"Business and Investment Opportunities in the 'New' Myanmar" is a new report from New York-based trade and business development consultancy KWR International, Inc., that highlights the significant transformation now taking place in Myanmar, "a resource-rich nation, which possesses significant natural gas and oil reserves, 80 percent of the world's teak supply, precious gemstones and metallic minerals and substantial fertile land for agriculture," according to a KWR press release.

Myanmar's geographic location is ideal for commerce with China, India and other parts of Southeast Asia with coastal access providing an opportunity to become a central shipping country and a major actor in international and regional trade, the report maintains. Its large population of more than 55 million also provides it with the labor force necessary to develop a proficient manufacturing sector and constitutes a sizeable consumer market.

"Having spent many years following Myanmar since I began dedicating myself to developing business and investment with the country in the 1980s, I am pleased KWR has begun to support companies and investors as they seek to better understand, and gain exposure to, this attractive and largely unknown market," notes Keith Rabin, president of KWR International. "This initial report is designed to provide perspective on recent developments in Myanmar and how companies and investors can begin positioning themselves to take advantage of the opportunities now emerging. Following a trip to Myanmar this month [April] for discussions with business and government leaders, we plan to supplement this first briefing with sectorally focused reports. This will help to provide the data needed to plan and justify market entry and investments in tourism, technology, telecom, resources, manufacturing, services and the other areas addressed within this study."

The report examines a number of regional catalysts that promise to reinforce and provide additional depth and momentum to Myanmar's reform efforts. These include Myanmar's hosting of the Southeast Asia (SEA) Games in 2013, its chairmanship of the 2014 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, and movement toward a region-wide ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. The AEC will give rise to expanded trade and investment in a region with a region-wide GDP of about US$1.5 trillion. Learn more about the report and about business and investment opportunities in Myanmar at www.myanmarbusinessdevelopment.com.