Clients have been often raising queries relating to the process and actions required to arrange for a travel to Myanmar by an expatriate employee. There are many cases when people have been outside of Myanmar since the beginning of 2020. For many, their previously issued Myanmar visas are about to expire. Although modern technology allows […]

In response to several COVID incidents linked to international travel and foreign diplomats, the Cambodian Ministry of Health is sharpening the measures applicable to most international travelers arriving in the country.

The PPP Center, created in late 2018 pursuant to the Project Bank Notification, has finally issued its first notification on guidelines for unsolicited proposals, dated 2 October 2020 (the “Guidelines”), nearly two years after its inception. The Guidelines apply to unsolicited proposals, i.e., proposals made by the private sector directly to a government entity for […]

入札提案書の審査が終わり第一次落札者は決まった。2020年6月に告知されたミャンマーでは最大激戦と言われる再生可能エネルギーに関する入札の焦点は落札企業が本当にプロジェクトを履行し入札で定められた厳しいスケジュール内で完成させられるかに移った。 ハイライト（要点） 入札書作成の準備時間が本当に短かったのだろうか。 中国企業は政府から不公平なアドバンテージを受けていたのだろうか。 電気代はいくらであろか。 果たして、プロジェクトは予定通り履行されるのか。 同様の入札が今後もあるのだろうか。従来のネゴベースの査定はあるのか

Proposals have been evaluated, preliminary winners have been selected. The focus on Myanmar’s largest ever competitive tender for renewable energy, launched in June 2020, is now shifting to whether the winning bidders can indeed get their projects implemented, and do so within the strict time limits set out in the tender. Highlights of this note […]

Employers should be aware that 2021 labor compliance deadlines are approaching. The period to apply to the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (“MLVT”) for the 2021 quota approval for foreign employees is now open and runs from 1 September 2020 to 30 November 2020. Applications for work permit renewals for 2021 are to be […]

As Myanmar is experiencing a new wave of local COVID-19 transmissions and the outbreak is continuing to disrupt Myanmar’s economy and business operations, the government has just added 71 new projects to the Project Bank, for a grand total of 129 projects that are now officially endorsed and prioritized by the Myanmar government.

Today sees the entry into force of the new Law on Land No. 70/NA dated 21 June 2019 (the “2019 Land Law”), which among other things, includes new provisions concerning the limited ownership of land-use rights by foreigners under certain circumstances, and the limited ownership of individual units in a condominium or apartment building. This […]

The Law on Insurance (amended) No. 78/NA dated 29 November 2019, (the “Amended Insurance Law”) came into effect on 14 April 2020, after it was promulgated by the President of the Lao PDR on 10 January 2020 and published in the Official Gazette on 30 March 2020. The Amended Insurance Law has effectuated several major […]

The tender launched in May by the Electric Power Generation Enterprise (“EPGE”) for 30 sites totaling 1,060MW in Myanmar made quite a splash and was even subject to an unsuccessful claim by the newly created Myanmar Competition Commission for illegally discriminating against foreign bidders.   Bids were due on 17 July 2020 with reportedly a total of 155 proposals submitted. With controversies now behind them, hopeful bidders awaiting […]

The Corona Pandemic hits Myanmar nearly at the same time as the new Insolvency Law 2020 (“the IL” was enacted on 14 February 2020). We all hope that the damage to the Myanmar economy will be as limited as possible, but it does not hurt to prepare for tough times ahead. Highlights of this note […]

The MOEE is in the final stages of approving an extension of the bid submission deadline for the Myanmar solar tender. It is expected that the MOEE will announce an official extension within the next day from 18 June 2020 to 17 July 2020.  VDB Loi is organizing a webinar on Thursday 4 June 2020 to […]

VDB Loi is trying to do its part in Myanmar’s efforts to stimulate the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. As the Ministry of Electricity and Energy has launched a 1 Gig solar project tender, we have asked our relationships at state and regional governments, local clients and other contacts if they have any suitable land […]

On 20 May 2020, Cambodia’s State Secretariat of Civil Aviation issued new rules for international travelers arriving in Cambodia. The new regulation addresses the problem of Cambodian and overseas nationals coming (back) to the country during the pandemic. A Cambodian national who returned from the Philippines that very same day was discovered to have COVID-19. […]

Nearly nine months after June 30 2019, when the preferential price for solar power of US9.35 cents per kWh expired, the new price of solar power has been officially fixed. This ends the anxious moments from investors/ developers during the period when various proposals on the FIT submitted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade […]

Myanmar is undertaking a first-ever massive tender for 30 ground-mounted solar projects totalling 1,060 MW capacity spread out over nearly half of the country’s states and regions. The effort was prompted by the Government’s economic stimulus package meant to minimize the impact of the devastating COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights of this note The key points of […]

The Economic Relief Plan published the government on 27 April 2020 has put the infrastructure sector at the forefront of the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Various government ministries are requested to do the following before the end of 2020:  Investment approvals: Approvals by the government and the Myanmar Investment Commission will be fast-tracked […]

As with all sectors of the economy, the infrastructure sector in Myanmar will likely be significantly impacted by the current COVID-19 outbreak. Although there is no nationwide mandated shutdown, delays in construction projects are expected nonetheless. Highlights of this note Force majeure provisions in Myanmar PPAs Entitlements for contractors under construction contracts When to claim […]

With the recent drastic measures taken by the government of the Lao PDR to control the spread of COVID-19 in the community, the economy is in a precarious position as trade, investment, tourism, and growth have come to an indeterminate halt. As per the World Bank, the global economy could shrink by 1 per cent […]

On 29 March 2020, the Prime Minister of the Lao PDR issued Order No. 06/PM (“Order 06”) calling for suspension of all nonessential businesses effective from 30 March 2020 until 19 April 2020. The order prohibits all nonessential in-person communications and travel, and requires everyone, including government employees, business owners, and foreign workers, to stay […]