TODAY

A Thai-Myanmar business matching was held at the Kandawgyi Hotel on 26 April 2013. The following are the views expressed by the Thai business people on Myanmar economy.

Royal Thai Embassy

The Thai business people present here are from northern Thailand. We’re in three groups: the first group is from the government; the second in and economic research team and the third is a group of business people. We came to Myanmar in order to see for ourselves how Myanmar economy is progressing. We can see foreign investors coming in with a great interest in the country’s improved economic environ- ment. About 70 percent of the Thai people know Myanmar economy only through the print media. Sometimes we find discrepancies between what we hear over there and what’s happening here in Myanmar, AEC (Asian Economic Community) is about to come into effect in the next three years. Before that happens , we as a neighbour should know the state of things in Myanma economy, and that’s why we came here. In Thailand at present there’s a tremendous growth in production sector resulting in a fierce competition. For those who stared up only recently find it a little hand to compete with those already established businesses. Besides, there is not enough law space for their factories so they’re interested in building their factories here in Myanmar. Myanmar still has a lot more to do for economic development. Its showed economic develop- ment in the past was due to its rather poor transportation. Now you’ve got a lot more cars to better transportation. How best Myanmar will try to do for better management is something we must wait and see.

I have a small family-owned hotel business. I’m here in Myanmar on a fact-finding trips about Myanmar hotel business. This business matching in a very fruitful meeting. It enables us to know more about business opportunities here. It’s heartening to see projects being implemented. A project in Kyaukse, for instance can offer foreign investment opportunities, I think We’ve thought of doing business with Myanmar, but at the moment we need to know in which sector we can work together I think that after 2015 Myanmar will be the best area for foreign investment.

My beauty products are made from fruits and herbs. They can be used in beauty parlours and spas. The most popular brand is a kind of body scrub. That removes dead cells. This event in a very good event. We’re now seeing Thai and Myanmar governments working in a transparent way. For the Myanmar people, business meetings are steps in the right direction.

Thai business, people very much wish to know how things are going in Myarnmar economy. We’re interested in doing business in Myanmar, particularly in the three cities: Yangon, Nay Pyi Daw and Mandalay, because Mandalay as I see it, is a main economic centre, Nay Pyi Daw is a new city and Yangon is a commercial city Myanmar has lots of business opportunities. We’ve been on a study tour of projects being implemented here in Myanmar. Thailand has the best diplomatic relations with Myanmar, and culturally the two countries are the same. As there’s a positive, Myanmar could offer  opportunities for investment. Myanmar in rich in natural resources. We’ll cooperate with Myanmar for its economic development.

Translated by   Nyunt Thaung