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On the back of inefficient government policies and limited public expenditure, the agriculture sector dwindled under military rule. However, in the wake of economic liberalisation, increased investment and structural reform, the sector’s potential is ready to be unlocked. In recent years efforts have been made to enhance agricultural output with greater investment in production and post-harvest infrastructure. According to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, a total of $134.5m in foreign direct investment was approved for the agriculture sector in FY 2017/18, more than the combined total over the previous six years. With approximately two-thirds of the workforce directly or indirectly engaged in some form of farming, policymakers are eager to rejuvenate the sector. This chapter contains an interview with Thadoe Hein, Group CEO, Awba.

Myanmar’s manufacturing sector reached a turning point in 2018 as liberalisation, tax reforms, infrastructure improvements and the development of special economic zones helped turn the country from a low-cost regional production base to a rising manufacturing destination with capacity on the rise. The sector has an advantage due to the country’s relatively low operating costs, favourable demographics and liberalising government policies. Myanmar’s retail segment has boomed in the years since the economy was liberalised, with foreign goods hitting the market and local sellers making their offer more sophisticated. Legacy retail conglomerates are investing in Western-style upgrades to supermarkets and malls, and foreign investors are entering into joint ventures to bring technical know-how. Foreign loans and investment in the retail sector are also bearing fruit. This chapter contains interviews with U Win Aung, Chairman, Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings; and Daw Win Win Tint, CEO and Founder, City Mart Holding.

If Myanmar is to fulfil its economic potential, significant investments are required in transport infrastructure. In all areas – from roads, to railways, to ports – the country has fallen behind its neighbours in the region. Encouragingly, the government recognises the need to prioritise this area, and has begun to make progress on much-needed projects, often with the help – financial and otherwise – of development partners. If government enthusiasm is matched by effective efforts to remove red tape and improve access to capital, then the prospects for the transport sector are bright. This chapter contains an interview with U Aung Nyi Nyi Maw, Managing Director, Yangon Region Transport Authority.

Since the beginning of Myanmar’s economic and political reform in 2011, the construction industry has experienced mixed fortunes. Although the government has recognised the economic multiplier effects of infrastructure development, some large-scale projects have been held up by bureaucracy and investor scepticism. However, recent efforts suggest cause for optimism, including the large-scale urban development projects planned for Yangon and Mandalay, and the government’s assertion of its commitment to infrastructure development and public-private partnerships under the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan 2018-30. Meanwhile, large-scale real estate projects – particularly mixed-use developments – are nearing completion, which should improve investor confidence for current and future projects. Nonetheless, after an initial property boom in the first few years after political and economic reforms began in 2011, Myanmar’s real estate sector has faced some challenges recently. This chapter contains interviews with U Han Zaw, Minister of Construction; and Serge Pun, Chairman, Serge Pun & Associates.

Home to one of the world’s oldest oil and gas industries, the energy sector has long been a key pillar of Myanmar’s economy. While the sector continues to play an essential role in economic output, its true potential has not yet been realised, partly due to a counterproductive fiscal regime and unfavourable market conditions. Despite a number of setbacks, successive governments have made important steps towards unlocking Myanmar’s energy potential. With natural gas reserves of an estimated 16.6trn standard cu feet and some 139m barrels of crude oil reserves, substantial investments in exploration have led to billions of dollars in annual export revenue. This chapter contains interviews with U Win Khaing, Minister of Electricity and Energy; and Javier Rielo, Vice-president, Total Asia Pacific.

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, though there is still progress to be made in extending the network rollout. On the back of a string of significant investments and major reforms, mobile network coverage has reached the majority of rural, previously underserved, communities. As a result, Myanmar’s cash-dependent society is being exposed to a wide variety of new e-commerce products and an expanding technology start-up scene. This chapter contains interviews with U Khin Maung Soe, Chairman, MyTel; and U Myo Ohn, CEO, Campana Group.