One in four Asian enterprises plan to enter Myanmar this year, making Asia’s newest emerging market one of the top investment destinations in the region, according to a survey by United Overseas Bank.
Myanmar appears poised to become the beneficiary of an uptick in inbound investment and M&A activity as fears of the government backsliding on reform subside.
The latest inbound deal was Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corp's acquisition of a 30% stake in Capital Diamond Star, a major Myanmar conglomerate. They said in a statement this week that together they plan to invest $200 million in Myanmar’s food sector, tipped alongside automotive and shipping as a key area of interest for regional players. Some 33% of Hong Kong firms are keen to enter the market, according to the UOB survey, which cites the IMF and McKinsey.