China Burma sign US$ 7.5 billion deal; Garuda Airlines and MAI sign code-sharing agreement; Foreign investors invited to consider SEZ projects; Japan, Thailand ‘hesitating’ on Dawei

Boeing to provide 737s to Air Mandalay; Jalux, Mitsubishi to run Mandalay airport; Amara Bank introduces new scheme after blacklist scare ; Singapore now Burma’s top investor (or is it USA?); Demurrage fees to increase at Burmese ports;

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Burma on Sunday for two days of talks, where an announcement of further aid is expected to underscore the already strong bilateral relationship.

BUSINESS in BURMA THIS WEEK: Maersk makes Burma a port of call; Timber sales rise as logging ban nears; 24 new hotels given licenses; baker & MKenzie open office in Rangoon; and VP warns Burmese firms against falling under foreign control.

BUSINESS in BURMA THIS WEEK: Thein SEin says he aims to increase GDP to 9.1 percent; Telenor and Ooredoo awarded telecoms licences; and World bank pledges $2 billion in development aid.

  Ups and downs, comings and goings Burma’s currency strengthened slightly by 1 to 2 kyat against the dollar which was buying 967 kyat on Friday...