U.S. Business Organizations Welcome Myanmar Elections and Encourage Continued Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Foreign Trade Council, the US-ASEAN Business Council, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce issued the following statement after Myanmar’s by-elections on April 1: 

“We are encouraged by the positive developments in Myanmar, and what appears to have been a much improved electoral process compared to the last elections.  This election is an important milestone in that country’s ongoing process of reform.  Resolving political differences will be fundamental to Myanmar’s economic development, and to the welfare of its people.

“Further, we support the enhanced U.S. diplomatic engagement with Myanmar that has occurred over the past several months. We call for its continuation and expansion, including taking the next step in the administration’s already-announced plans to upgrade the status of our embassy in Yangon by nominating a U.S. ambassador as soon as possible.  We believe that such engagement has been, and will be, crucial in encouraging and supporting further reform.” 

The National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) is the historic U.S. business organization advocating a rules-based world economy. Founded in 1914 by a group of American companies that supported an open world trading system, the NFTC and its affiliates serve more than 300 member companies through offices in Washington and New York.”

The US-ASEAN Business Council has represented the largest U.S. companies doing business in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for over 25 years. Council members span all industry sectors, and include newcomers to the region as well as those active in Southeast Asia for over 100 years.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization, and represents the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions. Chamber members range in size from small enterprises and local chambers to leading industry associations and large corporations