[Burma] is now opening up.”
Rogers said Burma has deteriorated from being the single richest country in Southeast Asia in 1962 to the poorest “because it’s been so badly run in the past 50 years.”
But he said all that appeared to be changing.
EU Economic Sanctions ‘Likely to be Reviewed in April’
The European temporary suspension of travel curbs on President Thein Sein and dozens of other senior Burmese officials is likely to be followed by a full review in April of the EU’s economic sanctions against Burma.
That’s the view of former British envoy in Asia Derek Tonkin.
“The suspension is seemingly valid only until April 30, 2012, by which time the European Council will need to take decisions about the future of all sanctions imposed in the past,” wrote Tonkin for the London NGO Network Myanmar, of which he is chairman.
Tonkin believes the review will be discussed at the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council meeting scheduled for April 23.
Malaysians Follow Singaporeans in Business Queue into Burma
Hot on the heels of a large business delegation from Singapore last week, Malaysia’s International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapha Mohamed is leading a 40-strong trade team to Burma on Feb. 23-24.
The visit will also mark the establishment of the Malaysian Myanmar Business Council. The Malaysians will be looking for opportunities in tourism, energy, infrastructure projects and agriculture, said the Malaysian government news agency Bernama.
Last week, the Singapore Business Federation led 70 Singaporean firms to Rangoon and Naypyidaw to assess new business opportunities.