Myanmar and its political situations and economic development.
Myanmar is a country a victim of western trade sanctions impost on it since 1997.
It will be difficult for Myanmar to get economic development without foreign investments.
Myanmar sanctions itself against foreign trade and investments for 24 years after it practiced socialism.
When it decided to open trade and investments in 1991 there were 32 foreign bank representative offices opened. About 14 oil companies came to do offshore drilling. Many fishing companies came to invest . With these the economy stared to grow but in 1997 the western embargo made many foreign firms left Myanmar in a few weeks.
The Soros organization started a campaign against Visit Myanmar Year 1996 fair done by the military government to open tourism market to Myanmar.
Aung San Su Kyi the democracy leader who was put under house arrest after 1988 uprising told the western media to boycott her country.
In 2010 after making the constitution we had democratically elected leader U Thein Sein who tried his best to visit US and invited president Obama to visit Myanmar.
S Korean president, Japan PM , Singapore president as well as President Obama and Hilary Clinton visited Myanmar. S Korean , Japan and a few US companies started to invest in Myanmar.
U Thein Sein opened the telecoms market and Ooredoo , Telenor and Japan company gets operator licenses. He allowed Car imports as well.
Suddenly people can afford mobile phones and cars are affordable which has been strictly controlled before. International schools started to open branches in Myanmar for the elite.
In 2015 as promised U Thein Sein allowed the opposition NLD party to enter the election and the popularity of Aung San Su Kyi made them win.
People hope she will lead the country to international accepted level .
The truth is she had no experience in managing a country nor a party.
The foreign companies after meeting her sense the unwelcome tone for investors. She is more towards communism and state providing everything. Rather than inviting foreign companies she asked for donation from western governments like our people need to drink more milk, can you donate to the UK ex PM.
The investments have stopped since she came into power. Her counsel for economic policy who is an Australian graduate also has no knowledge about Myanmar situation nor experience in doing policy for small countries. He is also an NGO person who are all against people with power and wealth.
They have prejudice against the ill gained wealth of military people and their power during the period of market opening since 1991. The new government tried to make tight rules for construction and loans of banks when all economic developments stalled.
It was until another election in 2020 when she said she wanted a landslide victory . The public will still vote her but it cannot be landslide but the people in charge cheated a lot so much so that other parties complaint to the commander in chief whom according to the constitution can intervene if there is a discrepancy or illegal thing. They tried to talk and make negotiation with her but she was adamant and had no respect for military and they have no choice had to take control.
Thus the vicious cycle of Myanmar under military rule since 1962 back again.
Thus our country cannot plan for economic recovery with the more strict western sanctions in place.
I just wish we had a leader in opposition party who grew up in Myanmar , who was not a housewife, who can deal peacefully with the military leaders for the sake of the country and both shall have open arms and open policy for foreign investments .
The corruption is rampant just like Indonesia so the new government shall deal with it like China did in their country.
With the correct leader on top with transparent system enforced Myanmar can be on the right path for economic development in future.
In 2025 there will be an election. Hopefully we will see progressive leaders that time.
Khin Gyi.
