U Thaung Tun led delegates highlighted the reforms which is being carried in politics and the economy particularly in the education sector to pitch the interest of potential UK investors

Myanmar delegates discussed education, banking, and energy with the British Government and British businesses at the Myanmar Trade and Investment Conference 2019 held in London on March 18, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). 

The delegates also touched on the opportunities for growth and partnership in sectors such as construction, telecommunications, tourism, manufacturing and natural resources, according to MOFA.

The conference, organised by the Department for International Trade, British Chamber of Commerce and UK-ASEAN Business Council, was attended by U Thaung Tun, who is Minister of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and chair of Myanmar Investment Commission. U Set Aung, Deputy Minister of Planning and U Bo Bo Nge, deputy governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar, were also present.

Led by U Thaung Tun, the Myanmar delegates highlighted the reforms being carried out in politics and the economy, particularly in the education sector, in efforts to pique the interest of potential UK investors.

During the conference, the Linguaphone Group, the parent company of Direct English, announced GUSTO College Myanmar as their new Direct English Master Licensee partner for Myanmar. This exclusive partnership will see GUSTO College open its first Direct English training school in Yangon, before developing a nationwide education franchise presence across the country.. 

Linguaphone Group already has a strong presence worldwide with their education programs, including within the ASEAN markets of Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. They also already have a presence in Myanmar with their pre-school English language training and kindergarten brand, Pingu’s English. Now, adult students across Myanmar will be able to enrol in the popular nine-level Direct English language training system.

The Myanmar Investment Commission in April last year permitted foreigners to fully own and operate private schools teaching a curriculum prescribed by the Ministry of Education (MOE) or an international curriculum. 

International service providers can make investments in basic education schools, technical, vocational and training schools, higher education schools, subject-based schools and private schools designated by the MOE.

The UK is fifth largest investor in Myanmar with investments of over US$4.5 billion up until February 2019 so far, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration.

In major conferences in Hanoi, Vietnam and Singapore last year, State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had also made attempts to draw investors to the Myanmar education sector. 

She urged investors to harness the potential of Myanmar’s young working population, saying focus will be given to industries that will help to promote education for the Myanmar people. 

To help the country be prepared for digital disruption, she promised more investments would be channeled into improve the education system.

“We would like other ASEAN countries to help us develop and raise the standards of our education system so think of investing also in the capacity of our people in setting up your business in Myanmar,” she said in Singapore. 

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/education-banking-and-energy-pitched-investors-london.html )

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