Mizzima-Aug 25
Statistics compiled by the junta-controlled Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) show that foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country in the first four months of the 2024-25 FY is meagre at over US$ 154 million. Out of a total 12 sectors, Myanmar received FDI in only five sectors meaning over half of all sectors did not receive FDI at all this fiscal period. Myanmar has not received FDI in the mining, oil, and gas sectors since the military coup in early February 2021. In the first four months of FY 2022-23, Myanmar received FDI US$ 1.22 billion but in the first four months of FY 2023-24 it fell by over half to US$ 467.7 million. Foreign investment in the first four months of FY 2024-25 is the lowest in the years after the coup. Some businesspersons said transport disruptions due to political instability, difficulties in getting raw materials, and power supply disruptions caused the decline of foreign investments in the country. The decline in the manufacturing sector also caused a fall of export earnings. On the other hand, border trade fell significantly after losing border regions to ethnic armed groups. Subsequently, tax revenues collected on border trade, which is the main income source for the Military Council, also fell. Singapore, China and Thailand remain standing as the largest per country investors in descending order. Sector-wise, energy, oil and gas, and manufacturing sectors received the largest amounts of foreign investment.
