European Chamber launched in Myanmar

The launch event has been hosted by the Ambassador of the European Union Roland Kobia and brought together top level institutional and private sector representatives. Participants included HE Prof. Aung Tun Thet, President's Economic Advisor, HE U Set Aung, Vice Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar, Dr Maung Maung Lay, Vice President UMFCCI – and business executives from many European and Myanmar companies.

The EuroChamber will be set up by a consortium led by the French Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FMCCI) along with Eurochambres – the European umbrella organisation of Chambers of Commerce – as well as Chambers from Belgium, France, Italy and Hungary. Other key EU business representatives in Myanmar and the UMFCCI support this project. The EU supports the startup of the EuroChamber with a grant of 2.7 million euros.

"Businesses need a stable and peaceful environment to prosper. And in turn, if they prosper, they can make a huge contribution to social and economic development." He said: “the EuroChamber’s aim is to reinforce links between Myanmar businesses and their European counterparts. The European Chamber of Commerce has the unique ability to draw from a wide range of business experience across Europe," said Ambassador Kobia. 

The launch event included also lively a debate on the theme "Doing Business in Myanmar from an EU Perspective" moderated by the Managing Director of MMRD U Moe Kyaw. The discussants included executives from Unilever, Schneider Electric, Luther Myanmar, Henkel and from European business organizations. The participants agreed on the importance of involving the private sector in business environment reforms. They also stressed the strategic importance of the EuroChamber to give greater visibility to Myanmar in Europe and to share experiences on good management practices, including Corporate Social Responsibility.

The organisational structure of the EuroChamber will be finalised in the next few weeks.

“The launch of the European Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar is a fantastic opportunity to increase ties between Myanmar and Europe. Myanmar and Europe benefit indeed from large complementarities, which would certainly bring jobs creation and increase exports," said Julien Esch, the president of French Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FMCCI).