简体中文
Myanmar's President U Thein Sein said the country is striving to bring down its poverty rate by 16 percent in 2015, and has called for the support of U.S.-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) for Myanmar's economic development,official media reported Tuesday.
Meeting with a business delegation led by USABC President Alexander Feldman in Nay Pyi Taw Monday, U Thein Sein called the council an important organization for U.S.-ASEAN relations.
He said cooperation in technology and investment could bring mutual interest as Myanmar possesses tremendous economic potential. Besides rich natural resources and adequate manpower, its strategic location also offers a huge market for global investors eyeing South Asia and Southeast Asia.
Regarding the sectors of information, communication technology and telecommunications, U Thein Sein said the government is offering to cooperate with local operators as the country has a target of ensuring 80 percent of its population access to mobile services by 2015.
For his part, Feldman expressed hope for more economic success in Myanmar where he said the council has started doing business since a year ago. He said investment would be made in prioritized areas of Myanmar, such as infrastructural projects of health and education.
In July 2012, the USABC organized a historic business mission to Myanmar involving over 70 senior executives from 38 leading U.S. companies to explore business environment here. The council pledged to would work for long-term U.S.-Myanmar business relationship.
The council represents over 100 major U.S. Corporations, including both ones who have been active in Southeast Asia for over 100 years and newcomers looking to expand presence in one of the world's most dynamic markets.
Myanmar and the United States reached a new bilateral agreement for economic cooperation last month, materializingU.S. President Barack Obama's November 2012 pledge to provide 170 million U.S. dollars' assistance to Myanmar over the next two years.
According to Myanmar's official statistics, U.S. investment in Myanmar amounted to 243.56 million U.S. dollars in 15 projects, accounting for merely 0.6 percent of the total as of March 2013 since Myanmar opened to such investment in late 1988. It ranks the ninth in Myanmar's foreign investment line-up.
Bilateral trade between Myanmar and the United States reached 190.96 million U.S. dollars in 2012, of whichMyanmar's export to the United States accounted for 16.47 million dollars while its import stood at 174.49 million dollars.
