Introduction: The ‘E-Government Master Plan’ (the “Plan”) is a recently launched initiative by the Myanmar Government which strives to provide a platform for the integration of Information and Communications Technology (“ICT”) into government policy, agencies and organizations. This ambitious plan envisages, among other things, to create a shared network infrastructure, Ministry specific applications and a […]

VDB-Loi’s comments on the draft Law on Registration of Deeds and the Law Amending the Farm Land Law have recently been submitted to the Amyotha Hluttaw (Lower House). As the situation currently stands, the Amyotha Hluttaw will submit VDB-Loi’s comments to the Pyithu Hluttaw (Upper House) with their additional commentary after discussions. Upon a recent […]

PTD speeds up licenses and reform What you can’t say or do when advertising your products or services Access to personal electronic data: Now the law says you need permission Some Regulatory points of attention for telecom M&A and contracting in Myanmar How to negotiate a spectrum license in Myanmar? Myanmar opens applications for international […]

August was a busy month at the National Assembly with most attention going to amendment of the Telecom Law. Central to the amendment are the harsh sanctions on defamation and misinformation using telecommunication means, presently a non-bailable offence. Legislators in both chambers are seeking to recalibrate the provision. Waterways were also discussed through the draft […]

The insurance sector in Myanmar is still in its infancy and dominated by the state owned enterprise, Myanma Insurance (“MI”). Through the Myanmar Insurance Law 1993, MI was empowered to engage in all insurance business activities, permit other insurance companies to issue the type of policies as MI authorizes, and monopolize third-party liability and re-insurance. […]

The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) has announced ten priority areas, according to a statement on the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration’s website. Investors submitting proposals in the area will be given priority, with foreign and local investors welcome to invest in the areas, the statement said.. It is not clear from the statement how […]

The Post and Telecommunications Department (PTD) has been active recently administering and issuing new licenses and pushing for regulatory reform. In this note we outline some key developments in the Myanmar telecom sector in that regard.

The measures which your business must take to ensure compliance with Myanmar law does not end with incorporation. In fact, the Consumer Protection Law, read with the recent Competition Law (effective February 2017) mean that you must now take additional precautions to ensure that your day to day business advertising and marketing are up to […]

The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw published a new law on 8 March, 2017, the Law Protecting the Privacy and Security of Citizens (Union Parliament Law 5/2017). This new law sets out general duties of relevant ministries and authorities to protect privacy and security of citizens, while a “citizen” is defined as “the person who is a citizen […]

In a move to expand the potential opportunities for foreign investors, the list of activities a foreign investor is allowed to carry out in Myanmar only under a joint venture (“JV”) with a Myanmar citizen or company, has been cut significantly. Highlights of this note Big Winners are Retail, Petroleum Products, Real Estate, Media and […]

On Friday March 31st 2017 the VDB Loi and Latham & Watkins hosted an event entitled “Government Guarantees for Public Private Projects in Myanmar” in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. In attendance were H.E. Kyaw Win, Union Minister of Planning and Finance, U Aung Nai Oo, Director General DICA, U Win Khant, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Planning […]

In 2016, telecommunication sector attracted most foreign investment in Myanmar, according to MIC data, and this trend is expected to continue over the coming years. In this client briefing note, we explain ten tips for telecom contracting in Myanmar. Highlights of this note Make it clear who is responsible to get the license in a […]

The Myanma Railways (“MR”) under the Ministry of Transport and Communications (“MOTC”), announced on February 10 2017 a new Expression of Interest (“EOI”) for an optical fiber cable installation along railway tracks.This is the third phase of the MR project that intends to lay optical fiber cables along various railway lines across Myanmar. The deadline […]

Slowly but surely, experience is building up with respect to project finance and international corporate finance for companies and projects in Myanmar. With the many different deals that we have completed, we prepared a quick overview of the key things to know. We also touch upon some of the remaining hot issues. Highlights of this […]