Asia Economy

As the government continues its expansive reform agenda with Vision 2025, Sri Lanka’s economy is expected to record moderate improvements in 2018. In January 2018 the IMF projected that real GDP growth would increase to 4.6% in 2018 – up from 3.1% in 2017 – as the agriculture sector recovers from drought and flood, and construction is anticipated to lead robust services sector growth....

Sri Lanka’s economy looks promising for the coming years, as major changes in the business environment are taking place in the short to medium term, such as free trade agreements with Singapore and China, the regaining of the EU Generalised System of Preferences Plus, development of human capital and further liberalisation of the economy. These, together with the involvement of the government...

This chapter offers suggested hotel listings for business and leisure travellers, and contact numbers for a variety of local services and associations. It also offers useful tips for first-time visitors to the country.

Trade and investment has expanded rapidly in Myanmar since 2011, bolstered by economic liberalisation, legal reforms, a large untapped domestic market and a favourable geographic position bordering Bangladesh, China, India, Laos and Thailand, which together comprise 40% of the world’s population. However, several factors weigh on 2018’s investment outlook, including ambiguous legislation and...

Although it has moderated from earlier double-digit highs, GDP growth remained robust in the early 2010s, accelerating from 5.3% in 2010 to 5.6% in 2011, 7.3% in 2012, 8.4% in 2013 and 8% in 2014. Growth has dropped off slightly since 2015, reaching 7% that year and 6.1% in 2016, according to the IMF. External headwinds, internal conflict and delayed implementation of some key reform policies...