Nay Shwe Thway Aung
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The Explorer
Nay Shwe Thway Aung | |
|---|---|
နေရွှေသွေးအောင် | |
| Born | 22 May 1991 |
| Other names | Phoe La Pyae The Explorer |
| Education | West Yangon Technological University |
| Occupation | Business tycoon |
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Height | 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) |
| Parent(s) | Nay Soe Maung Kyi Kyi Shwe |
| Relatives |
|
Nay Shwe Thway Aung (Burmese: နေရွှေသွေးအောင်; pronounced [ne ʃwe θwei aʊŋ]; born 22 May 1991), also known as Phoe La Pyae (Burmese: ဖိုးလပြည့်; pronounced [phoʊ lə pjaɪ]; lit. 'Full Moon'), is a Burmese public figure and business tycoon. He is the grandson of Senior General Than Shwe, a retired senior army general and former Prime Minister of Myanmar. He has gained prominence for his involvement in various Business Ventures and has been associated with providing support to Myanmar's ruling regime and military government.
Nay Shwe Thway Aung was born on 22 May 1991 in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma),[1] as the only son of Nay Soe Maung, an army doctor, and his wife Kyi Kyi Shwe, the daughter of Than Shwe. He attended high school at Practising School Yangon Institute of Education, and later enrolled in West Yangon Technological University.[2][3]
Business interests
Nay Shwe Thway Aung is recognized as a key figure connecting regime officials and business leaders.[4] He has faced allegations of directing military officers, who serve as his assistants, to engage in business conflicts. Some high-ranking generals and prominent businessmen in Myanmar have advised caution to their children regarding potential conflicts with Nay Shwe Thway Aung.[5]
He has been accused of leveraging his grandfather's influence to profit, assisting businesses in recovering unlawfully imported goods, including vehicles confiscated at different seaports. Nay Shwe Thway Aung has been involved in multiple business disputes with the offspring of high-ranking generals, such as Aung Thet Mann and Toe Naing Mann, often emerging victorious.
Additionally he maintain close ties with notable figures like business tycoon Zaw Zaw. Through these connections, Zaw Zaw has obtained concessions and import licenses, including those for car and motorcycle imports, as well as fuel distribution licenses.[6] Nay Shwe Thway Aung's interest in association football led to his recruitment by Zaw Zaw for Delta United, a professional soccer club in the Myanmar Football National League.[7] Despite allegations, Nay Shwe Thway Aung's impact on the national team coaches allowed him to participate in an exhibition match attended by Japanese football star Hidetoshi Nakata in 14 June 2007.[8]
Furthermore he is a member of the Lamborghini Club in Singapore. Business sources in Yangon reported his acquisition of a new Mercedes-Benz from a warehouse owned by the military-controlled Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings. He reportedly paid only 10 million kyat (US$11,600) for a luxury vehicle valued at least 200 million kyat ($230,000).[5]
Political ambitions
According to The Irrawaddy, Nay Shwe Thway Aung has faced scrutiny from military officers who question his high rank within Myanmar's military circles, despite lacking army service. Some military elite expressed discontent over his front row presence beside his grandfather at official photoshoots.[6]
Known for his close relationship with his grandfather Than Shwe, Nay Shwe Thway Aung frequently accompanies him on state visits and is featured in Myanmar's state-run media, appearing alongside his grandfather during state ceremonies and diplomatic tours across the country. In September 2010, he joined Than Shwe on a high-profile trip to China.[9][10]
In 2010 Nay Shwe Thway Aung managed the Yadanabon Cyber City, Myanmar's Silicon Valley, and oversaw the government's Internet control center.[8][11][12]
While initially believed to be in line for succession, poised to inherit leadership from his grandfather Than Shwe, Nay Shwe Thway Aung surprised observers on his 20th birthday by declaring, "I will not succeed my grandfather, Than Shwe."[13][14][15][16] In 30 March 2011, Than Shwe officially stepped down as President in favor of his chosen successor, Thein Sein, as President of Myanmar.
On 4 December 2015, Nay Shwe Thway Aung and his grandfather, Than Shwe, met with Aung San Suu Kyi.[17] During the meeting, Nay Shwe Thway Aung pledged his support to Aung San Suu Kyi, expressing commitment to back her efforts for the country's development.[18][19][20][21][22]
In a state-level meeting on 22 October 2016, Nay Shwe Thway Aung represented one of the top-listed taxpayers, engaging in discussions between State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and 158 influential tycoons.[23]
Following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, Nay Shwe Thway Aung adopted a low profile and faced social boycotts, becoming a target of the social punishment movement due to his association with the former military family. This led to a decline in popularity, resulting in the loss of hundreds of thousands of fans he had before the coup.[24]
Music career and rise to fame
As a devoted fan of Enrique Iglesias, Nay Shwe Thway Aung has created numerous music videos and performed cover songs dedicated to the artist.[25]
On 4 October 2014, he released a cover song of Iglesias's 'Escape', achieving over 1.1 million views. Another notable cover, 'Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)', was released on 8 November 2018, on his official Facebook page, known as 'Nay Shwe Thway Aung' '(The Explorer)', amassing over 1.9 million views, with one million views within 24 hours.
On 27 December 2018, he shared a cover of Iglesias's song 'Hero', receiving over 1.2 million views and positive reactions from his fans. Nay Shwe Thway Aung blends Burmese lyrics with the original song, showcasing his diverse musical talent in pop, electronic, dance and electronic dance music genres.
He invested substantial resources, including tens of thousands of US dollars, in recreating Enrique Iglesias, even going to the extent of burning genuine hundred-dollar notes.[26]
In 2019, Nay Shwe Thway Aung had a private meeting with Iglesias, and he also participated in the Miss Universe Myanmar 2019.[27][28]