Myanmar Goes Plastic With First Debit Cards

YANGON (Reuters) - Myanmar launched its first debit cards on Friday, giving customers the chance to use plastic for shopping, dining and travel for the first time in the latest leap forward for its cash-dominated economy.

The central bank announced the formation of the Myanmar Payment Union (MPU), in cooperation with 17 banks, which will let customers take out cash from any ATM machine nationwide and make payments in a small number of shops, restaurants and offices.

"Now we still have a cash society, but we're heading towards a cashless one," Ye Min Oo, secretary of the MPU, said at the launch in the commercial capital, Yangon.

Debit and credit cards have been available for years in most neighboring countries but the arrival of plastic in Myanmar is a significant step for an economy lumbered with an antiquated banking system after decades of Western sanctions and disastrous fiscal policies under a military regime.

Even ATM machines were virtually unheard of in Myanmar a year ago, when cash had to be used for almost every transaction.

The military regime gave way in March 2011 to a quasi-civilian government under President Thein Sein, who has introduced a series of political and economic reforms.

These have included the introduction of a managed float of the kyat currency in April this year, when a system of multiple exchange rates began to be dismantled.

ATM cards were launched this year, but holders were only able to use the machines of their own bank.

Plans are in place to offer credit cards in coming months after MasterCard Inc reached an agreement with Co-Operative Bank Limited, which has 24 ATMs, to issue the country's first branded cards.

Foreign banks are still not allowed to offer banking services in Myanmar. A growing number have opened representative offices.

Use of the new debit cards will be restricted at first to 14 places in Yangon, including shopping malls, airline offices, computer shops, one hotel and two restaurants.

Withdrawals from ATM machines will be limited to 1 million kyat ($1,152) per day, the central bank said.

(Reporting by Thu Rein Hlaing; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Alan Raybould and Robert Birsel)

source: nytimes.com

SM to collect P2 plastic bag charge in QC even without IRR

MANILA – A day before a ban on the use of plastic shopping bags takes effect, the Quezon City government has yet to provide retailers a copy of the implementing rules and regulations of the new ordinance.

Corazon Guidote, SM Investments Corp. head of investor relations, told InterAksyon.com that the conglomerate’s retail establishments in Quezon City will collect starting September 1 the P2 charge for every plastic bag customers use in line with the city ordinance.

The money raised would be remitted to the LGU once the IRR is in place, she said.

"It's easy to monitor all the transactions because they are all recorded in the cashier. We can monitor how many used the plastic bags," Guidote said.

Quezon City is one of the largest markets of the SM retail group, she said, with its largest mall in the Philippines located in North Edsa, housing three supermarkets and a department store.

"We have always been supportive of environmental initiatives. We've been doing it in Pasig through our hypermarket there," Guidote said.

The Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance will enforce a Plastic Recovery System Fee that charges a fixed amount of P2 per plastic bag used regardless of its size.

The collected fee will be part of a "green fund" that will finance various initiatives for the benefit of the environment.

Reusable bag users will be given incentives, giving them points that can be used later for purchase, and a “green lane,” which is a special counter for customers with reusable bags.

source: interaksyon.com