With domestic rice prices rising rapidly in Myanmar, the junta has unveiled a US$115 million scheme aimed at boosting production. Some farmers worry that the regime may be looking to hijack the rice market to boost dwindling foreign exchange reserves.
A “collateral-free” loan scheme for small and medium enterprises launched by the Myanmar government in 2014 looks functional on paper, but business owners say it is nearly impossible to access and does not provide enough money to be useful.
BY Frontier