Overview
To help evaluate recent developments in Myanmar - an untapped Southeast Asian market of 55+ million people now opening up after sixty years of isolation - KWR International (KWR) recently released a second edition of its executive briefing titled "Business and Investment Opportunities in the 'New' Myanmar".
Myanmar is a resource-rich nation with natural gas and oil reserves, 80% of world's teak supply, gemstones, minerals, and land for agriculture. Its pagodas, and colonial buildings combined with vast natural beauty heightens its attractiveness for tourism. Myanmar's location is ideal for commerce with China and India, with coastal access providing an opportunity to become a major actor in international trade. Its large population also provides the labor force necessary to develop manufacturing and a sizeable consumer market.
KWR's analyzes Myanmar’s attractiveness, its history, regional importance and political and economic developments, foreign relations and impact of sanctions in recent decades. The report outlines the potential for near term export growth in industries including mining; agriculture; forestry; aquaculture and manufacturing. Attention is also devoted to tourism, technology and telecom, financial services, healthcare, retail, real estate and infrastructure.
The report also examines potential concerns and difficulties. These includes conflicts with ethnic minorities, the release of political prisoners, sanctions, and sustaining movement toward a more democratic form of government. Attention is also devoted to need to build institutions and a legal system that can process rapid change. This is essential to create an equitable, inclusive society, while protecting foreign and domestic corporations, investors and entrepreneurs.
KWR concludes examining catalysts including Myanmar's hosting of Southeast Asia (SEA) Games in 2013, chairmanship of 2014 ASEAN Summit, and a region-wide ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.