Myanmar has implemented major economic and political reforms to gradually open its economy and to build sustainable private sector-led growth. The government should lower barriers to trade by eliminating import licensing and converting import bans and quantitative restrictions into low or zero tariffs. Promote competition in domestic markets.
To encourage the Burmese to start private businesses, investment licenses should be eliminated except for certain sensitive sectors. The government’s efforts to standardize FDI application and implementation procedures will lead to an increase in foreign investment in Myanmar. However—the country still faces challenges that need to be addressed to ensure sustainable economic development and growth.
Myanmar’s economic growth is expected to pick up in 2019 and 2020, thanks to higher foreign direct investment (FDI) and positive responses to the government’s economic according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Myanmar’s development story is complex, with significant reversals in recent years due to multiple and overlapping crises.
In 2011— a political and economic transition process began under a transitional military government, with the first democratic elections held in 2015. From 2011 to 2019—Myanmar experienced high economic growth which was averaging 6 percent per year and coupled with significant reduction in poverty. This was bolstered by economic reforms, lifting of sanctions and optimism for greater stability.
Myanmar has implemented major economic and political reforms to open its economy and build sustainable private sector-led growth. The government has made significant improvements in the ease of doing business and corporate governance, leading to higher foreign direct investment (FDI) and positive responses to the government’s economic policies.
The first democratic elections in 2015 marked the beginning of a political and economic transition process which when coupled with economic reforms and the lifting of sanctions, led to high economic growth and a significant reduction in poverty from 2011 to 2019.
