Myanmar

Revitalising a fragile education system, which was once considered amongst the best in South-east Asia, remains a top priority for Myanmar’s transitional government. However, rapid urbanisation, limited infrastructure, and a mesh of civil and religious unrest have left the Ministry of Education (MoE) with numerous hurdles to overcome. During the height of military rule,...

By most accounts, Myanmar has made significant economic progress in recent years, but general health care quality and access still lag dramatically behind that of its neighbours. Decades of mismanagement and limited funding has diminished the health sector and left it in dire need of reform, leaving the Ministry of Health (MoH) to fight an uphill battle. With life...

Valued at $480m in 2013 by the Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar’s pharmaceuticals industry offers drug makers a new opportunity, particularly over-the-counter manufacturers who stand to benefit from the country’s reopening. A dramatic increase in health expenditure coupled with rising per capita income is set to see the value of the industry grow to $945m in 2015, a nearly...

During my first visit to Myanmar as Australia’s foreign minister, I have been inspired by the commitment of a wide cross-section of the population to the historic reform process under way. Australia supports this reform process and looks forward to Myanmar emerging as a true democracy that respects human rights and is inclusive of all its people.

Thanks to the recent acceleration of investment in manufacturing and retail, alongside other industries, Myanmar has been making rapid progress in its effort to catch up with regional peers. While much ground remains to be covered, its achievements to date are remarkable, given its history and the challenges it faces in a highly competitive neighbourhood. Strong...