business

Plans to turn rice fields running from the River Moei up into the Dawna Mountain Range into a giant construction site of large concrete houses, apartment blocks, casinos and an international airport are causing concerns for Karen community groups. The grand plan to turn thousands of acres of Karen land surrounding the small village of Shwe Koko into a mega…

The Karen Women’s Organization (KWO) put out a statement calling the people of Burma and international communities in the country to boycott products of companies linked to Burma’s military. The KWO statement issued on February 18, 2020 urged for a ban on products made by military companies and called on foreign embassies and donors in Burma to make sure their…

Preparations are underway to start operation of the 2nd Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge, connecting the Thai border town of Mae Sot in Tak Province and the Burma border town of Myawaddy in Karen State, by October 30, 2019. Union Minister U Thant Zin Maung from the Ministry of Transport and Communications travelled to Myawaddy on October 5 to inspect the readiness…

Advocacy group Burma Campaign UK published its ‘Dirty List’ in early December 2018, slamming 49 international companies accused of “operating in Myanmar in such a way that contributes to human rights violations and environmental destruction.” Burma Campaign UK Revives ‘Dirty List’ Following Recent Atrocities This is the first time Burma Campaign UK has published a ‘Dirty List’ since the country…

Villagers living near the Myaing Kalay cement factory in Hpa-an, Karen State have asked for operators to stop the storing and transporting of coal used to run the 4,000 ton Myaing Kalay cement factory. Local residents made their request on November 10, following the spilling of coal from trucks while being transported from the port to the cement factory. The…

The Karen National Union (KNU) has not permitted the construction of a proposed cement plant in Hlaingbwe Township under its controlled area, according to Gen. Saw Johnny, chief of staff of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) under the KNU. Yadanar Sai Kaung Myat Kyaw Company has earmarked the construction of the cement plant near Hnget Pyaw Taw Village under…

UHM Development Co., Ltd has won a tender on June 21 to build an international standard shopping mall (plaza) in the Karen State’s capital Hpa-an. “Our company, which received the highest mark, has been selected. We believe our company was selected because we consider the needs of Hpa-an residents, how useful it (the shopping mall) will be for them and…

The Karen Entrepreneurs Association will be established in July with the aim to develop Karen youth entrepreneurs, according to the Yangon Region Karen Literature and Culture Committee (KLCC), which is organizing the association. Yangon Region KLCC’s joint secretary – 1 Saw Bo Bo Wai Maung said the Karen Entrepreneurs Association will be established with Karen entrepreneurs from across the country…

Local residents will make demands to the Union Government if the Mon State Government fails to meet their demands on Min Lwin (Maw Lay) Mountain project in Thaton Township, Mon State. “The company is working together with the government. We have submitted to the Mon State Government to resolutely stand on our side after learning about the negative consequences of…

Local residents have blocked a road near Lun-Nya Village in Hpa-an Township, Karen State since January 3, due to damages caused by the vehicles from the quarries. Saw Khite Khite, head of the Lun-Nya Mountain Environmental Conservation Committee, said the farmers built the road for easier access to their farms. Now they erected pillars in the middle of the road…