Economy

ETIQUETTE: In a formal setting, “U” should be used in front of a name when addressing a man and “Daw” when addressing a woman. This roughly translates to Mr. and Lady. It is common practice to remove footwear before entering a workplace or home; removing shoes and socks before entering a pagoda or temple is required. A handshake is...

Global trade faces protectionist headwinds that are dampening the outlook for growth in the coming years. According to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), trade volumes grew by close to 3% in 2018 and are expected to decline slightly to 2.6% in 2019 before rebounding to 3% in 2020. This may be the first time since the 2007-08 global financial...

Since initiating the process of liberalising its economy and encouraging greater foreign participation, Myanmar’s international investment inflows and trade have expanded significantly. This has gone hand in hand with strong domestic economic growth, even at a time of global trade slowdowns and protectionist headwinds. Capitalising on its...

Among its provisions, the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP) 2018-30 – the country’s long-term development strategy – highlights the need for major reforms in the way the nation trades. Noting that years of isolation from the international community has led to a deterioration in the country’s trading capacity, the MSDP outlines a plan...

Now occupying the impressive downtown premises of the former central bank, the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) celebrated its third year of business in March 2019. However, as one of the region’s youngest stock exchanges, the YSX is still in the process of catching up to its regional peers. The YSX is seeking to establish a wider international...