What does Responsible Investment Mean for Myanmar?
MYANMAR STUDIES PROGRAMME
About the Webinar
In October 2019, speaking at the Myanmar Global Investment Forum in Tokyo, Aung San Suu Kyi stated “Myanmar is in the process of transforming an opaque, non-competitive, connection-based economy into a larger, more transparent, more competitive, rules-based economy.” Despite commitment to and efforts made for a responsible investment agenda, legacy issues and implementation gaps dogged the National League for Democracy government. The Covid-19 pandemic compounded challenges. When the military seized power in February 2021, the State Administration Council emphasised business recovery in its roadmap. The reality, however, presents a dire landscape. The military’s brutal crackdown on widespread opposition to the coup has destabilized the country. The coup and its aftermath have caused a steep deterioration in the investment climate. Many foreign companies have suspended operations or are in survival mode. Several have invoked force majeure clauses to exit. The Financial Action Task Force added Myanmar to its blacklist in October 2022, heightening ongoing concerns for due diligence amid other constraints of continuing operations in Myanmar.
ISEAS’ Myanmar Studies Programme invites Ms Vicky Bowman of the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business to share her insights on the state of Myanmar’s private sector in 2023, the challenges and dilemmas of businesses operating in and sourcing from Myanmar after the 2021 coup, implications of targeted international measures, and the broader impact of investor decisions on the Myanmar people.
About the Speaker
Vicky Bowman has been the Director of the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) since July 2013. Prior to that, she led global mining company Rio Tinto’s policy approach to transparency, human rights, and resource nationalism issues. Vicky has served as the UK Ambassador to Myanmar (2002-06). She has also worked in Brussels as Member of Cabinet of European Commissioner Chris Patten and as press spokeswoman for the UK representation to the European Union. Vicky was detained in Yangon in August 2022 for alleged immigration offences, sentenced to one year in prison in September, then released in a prisoner amnesty marking National Day in Myanmar in November 2022, and subsequently deported.
Registration
This webinar will be delivered online entirely. You can join the webinar at the specified date and time using devices (computer, phone, or tablet) with internet connection.
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