Spanning a vital geographic area and sharing borders with India, China, Thailand, Bangladesh and Laos, Myanmar is poised to see its transport sector post double-digit growth in the coming years. The sector is bolstered by surging air passenger and trade volumes, and rising urbanisation. Additionally, ageing road and rail networks, urban and port congestion, and a lack of multi-modal connectivity have…
The state of health in Myanmar is gradually improving, with significantly higher levels of funding being allocated by the state, and foreign donors and private investors looking to participate. To ensure its 56m people have access to better care, and mindful of the challenges, the administration is increasingly open to assistance from foreign governments, NGOs and private firms. The newly installed…
Recording steady growth in recent years, Myanmar’s industrial and retail sectors have been buoyed by solid macroeconomic fundamentals, economic liberalisation and regulatory reforms encouraging investment and expansion. The new administration has set a bold industrialisation target, with manufacturing expected to become one of the most significant economic growth drivers in the coming years. Job…
The immense wealth that lies beneath Myanmar’s soil continues to entice prospectors from around the globe, and recent structural reforms are expected to bolster the sector and attract much needed capital. The nation’s first democratic government has shown determination to remedy past wrongs and clean up a sector that has immense potential to fuel growth. However, the new administration has inherited…
The agriculture sector is already gaining ground from relaxed trade policies. Future potential, however, will depend on the ease of its transition from a supply-led industry to one determined by demand. For the short term, Myanmar will rely on consumption trends in India and China. It is unclear how long it will take the country to successfully penetrate international markets outside of Asia, although…
The construction industry is set to become a major growth driver of Myanmar’s economy, as investors look to capitalise on economic liberalisation and a major public infrastructure programme. Residential real estate, particularly affordable housing, will remain the chief engine of growth over the medium term, though a large infrastructure deficit and rising congestion in Yangon should see public works…
The expansion of Myanmar’s telecoms market continues to live up to its early promise, with the reform of the industry viewed as the biggest economic success since the military ceded power in 2011. The dramatic surge in network coverage has empowered local businesses and provided remote villages with the opportunity to connect to the outside world. The country’s IT segment continues to attract investors…
With massive infrastructure upgrades in the works and industrial demand rapidly expanding, the energy market in Myanmar is currently one of the more promising ones in the world. The country is in great need of electricity generation capacity and must completely overhaul its transmission and distribution systems. Investment opportunities are available throughout the energy value chain, and will be for…
After its historic transition to civilian rule following years of incremental reforms, Myanmar is enjoying a period of exceptional growth. Once an outlier in the region, Myanmar now has the fastest-growing economy in ASEAN, and is seen as a source of regional strength and a destination of opportunity. Further liberalisation is planned, international investment is expected to remain strong and the domestic…
Although Myanmar remains in trade deficit, its trade balance has been improving in recent months. The trade deficit stood at $1.11bn in the first quarter of 2015 and fell to $945.7m in the same period of 2016, highlighting the impact rising exports are having on trade growth, and painting a brighter picture for long-term trade trends. This chapter contains interviews with Le Luong Minh, ASEAN Secretary-…
