A Myanmar entrepreneur who operates a hotel business under Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL)—a military-owned conglomerate sanctioned by Western nations—has been appointed as Iceland’s honorary consul to Myanmar.
Ko Ko Latt, who runs the MEHL-owned Central Hotel in Yangon, was formally appointed to his new diplomatic position last month, after travelling to Naypyitaw to receive his letter of accreditation from the regime’s foreign minister, Than Swe, on February 23.
Writing on Facebook the same day, Ko Ko Latt said he was grateful for the appointment and would strive to improve cooperation between Myanmar and Iceland in diplomacy, trade, investment, cultural exchange, and humanitarian matters.
Last November, while visiting Azerbaijan to attend a ceremony marking the country’s Victory Day, he wrote that he studied international relations and diplomacy at ADA University, in the capital Baku, more than a decade ago. However, he added, he has since pursued a career in business rather than diplomacy.
The Facebook page of K K Business Group, founded by Ko Ko Latt, showed company staff celebrating their chairman’s appointment as Iceland’s honorary consul with cakes and bouquets of flowers.
According to the company’s website, K K Business Group is involved in construction, trade, aviation and maritime services, security services, and hotels and tourism. Its headquarters is located in Yangon’s Mingalar Taung Nyunt Township.
Among his businesses, advertisements for Central Hotel and its shops are frequently featured on Ko Ko Latt’s Facebook page.
Central Hotel was established under the Nawaday Hotel Limited, one of MEHL’s holdings. MEHL and its operations are sanctioned by the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.
Iceland, which is not an EU member, is holding a vote in August on whether to resume earlier EU accession talks.
Myanmar Now contacted Ko Ko Latt via email for comment regarding his takeover and operation of an MEHL business, but did not receive a response.
Aegir Thor Eysteinsson, a press officer from Iceland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs, also declined to provide specific comments regarding the appointment of Ko Ko Latt as honorary consul.
He said, however, that the process for appointing Ko Ko Latt as consul began in 2020, but was not finalised on the Myanmar side until this year.
He also said that the appointment was proposed by the Icelandic Embassy in New Delhi, India, in 2019.
Mr. Eysteinsson added that Honorary Consuls do not receive salaries or benefits from the Icelandic government and serve only as volunteers.
