, over 1000 years ago, with available
tools his hand could lay on.
We can sense difficulties he had to
overcome. In a limited space of a silver
plate, he had to fit in a fully upright guard-
ian standing in a pot.' He had to add
detail like hair style with long feathers,
costume, bold style and so on. The feath-
ers naturally should be proudly displayed
straight over his head. But he could not
do this as the space is too limited. So the
feathers were found slanting or somewhat
pressed down.
Even the guards were slim and tall,
which usually were, the artist was forced
to reduce their height in a pot.' So the
guardians are made fat and reasonably
short.'
The Three Phyu Guardians.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:08 PM 72
ACUMEN 73
At the same time, the artist tried to con-
vey a meaning which we are going to
find out.
Ancient Myanmar understood aes-
thetic value. In puppet plays, prince and
princess were made smaller than other
characters, as they were dancing figures.
Dancing puppets are manipulated from
an extended arm. According to a physi-
cal law of lever, a puppet originally 4 ki-
los is now 8 kilos, heavier on the ex-
tended arm. So manipulation is exhaust-
ing and sweating.
So dancing puppets are made from
l i ght er wood, Gamel i na arborea
(Yamanay in Myanmar). The puppets
were made smaller and smaller never
more than 1 and cubits (27 inches).
Smaller than this audience at periphery
cannot see or hear properly. (There was
no loud speaker or amplifier in ancient
times). So the size is about 27 inches. Look-
ing at a puppet scene for example, the
prince is smaller and the villain bigger.
But the audience understands the differ-
ence and ignore it.
T-shirts
In Journal of the Siam Society, the Thai
scholar noted that the Pyu guardians were
found wearing a T-shirt.' At first I thought
he was right. I even ran
away with the idea that T-
shirts were popular a thou-
sand years ago among Pyus!
Curved lines at the base of
neck and around the arm
suggested this idea.
On enlarging the im-
ages in computer to 100
times or more, I can see
these lines are definitely or-
namental decorations prob-
ably made of bronze, silver
or even gold which might
not be a rare metal at that
time.
So T-shirt was not a
possibility in Pyu period. But
pants were definitely in use
like ours today. The reader
can see it. There was no belt and tighten-
ing around the waist was made with a
chord. Those who held the idea that pants
are western style and anti-Myanmar
should reconsider the case and the pos-
sibility may be reverse.
Pants in Pyu Period
Moreover the pants have different
design indicating that back-strapped
weaving, though domestic, was produc-
ing wonderful design.
ACUMEN 73
Feathers on head
Each guardian is seen with different
feathers on their head. Perhaps they could
design them on their own or taste and
there was no distinction among them.
Two of them put on feathers to a cap
while the other implanted or attached
feathers to his hairs probably by tying with
a thread to a tuft of hair as indicated by
dangling feathers. Hairpins were un-
known in this period.
Feather decoration
There are many examples to it since
prehistoric time. A cave painting in Thai-
land shows men wearing feathers on his
head. Even a woman was seen wearing
a flowing' feathers on top of her head,
probably ones similar to ostrich now sur-
viving in Australia.
Red Indians in America are believed
to be Asians. From main land Asia they
had crossed Berring Strait into Canada
and finally settled in North America. They
still like to wear large feather dress.
Another example was an image of a
wild warrior dance from a bronze drum
dug up from Sinbo, upper Myanmar. The
drum was exhibited in Sagaing Museum
for a time and we have time to study it
and its design. It was datable to earliest
Dong Song period in Viet-
nam, early Iron Age.
Dong Song was a site
where bronze drums were
discovered near Hanoi. It
was a transition period from
Bronze to early iron period.
Since the first serious study
of these bronze drum was
made in Dong Song, Mr.
Hegar named them Dong
Song Drums. The drums
were found extensively in
the whole of Southeast Asia,
as far south as Papua New
Guinea, and some of the Is-
lands closer to mainland
Australia.
The Sinbo drum shows
image of a warrior with a
December 2013
head dress with long flowing leaves sug-
gestive of feathers. (See sketch) The drum
is exhibited in Sagaing museum for some
time before it was sent back to Sinbo. (See
photo of the drum and sketch)
The man was holding a sword in
his right hand and a double flag in his
left. The whole picture glorified their valor
in the last fight against the enemy. It might
be fascinating to watch the warrior wild
with drinks, dancing with drum beats! On
enlarging this image in a computer, some-
thing like a mask may be seen on his
face.
Another example from Myanmar is
a potsherd discovered in 2009 from a pri-
vate collection of U Kyaw Khin. He is a
retired headmaster now living at Nwe-
ta-mae village, Sinbyu-kyun township.
The potsherd shows a man, tall and strong
as indicated by a broad shoulder and a
bold outlook focusing to a distance. On
his head is a long bird feather possibly of
peacock. Perhaps he was an ancient
Myanmar and a hunter gatherer from
Stone Age. But the image of this lonely
stone age man was done by a settler as
his work is found on a potsherd. Pots
were made by settlers' community based
near a source of water. Surely the potter
was impressed by this lonely and lone-
some man!
The Clubs
A guardian's glorified weapon is a
club. Was a club inferior to a sword or
spear? It was and still is well a debate
among the historians. At close fight and
in the hands of well trained soldiers, a
club was a decisive weapon and as equally
effective weapon as a sword in ancient
time.Along Phya (1752-1760), a village
head man who founded the last dynasty
in Myanmar sent his club soldiers to battle
and won many decisive victories.
What was the meaning behind the
silver plates. In fact we do not know as-
sociated items when they were dug up.
These might give us
important clues to
make out and decide
the meaning of these
plates.
However, the
pot with the anthro-
pomorphic' content,
and a cover to pre-
vent its escape plus
an additional double
t hread wound
around the pot three
times to ensure its
long stay inside in-
dicates a magical
empl oyment t o
guard a treasure or
a sacred item. One thing is sure to note
that Pyu did not employ live human sac-
rifice! This is a magic employment.
Regarding magic, most western writ-
ers were found bent ready on that these
were borrowed from southern India.
Magic arts everywhere are always elabo-
rate in its ritual and visual presentation
to ensure success and win over the cus-
tomer. Usually magic arts are indigenous
and reflect elaboration of thinking power
of human brain. What he sees with his
eyes, what he makes with his hands and
what he thinks about are all co-related
like a triangle. This is a promoting step to
better brain development (encephalization-
a difficult medical term) in evolution. Chil-
dren playing about with toys (seeing, han-
dling and thinking- the three trios) favor
or accelerate their brain's faster develop-
ment.
Humans are always inventive and
incentive. New ideas can develop on their
own and do not need to borrow from
neighbor. A
References: - John Guy, A Warrior Stele
from SriKsetra,' JSS, vol 85,
part 1 and 2.
- Dr. Tin Maung Kyi, Three
Pyu Guardians' (Myanmar
language), Myanmar Thit
Magazine, No 1, October
2008, page 65-66.
adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:20 PM 11
December 2013
Dining Out
December 2013
Dining Out- Wasabai.pmd 11/22/2013, 6:32 PM 76
ACUMEN 77 ACUMEN 77
Dining Out- Wasabai.pmd 11/22/2013, 6:32 PM 77
December 2013
B BB BBA AA AAY YY YYS SS SS FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT BEP BEP BEP BEP BEP ARRI ARRI ARRI ARRI ARRI B BB BBA AA AAY YY YYS SS SS FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT BEP BEP BEP BEP BEP ARRI ARRI ARRI ARRI ARRI B BB BBA AA AAY YY YYS SS SS FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT BEP BEP BEP BEP BEP ARRI ARRI ARRI ARRI ARRI
Yangon Bangkok
BAILY Tu
Tu
Tu
Pu
Pu
Pu
Pu
FB
FB
FB
N
N
Bangkok Yangon
BAILY Tu
Tu
Tu
Pu
Pu
Pu
Pu
FB
FB
FB
N
N
Yangon Singapoie
BAILY SQ
NI
N
NB
NB
AK
AK
N0N NI
N
N
T0E NI
N
N
WEB N
N
TB0 N
International Flight Schedules
FRI N
N
N
SAT NI
N
N
N
S0N NI
N
N
Singapoie Yangon
BAILY SQ
NI
N
N
N
N
NB
N
AK
AK
N0N N
T0E N
WEB N
FRI NI
N
SAT N
S0N NI
Yangon Banoi
N0N vN
T0E vN
WEB vN
TB0 vN
FRI vN
SAT vN
S0N vN
vN
Banoi Yangon
N0N vN
T0E vN
vN
vN
vN
WEB vN
TB0 vN
vN
vN
vN
FRI vN
SAT vN
S0N vN
vN
vN
vN
vN
Yangon Bo Chi Ninh
N0N vN
T0E vN
WEB vN
TB0 vN
SAT vN
S0N vN
vN
Bo Chi Ninth Yangon
N0N vN
vN
T0E vN
WEB vN
vN
TB0 vN
SAT vN
vN
S0N vN
vN
vN
Yangon uuangzhou
N0N CZ
T0E N
WEB CZ
TB0 N
FRI CZ
SAT CZ
S0N N
Flight Schedule.pmd 11/22/2013, 3:55 PM 78
ACUMEN 79
B BB BBA AA AAY YY YYS SS SS FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT BEP BEP BEP BEP BEP ARRI ARRI ARRI ARRI ARRI B BB BBA AA AAY YY YYS SS SS FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT BEP BEP BEP BEP BEP ARRI ARRI ARRI ARRI ARRI B BB BBA AA AAY YY YYS SS SS FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT FLIuBT BEP BEP BEP BEP BEP ARRI ARRI ARRI ARRI ARRI
uuangzhou Yangon
N0N CZ
T0E N
WEB CZ
TB0 N
FRI CZ
SAT CZ
S0N N
Yangon Kunming
BAILY N0
T0E CA
WEB CA
TB0 CA
SAT CA
S0N CA
Kunming Yangon
BAILY N0
T0E CA
WEB CA
TB0 CA
SAT CA
S0N CA
Yangon Tai Pei
BAILY CI
Tai Pei Yangon
BAILY CI
Yangon Nanning
WEB N0
SAT N0
Nanning Yangon
WEB N0
SAT N0
Yangon Boha
BAILY QR
Boha Yangon
BAILY QR
Yangon Chaing Nai
TB0 W
S0N W
Chiang Nai Yangon
TB0 W
S0N W
Yangon Bong Kong
N0N KA
T0E KA
TB0 KA
SAT KA
Bong Kong Yangon
N0N KA
WEB KA
FRI KA
S0N KA
Yangon Seoul
BAILY KE
TB0 0Z
S0N 0Z
Seoul Yangon
BAILY KE
WEB 0Z
SAT 0Z
Yangon Kolkata
BAILY Tu
Tu
Tu
Tu
N0N AI
FRI AI
AI
Kolkata Yangon
BAILY Tu
Tu
Tu
Tu
N0N AI
AI
FRI AI
Nanualay Kunming
BAILY N0
Kunming Nanualay
BAILY N0
Nanualay Bangkok
BAILY FB
Pu
N0N Tu
T0E Tu
WEB Tu
TB0 Tu
FRI Tu
SAT Tu
S0N Tu
Bangkok Nanualay
BAILY FB
Pu
N0N Tu
WEB Tu
T0E Tu
TB0 Tu
FRI Tu
SAT Tu
S0N Tu
Flight Schedule.pmd 11/22/2013, 3:55 PM 79
adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:47 PM 11
adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:14 PM 11
adv.pmd 11/22/2013, 4:14 PM 11

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