Wednesday, 11 January 2012 21:39 Mizzima News
(Mizzima) – Burmese officials said Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates and top U.S. businessmen would visit Burma sometime in February.
Officials said on Wednesday the visit is further confirmation that Asian and western businessmen are looking closely at Burma’s recent moves toward democracy and its desire to open up the country for investments.
Reuters news group quoted a Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce official saying, “A team of high-level American businessmen including Bill Gates is due to visit."
The visit comes despite U.S. economic sanctions against Burma and will follow on the heels of a high-level delegation of leading Japanese businessmen who will visit the country this week.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during her visit in December that the U.S. is ready to begin lifting sanctions if Burma shows more concrete movement toward democracy and national reconciliation.
Burma, a country of 60 million people, has one of the lowest average national wage levels in the world and is considered one of the last frontier markets for low-paid small business and unskilled workers. However, it is rich in oil, natural gas, timber, gems and other natural resources.
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