On 10 October 2017, Mr. Narong Boonsatheanwong, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Royal Thai Embassy, Yangon, led a delegation of 16 Thai businessmen, together with representatives from the Embassy, and the Thai Commercial Affairs Office, Yangon, to pay a courtesy call on Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, Chief Minister of Mandalay Region, and discuss trade and investment opportunities. The Thai business delegation comprised representatives from the construction sector, telecoms and information technology, infrastructure, finance and insurance, while the Myanmar side included          Dr. Ye Lwin, Mayor of Mandalay, and economic ministers such as U Myat Thu, Minister of Planning and Finance, U Zarni Maung, Minister of Electricity, Energy, and Construction, and U Myo Thit, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment.  

The Chief Minister of Mandalay Region thanked the Thai business delegation for their interest in Mandalay, and informed them of the prioritized sectors for investment, which includes (1) food technology for SMEs, especially on food preservation and packaging for export; (2) tourism, given that Mandalay is an important historical location with cultural heritage; (3) information technology, following the Mandalay Region government’s establishment of the e-Mandalay system, and the importance given to telecoms. This includes the development of a cyber city in Pyin Oo Lwin for investment by information technology companies. (4) Investment in Mandalay Myotha Industrial Zone, which already has investments from Chinese and Indonesian companies;                 (5) infrastructure, which includes roads in rural areas, the development of clean water systems, waste water treatment systems, and electricity, and (6) alternative energy sources, such as solar energy.

The Royal Thai Embassy has consistently supported discussions between Thai businessmen and the Myanmar government in various parts of the country so that the businessmen may acquire firsthand information from Myanmar’s policy makers on economic policies, and trade and investment opportunities. The Embassy also wishes for Thai businessmen to study the business environment firsthand, as well as to create networks with Myanmar authorities for future discussions and coordination.

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