Things business people should remind when doing business in Myanmar.

3. Table of contents
Information Slide
1) Introduction 1 - 2
a) Past 4 - 5
b) Present 6 - 7
2) Demographics 8 - 10
3) Business culture 11 - 12
4) Lifestyle 13
5) Greeting and meeting 14 - 15
6) Economic 16 - 17
7) Advantages and disadvantages 18 - 19
8) Conclusion and recommendation 20

4. Two years ago in
Myanmar

5. Why
• One of the least developed economies in
Southeast Asia.
The European Union has placed sanctions on Myanmar.
• One of the world's most impoverished countries.
Mismanagement and isolation.
The lack of an educated workforce skilled in modern
technology.
 The lack of adequate infrastructure.

6. NOW

7. How
• US and EU lifted all economic sanctions .
• After 50 years, Myanmar is open for business:
Reformed an exchange rate system.
Set up the National Development Plan.
Issued Foreign Investment Law Implementing
Regulations .
 Myanmar becomes the “ Gold Rush “ in Southeast
Asia.

8. • Total area: 676,578 sq. km_ The second largest in Southeast Asia
• Population of over 60 million, literacy rate 89.9%

9. Introduction about Myanmar
• 50% of total areas are forest.
Rich in natural resources such as petroleum, coal,
natural gas, and hydropower, etc.
• Has plentiful human resources.
The percentage of the working age population is very
high_ 75% of population.
• Myanmar shares borders with 5 countries: Laos,
India, China, Thailand and Bangladesh.
Advantage on business development.

11. Business Culture
Place a Buddhist altar in
office.
• Buddhism is the dominant
belief.
• Brings protection and luck.
• Creates closeness, friendly to
colleagues.
• Always provides fruit, flowers
and tea.

12. High- context cultures
• Never say “No”.
• Never go straight to the main point.
• Avoid hurting feelings.
Collectivism
• Most families are big and have many generations:
parents, grand parents and children.
• The last married person keeps live with the parents.
• The good children should support back to their old
parents.

13. Lifestyle
Have only two meals per day.
• At 9 am and 17 pm.
• Have light lunches.
Always has shrimp, fish and
vegetables on the meals.
Eaten by hands.
 Appointment should be in
lunch times.

14. Greeting
 Refer to each other by their full
names.
• Do not have the first name.
• Names are very long and similarity.
 A small bow and hands put
together .
 A handshake is now
commonplace for businessmen.
• Shakes hand with business women if
they offer hand first.

15. Meeting
Business cards are an important part of the
business culture in Myanmar
How to hand them out:
• Handing them out with the right hand.
• Using the left hand to support the right arm near the
elbow.
• Receiving by both hands and a small bow.
• Reading about 4-5 second and putting on pocket.
Give gift at the first meeting.

16. Economic
• The Economy of Myanmar is an emerging
economy.
– A nominal GDP of $51.93 billion.
– A purchasing power adjusted GDP of $83.74 billion.
– Real growth rate is 5.5% for the 2011 fiscal year.
• The annual growth rate in GDP measures the
increase in value of :
– the goods.
– The services produced.
• The share of agriculture has been declining.
– represents 36 percent of GDP.

17. • Services_ The most important sector of the
economy.
– has been growing steadily.
– account for over 38 percent of GDP.
• Industry is linked largely to the processing of
agricultural, mineral, and forest products.
– contributes the remaining 26 percent of GDP.

18. Advantages
• In location
– Between two biggest population countries.
– Land bridge between Middle East and Southeast
Asia.
• Tax exemption and additional incentives.
– Free trade tax on export commodities.
– Custom duty free on import commodities using in
zone.
– Domestic Banking/ Foreign Banking allow in zone.
– Foreign Exchange Freely exchange, transfer using
in zone.

19. Disadvantages
• More than 90% of the population have not
accessed mobile phones.
• Has very few bank branches and ATMs.
• The quality of infrastructure is very low.
• Has slow and expensive internet connection.
• The lack of skill labor
• Unstable Electricity Supply