Burmese kyat and fuel prices remained much the same this week, two Indian hydro projects are said to be stalled, more int'l flights for Mandalay, and Burma gears up for the census.

After years of uncertainty, the prospects of the massive Dawei project took a recent twist when Thailand and Burma officially tied the knot to push the ambitious scheme forward.

BUSINESS THIS WEEK: Gold is down; Japan backs Rangoon economic zone project; Yoma, Sumitomo ink trucks and buses deal; Mitsubishi gets involved in Yetagun oil and gas contract.

The treaty calls for Japanese investors to receive the same protections as other foreign investors in terms of export and technology transfer regulations.

Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe plans to pledge 60 billion yen (US$580 million) in loans to Burma, chiefly to help it build infrastructure, at an upcoming summit with President Thein Sein, a Japanese government source told Kyodo News.

BUSINESS in BURMA this WEEK: China offers tax breaks on Burmese gas; foreign banks to be allowed limited operations in Burma; construction begins at Thilawa industrial zone; telecoms giants ink deal; and new proposals for the Rangoon skyline.