Investment needs better laws; new Rangoon-Singapore shipping line; US business group tours Naypyidaw; Burma business conference in London; direct Mandalay-Bangkok flights launched; and Hollywood movies arrive.
Burma’s plans to establish a stock market will make it easier for the country to compete regionally and challenge the status quo of rampant cronyism.
Burma has ambitions to regain its onetime stature as the world’s rice bowl when the country was by far the biggest exporter of the grain.
Burma rice export stats doubted; year wait for Rangoon power plant; new oil finds; hydro dam mooted for Dawei; and Pepsi may trump Coca-Cola entry.
Soft drink giant PepsiCo enters the Burmese market in news welcomed by the Obama administration which emphasized the need for responsible investment.
After the initial hype of a “last frontier” economic boom for Burma in the wake of recent reforms, nervous Western companies are hesitating to invest.
Burmese private banks begin using the internationally-recognized Letter of Credit system to aid financial mobilization and facilitate trade.
World Bank urges faster reform; US renews Burma import ban; joint ministerial meeting for Dawei; new energy body mooted; and more airlines plan Rangoon routes.
The World Bank steps up support for reforms in Burma by helping clear almost US $400 million debt and providing an extra $85 million in grants.
Burmese businessmen are complaining of increased import tariffs imposed by the Chinese authorities at the Sino-Burmese border that have slashed their profits.
Burma’s economic opening risks having key industries dominated by a small cabal of oligarchs with close links to the junta-era ruling elite.
The US government’s decision last week to extend a ban on Burmese imports for three years is likely to forge closer trade ties with Thailand, claim experts.
Thai investment boost to Burma; risk of “oligarch culture” with rapid growth; gas sales to double by 2013; Zaw Zaw eyes Singapore; and Australian mining firms in Rangoon.
Burma should adopt “a value-based strategy, not a volume-based strategy” with a view to tourism, says a UN consultant.
Apple Inc. releases its new operating system for Mac computers with features borrowed from mobile devices and a tighter integration with online file storage.
Burmese high street banks are preparing to offer credit card transactions to facilitate smooth money transfers in time for the 2013 Southeast Asian Games.
New public companies are being registered in Burma, with experts saying that businesspeople are laying the groundwork for the Asean Economic Community in 2015.
Burma requires economic and legal reform in order to become competitive in a 21st century environment, an industry expert tells dozens of leading US companies in Rangoon.
Burmese migrants are finding that transferring money home through official channels is more costly than through private hundi agents.
Burmese business leaders say the historic easing of US sanctions will not have a dramatic impact on the domestic commercial environment.
