Economy

In recent years trade and investment in Myanmar have soared, buoyed by ongoing efforts to liberalise the economy and a successful political transition in November 2015 that saw the National League for Democracy (NLD) become the country’s first civilian-led government elected to power in modern history. Political reforms have brought significant economic benefits, as the US...

Anniversaries offer us opportunities to look back and take stock of our achievements and to chart our way forward. The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) has evolved from a small group of only 26 partners at the first summit, which was held in Thailand in 1996, to 53 partners today. Look at this as a reflection of the ever-growing interest that...

Special economic zones (SEZs) are essential to Myanmar’s development. While the country is liberalising rapidly, the process will take some time. Regulations have to be written, and infrastructure needs to be upgraded in areas with legacy issues.

While Myanmar has been a member of the ASEAN bloc since 1997, its capacity within that organisation – and indeed, within regional and international politics as a whole – was severely limited by the military regime of the time. Indeed, international sanctions and condemnation led to the country skipping its turn as ASEAN chair in 2006, under...

With its first written records dating back to the 2nd century BC, and archaeological evidence stretching back to 11,000 BC, Myanmar has a long and distinguished history. Over the centuries, successive waves of people have moved across the mountains and plains that now constitute the country, with the Bamar, who became referred to as the...