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Analysis

A place to call home: Rapid urban migration is outpacing housing supply
OBG
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As Myanmar moves to catch up with rapid industrialisation, the real estate sector has an important role to play in accommodating an expected wave of migration to urban centres. The pressure will be intense on Yangon, the business capital and primary port. Urban Renewal After being preoccupied for many years with the building of Naypyidaw, the new political capital, Myanmar’s government is shifting…

Analysis

Key pillar: Increased spending on education to boost socioeconomic development
OBG
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Since the opening of the economy to the outside world in 2011, President U Thein Sein’s government has implemented various policies in an attempt to raise standards of education. In order to boost the country’s socioeconomic development and better prepare students for the growing economy, the government increased the education budget from $340m in 2011 to $740m in 2013. Under the military junta,…

Analysis

Exploring opportunities: New oil and gas blocks continue to attract international companies
OBG
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Among the most important economic developments in Myanmar since political reforms began in 2010 is the new administration’s effort to accelerate oil and gas exploration. Almost the entire offshore shelf that is not already under contract is being offered by the government, setting aside only the Mergui Archipelago region, a natural preserve and green tourism destination. Rising Demand Although…

Analysis

Gaining momentum: Unlocking potential in hydroelectric power is a multifaceted challenge
OBG
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Few issues stir as much interest in Myanmar as hydroelectric power. For some, the significant number of potential dam sites are untapped opportunities to bring the country into the developed world, while for others, hydropower projects challenge the preservation of traditional cultures, ecosystems and homelands. Background In a 1995 World Bank study, Myanmar’s rivers were noted as having the potential…

Analysis

Partnering up: Foreign investors collaborate with local players
OBG
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Long a restricted area, Myanmar’s real estate sector is opening up to foreign investment. Two major legal changes – a new Foreign Investment Law adopted in late 2012, and a new Condominium Law expected to be adopted in early 2014 – are set to dramatically expand opportunities for foreigners to invest in Myanmar property. At the smaller end of the investment scale, foreigners who want to own their…

Analysis

Light of day: Solar could be a handy alternative while larger projects get under way
OBG
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With an abundance of resources, especially coal, oil, natural gas, hydro and geothermal, solar is not an obvious choice for Myanmar. Solar power, however, is an excellent source of energy for the country and could help it meet some of its more pressing energy needs in the near and mid-term. Solar may also have a role to play in Myanmar’s long-term energy future, even as other sources ramp up and…

Analysis

Strengthening ties: The ASEAN Economic Community aims to boost regional integration
OBG
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The year 2014 marks a major milestone in Myanmar’s efforts to position itself internationally and amongst its regional peers, as the country assumes the rotating chair of ASEAN for the first time since it joined the regional economic club 17 years ago. Its chosen slogan, “Moving Forward in Unity to a Peaceful and Prosperous Community,” underscores its strategic intent to focus on economic development…

Analysis

Survival of the fittest: The arrival of international giants poses a challenge for local providers
OBG
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While consumers are due to see more affordable access to mobile and internet services as foreign firms enter the market, local telecoms licence holders Myanmar Post and Telecommunication (MPT) and Yatanarpon Teleport (YTP) face strong competition, and must use every advantage to retain a profitable market share. MPT and YTP are in a similar situation. They lack the capital to extend the network and…

Analysis

Transition period: Countries from around the world have been providing support
OBG
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Myanmar’s recent democratic reforms have driven many countries to re-assess their stance on the Southeast Asian nation, and some have already fully reversed their position. The powers that helped close Myanmar’s doors to international cooperation are now the ones rushing to get in as they re-open. Where there were once strict sanctions, there now comes development capital, partnerships and political…

Analysis

A long drive: Improving regional road and rail links
OBG
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After years of underinvestment in transportation infrastructure, due to embargoes, insurgencies, regional autonomy and mixed relations with neighbours, Myanmar is an exceedingly hard place to reach overland, much less transit. The country has essentially been cut off from the world, with small isolated border gates as its only surface connections to the outside. It has not always been this way. The…