Straits Times to be distributed in Myanmar

The Straits Times is now available to readers in Myanmar.

The paper's Myanmar edition will be distributed daily in major cities like Yangon, Naypyidaw and Mandalay, targeting local and foreign business people.

Copies will also go to ministries, businesses, major hotels, airlines, bookshops and supermarkets.

About 5,000 copies of the paper will be distributed a day, making it the largest circulating international newspaper in the country.

The Straits Times is available to readers outside Singapore online - at straits times.com and the ST Asia Report - as well as through its apps, but readers in Myanmar will also be able to read the paper in print.

Straits Times editor Warren Fernandez said on Monday: "We have watched the re-emergence of Myanmar as part of the regional community with great interest, as part of The Straits Times' commitment to covering the Asian story for our readers in Singapore and around the world.

"So we are happy indeed to be able to serve readers in Myanmar as well."

The paper was launched on Tuesday at Yangon's Sedona Hotel, where Singapore Press Holdings' (SPH) executive vice-president of circulation, Mr Chua Wee Phong signed an agreement with RVi Group chief executive Argus Ang.

Singapore-based RVi Group will print and distribute The Straits Times.

Singapore's Ambassador to Myanmar, Mr Robert Chua, said in a statement that The Straits Times "will keep readers informed of important news events in the world, the region and in Singapore".

"As a trusted newspaper brand in the region, we are honoured to be part of Myanmar's continuing rapid development," he added.

Mr Ang said: "We see potential for growth in Myanmar. There is increasing demand for international news as the country opens up, becoming one of Asia's hottest emerging economies today."

RVi Group provides corporate training and education in several Asian countries and distributes publications as well.

Meanwhile, SPH's conference arm Sphere Conferences launched the Myanmar Civil Aviation Development Conference at the Traders Hotel in Yangon on Monday.

The three-day event, which is Myanmar's only aviation conference, is set to draw more than 250 airport operators, senior airline executives and key aviation stakeholders from 20 countries.

It aims to discuss potential growth plans for Myanmar's airlines and airports. It will also cover key areas such as airport security and fleet management.

"Myanmar has the ingredients to become Asia's next hottest tourist destination but this cannot be achieved without infrastructure," said the director-general of Myanmar's Department of Civil Aviation, Mr U Tin Naing Tun.

"Hosting the conference in Myanmar is ideal given the growth opportunities and potential of Myanmar's aviation market due to the growing demand for air travel."

ateng@sph.com.sg

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