As part of an effort to meet changing labour market requirements brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Myanmar is harnessing private sector investment to develop its vocational and technical education system. Speaking at the World Economic Forum on ASEAN 2018 summit in September 2018 in Hanoi, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi stated that greater investment in skills-based…
Myanmar is considered a crucial component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the multibillion-dollar project that has the potential to shake up global trade and improve transnational infrastructure links. Of particular interest to China is a planned special economic zone (SEZ) and deepwater port at Kyaukphyu in Rakhine State, which would give Beijing direct access to the Indian Ocean,…
Recent efforts to narrow Myanmar’s digital divide have bolstered regional economies and transformed the technological landscape. The adoption of the latest ICT capabilities has improved efficiency in a range of areas, from agriculture to tax collection. While considerable improvements have been made, the country’s nascent digital economy ecosystem has lacked a solid foundation. However, after the…
Since the liberalisation of the telecommunications industry, the Myanmar government has made a point of tailoring its digital strategy to achieve its goals on economic inclusion. With this in mind, the Telecommunications Law of 2013 gave the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) the ability to establish a Universal Service Fund (USF) with the ultimate goal of ensuring universal mobile coverage. In…
Blockchain – the distributed-ledger technology that underpins cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin – appears set to transform a wide variety of industries and perhaps fundamentally change the way business is conducted across the global economy. While the technology is still taking off, and not everyone is convinced about its potential, many emerging markets are hoping that it will allow them to leapfrog…
A new wave of digital innovation is reshaping Myanmar’s economy, as a remodelled national strategy and increased competition enhance the performance of the ICT sector. Prior to the liberalisation of Myanmar’s telecommunications industry, SIM cards and mobile phones were a luxury only the wealthy could afford, but they are now becoming much more widespread, although there is still progress to be…
Interview :U Khin Maung Soe How has increased competition among telecoms operators contributed to the sector’s development? U KHIN MAUNG SOE: Increased competition has enabled consumers to identify which operators work well under different circumstances and which offer the best prices. Having said that, it is common for mobile phone users in Myanmar to make use of more than one SIM card at…
Interview :U Myo Ohn What are the upsides of further 4G and fibre-optic penetration, and what role can foreign direct investment (FDI) play in developing such capacities? U MYO OHN: The further proliferation of 4G can help the public in many ways, particularly in the expansion or adoption of e-commerce, e-government and e-health services. At present, 4G is cheaper and more widely available…
Recent efforts to narrow Myanmar’s digital divide have bolstered regional economies and transformed the technological landscape. The adoption of the latest ICT capabilities has improved efficiency in a range of areas, from agriculture to tax collection. While considerable improvements have been made, the country’s nascent digital economy ecosystem has lacked a solid foundation. However, after the…
Since the liberalisation of the telecommunications industry, the Myanmar government has made a point of tailoring its digital strategy to achieve its goals on economic inclusion. With this in mind, the Telecommunications Law of 2013 gave the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) the ability to establish a Universal Service Fund (USF) with the ultimate goal of ensuring universal mobile coverage. In…
