Swedish Business Opportunities in Myanmar: How can Swedish companies be successful in Myanmar?

With the new Government recently in place in Myanmar, many expect the country to continue reforms, increase openness and promote trade and investments.  
But in terms of business priorities and policies in Myanmar’s main economic growth zone Yangon, what lies ahead? 

The Swedish-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and the Embassy of Sweden are delighted to welcome you to a Breakfast Roundtable Discussion on these issues at the Nordic House in Yangon on 7 June, as a follow-up to the Swedish National Day celebration. 

- How will the Yangon Region grow? How can Swedish businesses contribute?
H.E. U Phyo Min Thein, Chief Minister of Yangon Region (TBC) 
H.E. U Maung Maung Soe, Mayor of Yangon (TBC)

- How can Swedish companies “make it” in Myanmar? 
Representative from Swedish company in Myanmar 

- How to promote sustainability and “Swedish values” when doing business in Myanmar?
Ms. Julia Bakutis, Sustainability Manager, H&M 

- What companies must know: short update on recent legal developments 
Mr. Alexander Bohusch, Attorney-at-law, Luther Law Firm Limited

The discussion will be moderated by Sweden’s Ambassador to Myanmar, H.E. Mr Staffan Herrström
***
Date and time: 7 June 09:00-11:00, breakfast served from 08:45. 
Location: Embassy of Sweden, Section Office in Yangon, The Nordic House, 3 Pyay Road, 6 miles, Hlaing Tsp, Yangon. 
RSVP: via email to thiri.sun@gov.se or sign up here no later than 2 June

Due to limited space, members of the Swedish and other Nordic chambers are prioritised together with specially invited guests.

With the US Sanction lifted everything points towards an inflow of US Companies and investment. Already being late to the game, many other asian investors have established themselves especially over the last four years.

Browings some websites we saw the followign lists from http://consult-myanmar.com/myanmar-business-opportunity/

What are the business opportunities in Myanmar we are often asked? Myanmar being an emerging market where there has been economic isolation and under-investment for the last 50 years presents many opportunities in infrastructure related industries such as:

1. Telecom
   • Mobile tower construction
   • Network planning and engineering
   • Subsea cable engineering, laying and installation
   • Optical Fiber engineering, laying and installation to residential, commercial and industrial zones
   • Internet Service Providers
   • Public Wi-Fi rollout over large area e.g. airport, hotel, convention center, downtown, subway, etc
2. Power Generation
   • Construction of medium to large-scale hydro and gas-fired power plants in Public-Private-Partnerships
   • Investments into the transmission system (e.g. high-voltage transmission lines between the North of Myanmar and Yangon)
   • Realization of small-scale hydro-power projects e.g. to supply a village tract
   • Establishment of solar energy farms and wind power farms
   • Provision of efficient and practical solar-power kits to communities currently off-grid as well as of solar-power based solutions (e.g. solar-powered pumps, solar lighting)
   • Upgrading of the current power infrastructure in urban centers and industrial zones
3. Building & Construction
   • Urban planning, building and management
   • SEZ planning, building and management
   • Building of transportation system such as airports, sea ports, rails, roads and bridges
   • Establishment and retrofitting of industrial parks and supportive infrastructure
   • Building of logistics infrastructure
4. Hotel, Tourism
   • Investing in tourist class hotel
   • Investing in tourism related transport service such as tour buses, limousine, etc
   • Investing in tourism related novelty programs such as hot air balloons, river cruises, amphibious vessels, etc
   • Investing in F&B outlets in malls and tourist areas
5. Manufacturing
   • labour-intensive industries in second-tier cities (e.g. Pathein, Bago, Hpa An) in areas such as production of garments and shoes or assembling of toys and stationary articles
   • agro-processing industries at the locations of agricultural produce in rural areas
   • Production of building materials strongly demanded by the national construction industry (e.g. cement, bricks, steel, glass, paints, doors, windows etc.)
   • gemstone processing industries (e.g. jade, sapphires, rubies) to establish value-adding production such as design, cutting and polishing inside Myanmar
   • capital-intensive industries (e.g. automotive, land machinery) particularly at locations with good access to international and national markets (e.g. SEZs)
   • wood-processing industry particularly based on hardwood and bamboo (e.g. furniture production)
   • paper and cardboard industry
   • high-tech industries (e.g. in Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, Bago and Mandalay) based on local, regional and global demand and the opportunities through the proximity of international airports
   • chemical industries (e.g. pharmaceutical and plastic articles) based on local and regional demand
   • industrial services, e.g. waste water management, recycling, training
6. Agricultural & Farming Industry
   • Distribution of low-cost irrigation systems to rural communities (e.g. solar-powered, with instruction)
   • Leasing of agricultural tools and machinery
   • Distribution of high-quality seeds for higher yields
   • Establishment of the production of fertilizers, crop protection chemicals etc.
   • Contract farming (i.e. direct sourcing from rural communities (based on partnership agreements)
   • Introducing value-added production / processing based on local agricultural produce (e.g. Groundnut, sesame).
   • Establish packaging / canning industry for agricultural produce
   • Establishment of research and training institutions or demonstration farms on integrated agriculture, crop sequencing, fertilizer use, organic agriculture and agriculture-related business skill development
   • Construction of warehouses and cold storages
   • Microfinance, micro-insurance and trade finance services for farmers
7. Aquaculture and Fisheries
   • Capture and aquaculture of different types of fish
   • Capture and aquaculture of shrimp and prawn
   • Fish food production
   • Fish and seafood processing facilities
   • Cooling, canning and packaging facilities
   • Establishment of education and research institutions to broaden knowledge as well as the base of human resources available to the fisheries sector
8. Mining – Myanmar is rich in the following minerals: Alum, Amber, Antimony, Barite, Bauxite, Beryl, Bismuth, Cadmium, Chromite, Columbite, Copper, Corundum, Gemstones, Gold, Graphite, Gypsum, Iridium, Iron ores, Manganese, Mica, Molybdenum, Natural gas, Nickel, Ochre, Oil, Shale, Phosphates, Silver, Soda, Steatite, Sulphates, Sulphides, Sulphur, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Cinnebar, Coal, Cobalt, Jadeite, Kaolin, Lead, Platinum, Salt, Saltpetre, Zinc
   • Exploration and feasibility studies for projects in mining as well as oil and gas
   • Medium to Large-scale operation of mines and wells
   • Offshore and onshore opportunities for the exploration and extraction of oil and gas
   • Establishment of petroleum-based industrial, processing and supportive facilities (e.g. refineries, fertilizers, LPG, LNG)
   • Value-added production based on natural resources
   • Supporting industries, such as machinery, maintenance, consulting services
   • Establishment of education and research institutions to broaden knowledge as well as the base of human resources available to this sector
9. Forestry-based Industry – Myanmar is rich in the following tree species: Teak, Pyinkado, Padauk, Pine and others.
   • Establishment of wood-processing industry (e.g. furniture production)
   • Expansion of bamboo forests and bamboo-based production (i.e. handicrafts)
   • Rubber-based industries (e.g. tire production in Mon and Karen State)
   • Teak and hardwood plantations
   • Sandalwood-processing industries
   • Community-based forestry
10. Services
    • Building consultancy – earthquake proof structure, mechanical and electrical engineering, civil and structural engineering, building information modelling, etc.
    • Design consultancy – urban design and master planning consultancy, architectural design, building interior design, retail design, etc.
    • Environmental engineering and waste & water management.
    • Environmental and social impact consultancy in the area of Oil & Gas, Mining, large scale development projects such as SEZs, airports, seaports, etc.
    • Seismic data acquisition consultancy for the Oil & Gas and Mining industries.
    • Educational and training consultancy for key industries such as Oil & Gas, Mining, Power Generation, Construction, Banking, Hotel & Retail, etc.
    • Agricultural and livestock management and production consultancy and training.
    • Hospital and healthcare planning and management consultancy and training.
    • Banking software applications for Retail, Private, Universal, Wholesale & Lending business functions
    • E-Government software applications that automate managing of appointment, application for permit or licence, queuing system for government department that interact with citizens, procurement system, etc.
    • Information system required to manage airport operations, port operations and custom/immigration entry and exit points
    • Traffic management systems for expressway, toll roads and highly congested urban centre.
    • Real estate marketing consultancy for high end property.
    • Retail brand franchise opportunity e.g. fast food and restaurant concepts
11. Foreigners can now invest legally in the following business activities without the need to have a Myanmar citizen as a JV partner i.e. a foreigner can own 100% pf the following economic activities
    • Production and distribution of hybrid seeds
    • Production and propagation of high yield seeds and local seeds
    • Manufacturing of rubber and rubber products
    • Ecotourism
12. Foreigners traditionally cannot be involved in trading i.e. you will not be able to apply for an import or export licence. However on 11th Nov 2015 the Myanmar government send out a notification allowing foreigners to operate trading business via a JV with a Myanmar citizen in the following areas:
    • Fertilizers
    • Pesticides
    • Seeds
    • Hospital equipment
13. What are the areas that foreigners can legally invest in NOW in Myanmar without having to look for a Myanmar citizen as JV partners i.e. where you can own the business 100% as a foreigner? The following areas are now open to 100% foreign investment just by setting up a Service Company with a capital of just USD 25,000 when you start the company :
    • Engineering consultancy services
    • Business advisory, marketing research, media planning and advertising services
    • HR development and training in areas such as banking, financial services, Information Technology,etc
    • Software development and IT value-added services
    • Providing Western style retail services such as restaurant, cafe, wellness spa,etc
    • To learn more about incorporating a Service Company click here.

The above are just some of the areas that you can explore. Myanmar now is like China in the 1980s – everything look old, grey and crumbling and everything need to be build anew. 

Handelskammaren i Myanmar har till syfte att främja affärsrelationerna mellan Sverige och Myanmar genom information, lobbying och nätverksbyggande arrangemang. Handelskammaren är ny med ett begränsat antal medlemmar fast med ambition att växa i denna dynamiska frontier i Sydostasian. I Yangon arrangerar vi regelbundet aktiviteter för våra medlemmar, som seminarier, workshop, frukostmöten och även sociala aktiviteter och andra nätverksbyggande tillställningar.

Under 6-12 månader, har du möjlighet till erfarenhetsutbyte och kontakter med den Svensk-Myanmar affärsvärlden. Arbetet innebär kontakter med medlemsföretagen, medverkande i den praktiska planeringen, genomförande av aktiviteter samt vara behjälplig vid faktainsamling och textskapande. Du kommer att få insyn i och medverka i det kontinuerliga dagliga arbetet och samtidigt vara ansvarig för ett eller flera delprojekt inom ramen för verksamhetens service till medlemsföretagen i Myanmar.

Villkor för praktiken: Praktikanten får en ersättning på 600 USD per månad för att täcka en del av sina kostnader. Så det kan vara bra att vara inskriven vid en svensk högskola eller universitet under praktikperioden så att du har rätt till CSN. Du måste ha en giltig utlandsförsäkring under praktikperioden. Boende står praktikanten själv för. Praktiken görs möjlig med stöd från Stipendiefonden för svensk utlandsungdom.

Sökande: Praktiken ska vara relevant för dina studiers inriktning och helst vara på mastersnivå.  Du måste ha mycket goda kunskaper i svenska och engelska i både tal och skrift. Vi ser gärna att du har erfarenhet från service eller marknadssektorn samt kunskap i Photoshop eller In design. Du måste vara initiativrik, utåtriktad, kontaktskapande och engagerad.
Din period på Svenska Handelskammaren i Myanmar skall syfta till att hjälpa dig uppnå dina mål, och därför är det viktigt med ett intresse för regionen.

Praktikperiod: Närsom. Dock endast en plats.
Vill du ha ytterligare upplysningar kontakta Linda Gadd, linda.signium.myanmar@gmail.com


Skicka din ansökan med personligt brev och CV före deadline den 31 May 2016.
linda.signium.myanmar@gmail.com

Välkommen!
Svenska Handelskammaren i Myanmar

October we will house our relaxed evening with drinks and food at The Strand Hotel in Yangon.

There will be a small Swedish food menu available with Gubbrora Burritos, Gravalax toast 3 pcs or Swedish meat ball on potato mash for only US$ 6.

Place: Strand Hotel, 92 Strand Road, Yangon
Time: 7 pm - 9 pm
Date: Last wednesday day of every month.

FÄRGFABRIKEN Center for Art, Architecture and Urbanism in Stockholm, Sweden, and TS.1 Gallery, Yangon, have the pleasure and honour to invite you to a seminar called New Urban Topologies at the Summit Parkview Hotel in Yangon, May 4-6.  The program is attached.

Your attendance would be much appreciated in this time of transition for Myanmar's largest city. Experiences and knowledge will be shared by several speakers from Myanmar, but also from Indonesia, Cambodia and Sweden. Our aim is to bring togther all different stakeholders to explore a holistic, creative view of urban development, an approach that we have so far employed in nine different  countries in Europe and Asia.

Kindly confirm your attendance to jan.nordlander@fargfabriken.se no later than April 30. For additional backgrund, please open www.fargfabriken.se and click on New Urban Topologies

A new board has now been elected and focused on expanding our chamber there is also a new program for the fall.

The board for 2014 is:
Chairman: Andreas Sigurdsson (Individual member)          
Director (Vice Chairman): Jan Wassenius (Ericsson Myanmar)
Director (Secretary): Björn Sidfeldt (Individual member)     
Director (Treasurer): Linda Gadd (Individual member)
Director: Representative from the Swedish Diplomatic Mission in Yangon (Honorary Member)

Upcoming events to join!


Wednesday Oct 22 
Joint Chamber Board drink at Strand hotel 18.00 - All boards welcome.

Wednesday Oct 29 
Meatballs at Mojo 18.00 - Public event

Saturday Nov 15 
Golf at Pun Hlaing, SWEDCHAM's 2nd ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Wednesday Nov 28 
Meatballs at Mojo 18.00 - Public event

Saturday Dec 13 
Lucia celebration/Christmas party

Swedish Schlager and Meatballs at Mojo on April 4