Myanmar Additional Service Provider: Vehicle Rental, Taxi Companies, Freight Forwarding Agents, Handling Equipment, Power Generation and ISPs

There are sufficient vehicle rental, taxi’s and freight forwarding agents available. There is a warehouse available for rent on the private market, but they normally do not include any warehouse equipment. Most warehouse equipment is available on the local market, except for pallets. There are three telecommunications providers but only one who provides and manages the Internet back-bone service: Myanma Post and Telecommunications (MPT).

 4.11 Myanmar Additional Services Contact List

Vehicle Rental

Since 2011, when the government lifted restrictions on vehicle imports, there are a sufficient number of vehicles for rent on the private market: luxury 4x4, taxi, trucks, against reasonable rates. Vehicles have to be hired with services of a driver. Rental rates normally include the costs of the fuel, tour gate fees, accommodation & meals for the driver, but this should be confirmed case by case.

Taxi Companies

There are only a few taxi companies in Myanmar. Most taxis are privately owned and operated, government registered, without taximeters. There are many vehicle rental companies, who may offer taxi services as well, but usually rent out on a daily basis.

Freight Forwarding Agents

In Myanmar, 90% of international cargo is carried by ship and freight forwarding agents are readily available. Freight forwarding agent contacts can be found in the Myanmar service provider contact list.

Handling Equipment 

Handling equipment such as forklift trucks, hydraulic jacks, pallet trucks and chain blocks can be purchased locally in Myanmar. It is difficult to find good quality (plastic) pallets locally. Wooden locally made pallets can be found, but can be of inferior quality.

Electricity and Power 

Electricity in Myanmar is 230 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Myanmar with a device that does not accept 230 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter/transformer.

The government controls electrical power distribution in Myanmar. About 70% of the population still has no access to grid electricity, and even Yangon and other major cities continue to experience regular power outages. Rural electrification rates are a concern, especially in the states of Tanintharyi and Kayin, where electrification rates are below 10%. The current capacity of electricity generating plants is insufficient to meet growing domestic demand. Hydropower is the main source of electricity generation, but during the dry season hydropower plants cannot operate at full capacity causing periods of load shedding.

Electricity tariffs are one of the lowest in South East Asia, but do not reflect the true costs of electricity generation requiring the government to cover the shortfall. Private households applying for a connection face long waiting times and a high connection fee of MK100,000.

Source: , ADB (publisher) Myanmar unlocking the potential, Aug 2014, Date accessed 21 Nov 2014.

List of power stations in Myanmar:

[1] Source:  VDB|Loi (Publisher) The legal and regulatory framework of foreign investment in Myanmar’s power sector, 25 April 2014., Date accessed: 28 Nov 2014.

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Myanma Post and Telecommunication (MPT), a government company, is the only enterprise managing the Internet backbone in Myanmar and providing Internet services. There are other private companies, namely Redlink and Yatanarpon providing Internet services to the public who purchase bandwidth from MPT and resell it to the public.

There is no reliable Internet connection available in Myanmar. Even in Yangon, the provider does not guarantee the reliability. They will not take responsibility for the quality of service and connectivity timeouts. Outside the three main cities, Internet connectivity is significantly worse. Sometimes in regional towns data over the 2 or 3G mobile phone network can serve as a backup for failing wired & wifi connections. However data infrastructure is improving very fast and there may be improved connectivity established sometime in 2015.

MPT and Yatanarpon offer VSAT service (iPstar), but the quality is generally poor and the link is unstable.

Website: http://www.mpt.com.mm/en/

Website: http://www.redlink.net.mm

Website: http://www.yatanarpon.net.mm/

4.11 Myanmar Additional Services Contact List