Myanmar
Myanmar is commonly recognized as a resource rich country with a very
strategic location between the world's two most populous countries and
largest markets, China to the east and India to the west. This combined
with a good education level enabled the country to grow rapidly when at
peace. The growth rate between about 1895 and 1930 was among the highest
in Asia. It is also known in a general sense that there are complex
historical, cultural and social conditions that make achieving peace and
stability in the country challenging. What is less known is just how
complex this is and just what the international community can do to help
the process.
The Institute believes there is a need and current opportunity for the international community to look for ways to support a development process more connected to the mainstream.
Members of the Institute have experience in Myanmar over more than 25 years and in a wide variety of contexts ranging from professional consulting assignments to diplomatic and 'Head of mission postings. Technical areas of experience include; agriculture and agro-processes, disaster risk reduction, refugee resettlement, illicit drug abuse control and reduction of opium production, HIV/AIDS prevention, strategic area development planning and mining. Most recently (2010) IID members assigned to undertake an evaluation of the local and international humanitarian response to the tropical cyclone Nargis that devastated the southern part of Myanmar in may 2008, leaving 130000 people dead or missing.
Travel by Institute members to the northern Shan and Kachin States have shown how development under the influence of the Chinese market in Yunnan Province has been progressing very rapidly, indicating the opportunities international marked access can provide for Myanmar, while at the same time giving indications of a lack of a long term economic benefit for the country unless such opportunities are pursued in the context of sustainable development.
This web page is being developed as a focal point for discussion about some of these factors and about development issues and trends. It is intended for the use of people and institutions interested in Myanmar. The Institute believes there is a need and current opportunity for the international community to look for ways to encourage compromise and support a development process more connected into the mainstream.
The Institute believes there is a need and current opportunity for the international community to look for ways to support a development process more connected to the mainstream.
Members of the Institute have experience in Myanmar over more than 25 years and in a wide variety of contexts ranging from professional consulting assignments to diplomatic and 'Head of mission postings. Technical areas of experience include; agriculture and agro-processes, disaster risk reduction, refugee resettlement, illicit drug abuse control and reduction of opium production, HIV/AIDS prevention, strategic area development planning and mining. Most recently (2010) IID members assigned to undertake an evaluation of the local and international humanitarian response to the tropical cyclone Nargis that devastated the southern part of Myanmar in may 2008, leaving 130000 people dead or missing.
Travel by Institute members to the northern Shan and Kachin States have shown how development under the influence of the Chinese market in Yunnan Province has been progressing very rapidly, indicating the opportunities international marked access can provide for Myanmar, while at the same time giving indications of a lack of a long term economic benefit for the country unless such opportunities are pursued in the context of sustainable development.
This web page is being developed as a focal point for discussion about some of these factors and about development issues and trends. It is intended for the use of people and institutions interested in Myanmar. The Institute believes there is a need and current opportunity for the international community to look for ways to encourage compromise and support a development process more connected into the mainstream.
