Zaykabar Company

Zaykabar Company Limited (Burmese: ဇေကမ္ဘာကုမ္ပဏီ; also spelt Zay Gabar or Zay Ka Bar) is a major Burmese conglomerate with interests in construction and telecommunications. The company was founded by Khin Shwe in 1990.

Zaykabar Company Limited
Conglomerate
IndustryConstruction
Founded1990 (1990)
FounderKhin Shwe
Headquarters
Yangon
,
Myanmar (Burma)
Key people
Khin Shwe, Chairman
Zay Thiha, Vice-Chairman
ParentNational Development Company Group
DivisionsMya Yeik Nyo Foundation

Zaykabar and its owner Khin Shwe have been placed on the American sanctions list since 2007, for its close ties with the Burmese military.[1]

Projects

In October 2007, Zaykabar opened Royal Mingalardon Golf Course, a 280 acres (1.1 km2) and 21-hole golf course as part of Mingaladon Garden City, a housing estate on the outskirts of Yangon.[2]

In 2008, Zaykabar opened Pyay Garden Condominium, a 25-story condominium tower in Yangon's Mayangone Township, the tallest building in Myanmar.[3]

Zaykabar also owns and operates Mya Yeik Nyo Royal Hotel in Yangon.[4]

In May 2010, after the privatization of the country's petrol market, Zaykabar was one of few companies to be issued operating licenses for petrol stations, under the name of Toe Naing Mann, Shwe Mann's son.[5][6]

In September 2011, Zaykabar established its philanthropic arm, Mya Yeik Nyo Foundation for Health, Education and Culture.[7][8]

Zaykabar operates 2 entertainment venues at Yangon's Kandawgyi Lake, the Karaweik Oo Yin Kabar fun fair area (which includes a mini-zoo and playgrounds) and the Myaw Sin Kyun Island, a concert venue.[9]

Zaykabar also owns Cherry FM, a radio station in Taunggyi but broadcast from Yangon.[10] The station is headed by Khin Shwe's daughter, Zay Zin Latt.[11]

Controversies

In the 1990s, Zaykabar hired Bain & Company, among other firms, to lobby on behalf of the Burmese government to lift trade sanctions in the United States.[12]

In 1997, Zaykabar seized 5,000 acres (20 km2) of land in Mingaladon Township (on the outskirts of Yangon) to construct Mingaladon Garden City, including an industrial zone (Yangon Industrial Zone No. 4), office towers, a mall, 4,000 residential bungalows and a 21-hole golf course.[13] In February 2010, Zaykabar acquired an additional 845 acres (3.42 km2) of land from Shwenantha village.[14] Farmers allege that they were coerced and duped into giving up their land tenure rights in exchange for paltry compensation.[14] Some farmers received 300,000 kyat in compensation, far below the existing market value of 2 million kyat per acre.[15] Others received little to no compensation.[16]

In May 2012, Zaykabar defied government orders to halt the bulldozing of farmlands.[14] On 17 May 2012, the said farmers filed an application with the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development to establish a farming collective, the Shwe Wah Su Paung Nyi Nyar Company, to be better positioned to retain their right to farm their lands.[17] In July 2012, farmers protested the confiscation of their farmland, as many farmers had received little or no compensation.[13] Zaykabar's chairman Khin Shwe, who is currently an Amyotha Hluttaw MP, refuted the farmers' grievances at a parliamentary session on 23 July 2012.[15] That same day, the company filed defamation charges against Nay Myo Wai, a Peace and Diversity Party politician who has been advocating on behalf of the farmers.[18]

In September 2011, 150 rubber plantation farmers from Mon State's Kyaikmaraw Township protested the confiscation of 830 acres (3.4 km2) of land by Zaykabar.[19] The farmers had been unfairly compensated for their land, each receiving about 350,000 kyat in total, far below the existing market value of 800,000 to 3 million kyat per acre.[19] A $220 million USD cement factory project is in progress, that will be capable of manufacturing 3,300 tons of cement daily.[19]

In 2019, the Kayin State Government alleged that Zayzakabar had constructed a complex, including a market, rest hall, workers’ quarters, roads, a bridge and a wellness room in Thandaunggyi Township without permission from development committees.[20]

In April 2018, Zaykabar Company demolished a Yangon heritage site, the Mayor's Residence, which is listed on the YCDC's Yangon City Heritage List.[21] The demolition sparked controversy over Yangon City Development Committee's oversight from watchdog groups like the Yangon Heritage Trust.[21] YCDC subsequently granted approval for Zaykabar to construct a $500 million development project, the Myayeiknyo Royal Project, on the site of the former heritage building.[22] The project has also been opposed by locals for its proximity to other heritage sites like Shwedagon Pagoda, and for concerns that the development may impact the adjacent Kokkine reservoir, which distributes water to eight townships.[23] In June 2018, amid ongoing controversy, the Burmese military ordered Zaykabar to reconstruct the Mayor's Residence "in the original style."[24] Later that year, in October 2018, the military terminated its lease contract with Zaykabar, over contractual breaches, as Zaykabar had signed a joint venture agreement with a Chinese company.[25]

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References
  1. McCartan, Brian (26 August 2009). "On the march to do business in Myanmar". Asia Times. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  2. Zaw Win Than (20 August 2007). "Zaykabar takes swing at Asia's golf tourists". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  3. Kyaw Soe Lin (8 October 2007). "Myanmar's tallest building to open in style early 2008". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  4. Zaw Win Than (30 July 2012). "Foreign hotels meet cap as local prices take off". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  5. "Sons of top generals handed fuel-station permits". Mizzima. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  6. "Drivers in Rangoon unhappy about petrol rationing". Mizzima. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  7. Cherry Thein (31 October 2011). "Mya Yeik Nyo Foundation to start work in November". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  8. Shwe Yinn Mar Oo (19 September 2011). "Businessman to found K1b fund for education". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  9. May Thaw (2 July 2007). "Yangon recreation centres attract more visitors". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  10. Kyaw Zin Htun (16 November 2009). "Internet radio on the way: Red Link". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  11. "Junta allows more FM Radio Stations". Mizzima. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  12. Smith, R. Jeffrey (24 February 1998). "Burma's Image Problem is a Moneymaker for US Lobbyists". Washington Post.
  13. "As political reforms unfold in Myanmar, formerly cowed farmers seek redress for lost land". Associated Press. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  14. Noe Noe Aung (14 May 2012). "Zaykabar defies order on farmland". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  15. "Farmlands will not return to farmers, says MP". Weekly Eleven. 28 July 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  16. Noe Noe Aung (27 February 2012). "Company lied about project for industrial zone: farmers". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  17. Noe Noe Aung (28 May 2012). "Farmers apply to establish company to challenge Zaykabar". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  18. Noe Noe Aung; Win Ko Ko Latt (30 July 2012). "Zaykabar files defamation charge against politician over land dispute". Myanmar Times. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  19. Kun Chan (7 September 2011). "Farmers protest cement factories' compensation for their land". Mizzima. Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  20. "Kayin govt accuses business conglomerate of developing land without permission". The Myanmar Times. 2019-12-04. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  21. "Heritage Building Demolished to Make Way for US$500-Million High-Rise". The Irrawaddy. 2018-04-06. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  22. "YCDC Approves Reservoir Safety Plan for Controversial Mega Project". The Irrawaddy. 2018-04-09. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  23. Lynn, Kyaw Ye. "Tycoon seeks Shwe Mann's help over halted project". Frontier Myanmar. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  24. "Military Orders Tycoon to Rebuild Yangon Heritage Building". The Irrawaddy. 2018-06-06. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
  25. Lynn, Kyaw Ye. "Military terminates $500 million Chinese-backed Yangon development". Frontier Myanmar. Retrieved 2020-06-01.
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