Myanmar

Myanmar is a country in South-East Asia bordered by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand, with a coastline along the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. The capital is Naypyidaw, though Yangon remains the largest city and commercial centre. Myanmar has a population of about 54-million and an economy historically based on agriculture, natural resources and light manufacturing. The country is rich in minerals, including jade, rubies, natural gas, timber and rare earths, with significant deposits of neodymium and praseodymium that are critical for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines. Myanmar's currency is the kyat, and its government has oscillated between military and civilian rule, with a military coup in February 2021 returning the armed forces to power and triggering widespread civil unrest and international sanctions. The political instability has disrupted economic activity, investment and trade, though the extractive sector, particularly rare earths, continues to supply global markets, notably China. Myanmar is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and has historically relied on exports of natural gas, agricultural products and minerals. The business environment is characterised by weak governance, limited infrastructure, restricted access to finance and ongoing conflict in ethnic minority regions. Despite its resource wealth, Myanmar remains one of the poorest countries in the region, with development hampered by political volatility, sanctions and isolation from Western markets. The rare earths sector, centred in Kachin State near the Chinese border, has grown rapidly but operates largely informally, raising concerns over environmental damage, labour conditions and revenue transparency.