Myanmar Burma

1
Myanmar - Burma
2
Introduction

• Historical Overview until 1948
• Postwar History
• Cultural Groups and resulting Tensions
• Today's Situation on Business Opportunities and
  Challenges
• Today's Economy

3
Historical Overview

• Before 1044 City-States and Kingdoms
• Dynasties (BC 1885)
• Three Myanmar Empires
• First Myanmar Empire (1044-1077)
• Second Myanmar Empire (1287)
• Third Myanmar Empire (1752)
• Three Anglo-Burmese Wars (1824 1886)
• http//www.myanmars.net/history/

4
European Colonialism

• 1824 Myanmar becomes a province of British India
• 1935 Separation from India, Implementation 1937
• 1940 Japan drives Britain out of Myanmar
• 1947 The British return to Myanmar
• 1948 Independence of Myanmar from Great Britain

5
Postwar History

• 1948 Independence January 4th
• Founding of 4th Myanmar Union, UN Member
• 1962 Revolutionary council took over
• 1974 Socialist republic founded
• 1988 Coup followed by SLORC ? state of
  emergency
• NLD founded by Aung San Suu Kyi
• 1990 Free elections, NLD won, result was turned
  down by Chunta
• 1996 Joining ASEAN

www.myanmars.net www.myanmar.com
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Spotlight on the Burmese People

• Population 42 million
• Predominant language groups
• Tibeto-Burman 78 (official language Burmese)
• Daic 9.6,
• Austro-Asiatic 6.7
• Total number of languages 108
• Many dialects

www.ethnologue.com
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Fragmented Society and its Results

• More than a hundred ethnic groups
• Highly fragmented society
• Ethnic tensions
• Ethnic minorities are maltreated by the military
• Forced labour duties
• Killing of minorities

www.web.amnesty.org www.myanmar.com
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Peaceful coexistence?

• Religions in Burma
• Buddhist, 89
• Special position linked
• to the government
• Theravada Buddhism
• 52000 monasteries
• Restrictions on religious freedom
• Christian and Muslim minorities are victims of
  religious intolerance and discrimination (UN
  report 1999)
• Political activism
• Practitioners of all religions are monitored
• Cultural diversity is not estimated
  and established in Burma as it is in Singapore
• Social tensions are an unpredictable risk for
  Management in Burma

Muslim, 4 Christian, 4 Animistic beliefs,
1 other faiths, 2
www.web.amnesty.org www.myanmar.com
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Business Opportunities

• Travel Tourism
• Oil Gas Sector

?
10
Things YOU should know???

• Political Situation Military retains its grip
  on power
• Security Security in urban areas is OK
• Legal Total absence of the rule of the law
• Economic Situation Economy dominated by SOEs
  Inflation 15

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Risk in Burma
Source Worlds Market Research Centre
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Practical Advice

• Travelling within the country is cumbersome
• Communication is closely monitored
• High safety risks in air rail travel

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Conclusion