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With ICT expenditure reaching $4.59bn in 2012, Algeria spends considerably less than many of its neighbours, for example Morocco, which spent $13.25bn in the same year. However, the country is making efforts to help modernise and boost the sector. Internet users can expect improvements as the government has planned a major overhaul of network infrastructure. The launch of 3G should also help to further develop the sector, as well as push service providers to improve connection speeds and reliability, while parliament is working on drafting new legislation that is expected to increase competition. This chapter contains an interview with Abdelhamid Benyoucef, Chief Executive Officer, HB Technologies.

This chapter contains an overview of Myanmar’s legal framework, with a focus on the rules governing foreign investment, new legislation, special economic zones, and the combination of colonial, traditional, and modern laws. It also contains a viewpoint with OBG’s legal partner, Cheah Swee Gim, Director, Kelvin Chia Yangon.

This chapter contains an overview of the Myanmar tax system, geared toward those interested in doing business in Myanmar. It also contains a viewpoint with OBG tax partner, Chris Woo, Managing Director, Tax Services, PwC Myanmar.

While many sectors of Myanmar’s economy have great potential, the tourism sector is already highly profitable and growing rapidly. Flights to Myanmar have dramatically increased in number since 2010 as business visitors and leisure travellers flock to the frontier that until recently was isolated by international sanctions. In just four years, visitor numbers surged from 20,000 per year in 1992 to 200,000 per year in 1996, and they reached 2.04m in 2013. Given the dearth in hotel accommodations and other facilities to meet the surging demand, many operators have doubled or even tripled prices and investors are scrambling to build. Growing at a sustainable pace is key for the sector’s long-term success, and the government has made a decision not to overdevelop too quickly and to respect the landscape and cultures that attract tourists in the first place. This chapter contains interviews with U Htay Aung, Union Minister, Ministry of Hotels & Tourism; and Frank Janmaat, Group General Manager, Amata Hotels and Resorts.

Despite years of isolation and being a relatively poor country, Myanmar has a surprisingly developed transportation network. It has 66 airports, eight airlines, more than 5500 km of rail and about 150,000 km of roads. However, those years of isolation left the country’s transportation infrastructure in poor condition, so Myanmar is making efforts to improve the system, and it is likely that these efforts will pay off in the medium and long term. The construction of less expensive and safer transportation options is vital to achieving Myanmar’s long-term development goals. If priority areas are dealt with quickly and if major setbacks are avoided, the sector will improve steadily until the more complex investments, such as urban rail, can be completed. This chapter contains an interview with U Nyan Htun Aung, Minister for Transport.