8pm, Monday August 20, 2012

Members Free, non-Members: 300 Baht
A quick menu will be available from the restaurant

 

After a year of high-profile political reforms, Myanmar's President Thein Sein has promised a "second wave" of changes, focused on Myanmar's economy.

Some western sanctions have been suspended, and the US recently gave companies the go-ahead to invest in Myanmar, including in controversial natural resource sectors such as oil and gas. The World Bank opened a new office in Myanmar at the beginning of August and parliament is revising the 1988 foreign investment law.

Foreign investors and local business people are scenting opportunity, while the country's citizens hopeful that this will mean jobs and increased living standards.

To discuss the state of Myanmar's economy, as well as the challenges and opportunities of doing business after decades of isolation, is a panel of analysts and business people, based in Myanmar and beyond.
Dr Sean Turnell is Associate Professor in Economics at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia and a prolific commentator on the Myanmar economy, with op-eds in newspapers such as the Wall St Journal and is author of numerous papers and books, including 'Fiery Dragons: Banks, Moneylenders and Microfinance in Burma' (NIAS Press).

Khin Maung Nyo is a Yangon based economist and journalist/editor. He is senior research fellow at the Centre for Economic and Social Development, part of the Myanmar Development Resource Institute. He is also Chief Editor of the Street View journal, New Day Journal and the Smart News Journal

Luc de Waegh is founder and managing partner of West Indochina, which advises companies interested in doing business in Myanmar. Mr de Waegh has almost two decades of experience in Myanmar, having started up the British American Tobacco (BAT) subsidiary in the country in 1993.

Aung Zaw Oo is a Yangon-based businessman and founder of Aung Naing Thitsar Co.and is joint Secretary ofthe Myanmar Rice Industry Association (MRIA). He was previously on the board of the Myanmar Federation Chamber of Commerce Industry (UMFCCI).

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