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But he survived the purges and appears to be on good terms with the current leadership, perhaps because his daughter is married to the son of Gen Thura Shwe Mann, number three man in the ruling council.

 

Donating to worthy causes, usually government ones, is no problem for the wealthy entrepreneur and he makes no secret of his generosity, claiming that he and his family have so far given away more than 2 billion kyat (US $2 million) for the renovation of pagodas, education, sports facilities and regime-organized social activities.

 

The money was well spent though, for (besides lucrative government contracts) it won him one of Burma’s highest honors, the 1998 Aggamaha Sirisudhamma Manijhotadhara award, and the Excellent Performance in Social Fields (first class) award in 1995.

 

In 1998, Khin Shwe accepted an apparently bogus honorary doctorate in business administration from the University of Washington at a Rangoon ceremony. It was later revealed that the university never awarded him such a degree.

 

In Burma’s sporting arena, Khin Shwe can claim to have introduced archery to the country, and he is president of the Myanmar Archery Federation as well as of the Myanmar Swimming Federation.

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Zaw Zaw

 

The managing director of Max Myanmar Co, Zaw Zaw is one of Burma’s youngest tycoons. He is the son-in-law of Thein Tun, also a successful businessman and the man who brought Pepsi to Burma. While the company has some involvement in the soft drink market, its principal focus is the development of road and rail construction throughout Burma, investment in rubber plantations and the import-export of heavy machinery. The company also owns and operates a three-star hotel in Chaung Tha, a popular resort town.

 

Zaw Zaw founded Max Myanmar in 1995, before which he lived in Japan and exported used automobiles to Burma.  As other business leaders—including Tay Za—have done, Zaw Zaw has become a member of the Myanmar Football Federation, where he serves as chairman. Businessmen are often recruited by the federation to sponsor sporting events and hire coaches to train the players. Zaw Zaw also chairs Burma’s Tennis Federation.

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Eike Htun

 

Eike Htun—managing director of Olympic Construction Co and deputy chairman of Asia Wealth Bank—arrived on Rangoon’s business scene by a reportedly circuitous route.