Myanmar is flavour of the year

Reports MERGAWATI ZULFAKAR in Myanmar, March 28th, 2012 ... 

NAYPYITAW: Shunned by the West for its human rights abuses and long considered a thorn in the flesh for Asean countries for having to defend its recalcitrant member, Myanmar has suddenly become the flavour of the year for many.

For a Malaysian trade official who has visited the country several times before the current reforms were introduced, Myanmar is now a booming place and all of a sudden, the country, once dubbed the “pariah state”, is now a darling internationally.

“It is a country with huge natural resources with 58 million people and so much potential is waiting to be explored and developed,” the trade official said.

Malaysian ambassador to Myanmar Dr Ahmad Faisal Muhamad concurred, saying that Myanmar is the new hot destination.

Not wanting to miss trade and investment opportunities, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is starting his official visit to Myanmar's capital from today, bringing along with him a large delegation of 160 people, comprising Cabinet members and businessmen.

For Dr Ahmad Faisal, he never expected his first posting as an ambassador would be to Myanmar, one of the dozen countries listed as hardship posting for Wisma Putra's diplomats.

So far, it has been an exciting experience for the 42-year-old diplomat who took up his post late last year.

With changes taking place, Dr Ahmad Faisal could hardly catch his breath as he has been receiving a steady flow of Malaysian visitors ministers, government officers and businessmen.

“There is definitely a marked increase in interest among Malaysian businessmen. Flights from Kuala Lumpur are always full.

“They are visible at hotels in Yangon. The recent trade and investment mission led by International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed received overwhelming response,” he added.

Dr Ahmad Faisal attributed this to good foundation due to longstanding bilateral ties.
“Changes are taking place many and rapidly. Physically, you see many more cars on the road, more visitors tourists and businessmen.

“Political reforms include changes in laws, release of prisoners of conscience, debates in Parliament and liberalising the media.

“In the economic sector pro-business policy, new investment laws in the making, efforts to unify the exchange rate and others. The mood is a generally upbeat feeling among the locals. Optimism is all around,” he added.

Dr Ahmad Faisal said Malaysian companies must step up their efforts to invest in Myanmar.
“Things are moving fast and many who shunned the country before are coming in aggressively.”

There is tremendous potential in plantation, oil and gas, hotel and tourism, telecommunications, banking, agriculture, manufacturing, among others.

Myanmar is hosting the SEA Games in 2013 and will take over as Asean chairman in 2014.
A senior trade official said Malaysia is the seventh biggest investor in Myanmar and as at Dec 31, its total investment was US$977.46mil (RM2.99bil) in oil, properties, hotel and manufacturing.

The Prime Minister's visit is to renew Malaysia's commitment bilaterally and Asean in general.

“Although trade and investment are good, this can be improved further and the Prime Minister is pushing the Malaysian private sector to take advantage of the changes in Myanmar to improve trade and investment links.”

During his two-day visit, Najib will hold a meeting with Myanmar President Thein Sein and meet Myanmar businessmen.

Asked on Myanmar being a source country for maids, Dr Ahmad Faisal said the relevant agencies were looking at various ways to improve the mechanism in human resource.

There are some 260,000 Myanmar nationals working in Malaysia currently but none as domestic maid.

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