Myanmar
Myanmar shares a border with China to the north and northeast. It borders Laos and Thailand to the east and southeast respectively, the Andaman Sea to the south, and the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh and India to the west.
Myanmar shares a border with China to the north and northeast. It borders Laos and Thailand to the east and southeast respectively, the Andaman Sea to the south, and the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh and India to the west.
Overview
Official Name
Republic of the Union of Myanmar
Capital
Nay Pyi Taw
Independence Day
4 January 1948
Population, Territory and Currency
Population & total area
57,526,449 (2022 est.)
676,578 square km
Source: CIA World Factbook
Currency
Burmese Kyat (MMK)
Average price per meal: SGD 2.70
Demographics
Male-Female: 49.2%-50.8%
Urban population: 31.8%
Youth aged 15-24 years: 17%
Source: CIA World Factbook (2022)
The Flag
The flag of Myanmar has 3 horizontal stripes of yellow, green and red with a 5-pointed white star in the middle. The 3 colours of the stripes are meant to symbolise solidarity, peace and tranquility, and courage and decisiveness respectively.
Key Historical Events
1886
End of Third Anglo-British war and establishment of Myanmar as a province of British India.
1942-45
Japanese occupation.
1948
Independence from the British.
1962
Military general Ne Win seizes power and rules under a single-party socialist system.
1988
Military junta takes control following a military coup triggered by the 1988 Uprising.
1990
Opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) wins landslide victory in elections but the results are ignored by the military.
2010
Military junta conducts an election, boycotted by the NLD. Hands over power to a nominal civilian government.
2015
Opposition NLD led by Aung San Suu Kyi wins elections.
2021
Following a massive election victory by NLD, voter fraud allegations trigger a military coup. Myanmar returns to authoritarian rule.
Economic Profile
As Myanmar moves out of the COVID-19 pandemic, its weakened economy experienced a -18.4% GDP growth rate in 2021, with the Asian Development Bank forecasting Myanmar’s GDP growth rate at -0.3% for 2022. Economic growth has been affected by the pandemic, as well as the ongoing political instability and disruption of critical services.
Nonetheless, Myanmar’s vast landmass, abundant natural resources and relatively young economy highlight opportunities in infrastructure and growth, especially in the sectors of transport, ICT, energy, clothing, and food and beverage. The government has also released a digital economy roadmap to boost growth in digital sectors.
Key Industries
Agriculture
Agriculture accounts for 60% of the GDP and employs 65% of the country’s labour force. Important agricultural products include rice, ground nuts, sesame, beans, pulses, sugarcane, lumbering, fishing and livestock.
Industrial
The industrial sector accounts for 28% of the country’s GDP, with the major industries being agricultural processing, manufacturing, construction and automotive.
Energy
While Myanmar’s oil and gas industry is a significant player, the country is also expanding the development of renewable energy such as hydropower, which is the main source for electricity generation in Myanmar. The government also issued the National Energy Policy in 2014, which aims to electrify all households by 2030 and increase its electricity generation capacity.
Up-and-Coming
Financial Services: While Myanmar’s financial system remains one of the least developed, the government is prioritising reform plans. The advancement of fintech has a potential to boost the financial sector, while local banks are expanding their networks, products and clientele.
Places of Interest
Shwedagon Pagoda
Golden Dragon Pagoda
A gilded stupa located in Yangon. The Shwedagon is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar.
Anada Temple
Located in Bangan
The Buddhist temple houses four standing Buddhas, each one facing the cardinal direction of East, North, West and South. Said to be an architectural wonder in a fusion of Mon and adopted Indian style of architecture.
Local Food
Mohinga
A rice noodle and fish soup that is a favoured breakfast dish. It is considered by many to be the national dish of Myanmar.
Tea Leaf Salad
The most popular Myanmar food. Sour, slightly bitter leaves are mixed by hand with shredded cabbage, sliced tomatoes, nuts and peas.
Shan-style Rice
Known as fish rice, it is a typical Myanmar food. It combines rice cooked with turmeric and topped with flakes of freshwater fish and garlic oil.
Major Festivals
Maha Thingyan
Also called the Water Festival, Maha Thingyan celebrates the descent of Thagyamin, a celestial Buddhist figure, to earth. The week-long celebration takes place around mid-April and is marked by the dousing of water at one another for cleansing.
Thadingyut
Known as the Festival of Lights, it falls on the full moon of the seventh month of the Burmese calendar and signals the end of the Buddhist Lent. Devotees celebrate by lighting oil lamps, candles and incense at pagodas, and decorating their houses and gardens with colourful paper lanterns. Food offerings are also given to monks and the poor.