"We are inviting
you to the capital of Myanmar. Nay Pyi Taw welcomes visitors. Everything is
beautiful and sophisticated. You'll be pleased and relaxed."
This is part of a song specially written to promote
Myanmar's new capital city, about 300 kilometres north of Yangon. Sung by
famous vocalist Ni Ni Khin Zaw, the video is played over and over on a small TV
screen at the international airport's departure lounge, just opened for
outsiders for the first time last week.
Some of the 900-odd participants at the World Economic
Forum (WEF) on East Asia 2013 were transported to the capital on chartered
flights, mostly from Bangkok. Certainly, first-time visitors will be surprised
at the large, modern airport.
They will also be surprised at the new city's many
facilities: two shopping malls, a planetarium, zoo, gardens, the Hluttaw
(parliamentary) Building, and a sports village (for the SEA Games, which will
take place later this year in the city).
Generally, the city is quiet. Aside from the buses and
vans shuttling between the Myanmar International Convention Centre (MICC) and
hotels, there are few vehicles on the eight-lane road that runs through the
city straight to Yangon. Once in a while, a public bus appears. Don't expect to
see many taxis. They are found at shopping malls and at hotels, but you need to
make a reservation - which costs a staggering 15,000 kyats (about Bt450) per
one-hour service. Most at the shopping malls go by foot, some with flashlights
in their hands as not all roads are sufficiently lit at night.
Junction Centre is the biggest shopping mall, with a
department store that features some brand products. Its supermarket is big,
offering thousands of items, including many from Thailand. Thai cuisine is
popular here. In the basement, where there are only three restaurants, two
offer Thai food. Bangkok Sky is the most popular. It's a real Thai restaurant
with a long list of authentic food including Sukhothai noodles. The staff
members communicate in broken English and are enthusiastic.
Most WEF participants spent three or four days at the
MICC, where the meetings took place. Only a few could make a half-hour trip to
the Uppatasanti Pagoda, an identical twin of the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in
Yangon. While the original is believed to have been built by the Mon people
between the 6th and 10th centuries, this one was built by the government and is
about seven metres shorter than the original. However, like the original, it is
also covered in gold leaf. Unlike the original, which is surrounded by big
trees and other, lower, buildings, this one stands on a hill, clear of other
construction, overlooking the beautiful mountains that border the Shan State.
Much of the construction work in the city started only
in 2006, but there are now over 15 hotels and more are being built. Some can
match five-star hotels in other cities in terms of design, decoration and
service. The MICC itself is large, with meeting rooms named after different
states in the country - Shan, Rakhine, Kachin and Ayeyarwady.
Near the main roads here, you could wonder where on
earth you are. The modern architectural designs give the impression of a big
city. Yet, where are the nearly one million inhabitants said to live here? They
could possibly be at the fresh produce market, where local food products are
sold in a very genuine environment. I imagine a lot of flies too.
Generally, Nay Pyi Taw will remind you of the big
cities that are mushrooming across China. Infrastructure exists here, except a
rail network, which is too costly for the country at this stage, and the
general impression is of Myanmar embracing modernisation in a big way.
To both the WEF host and participants, the forum
served as a test on whether Myanmar will be ready to assume the role of Asean
chair next year. Over 100 meetings are scheduled throughout the year, mostly to
take place in the capital, as Asean gears up towards the advent of Asean
Economic Community in 2015.
One local businessman here, Serge Pun, is pushing for
the development of new hotels ahead of 2014. Personally, I would push for
better transport services. Many WEF participants went straight back to their
hotels after the meetings at the MICC, as there was no way to get to shopping
malls or other venues unless you arranged your own transport. It was also
annoying that, sometimes, buses left before scheduled times. If Thais are
famous for their "krengjai" (consideration), Myanmar people seem more
impatient. If only a few passengers were on a bus, they were soon ready to tell
the driver to leave the venue, oblivious to other passengers who might want to
catch the same bus. With better shuttle services to other places, Myanmar could
have encouraged more spending.
Myanmar people are proud of their achievements. As
seen on the MICC Facebook page, many photos were uploaded and attracted
numerous "likes". That's impressive given the low Internet penetration
in the country.
A challenging future lies ahead, though. How the
hotels in this quiet city will be kept busy after all the big events are over
remmains to be seen? How the current pace of development will benefit locals
also remains to be seen? With direct flights to other destinations in Myanmar,
how many future visitors will come to the capital city? As we left, the airport
looked so empty, without any food shop where you could find water or snack to
kill the waiting. Hopefully, this will change when athletes descend here for
the SEA Games.
History suggests that all cities get bigger. But how
will Nay Pyi Taw grow in the coming decades? Well, visit the city and share
your thoughts.
Achara Deboonme
Business & Investment Opportunities Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd (SBC) is incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Health care and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN 's area. We are currently changing the platform of www.yourvietnamexpert.com, if any request, please, contact directly Dr Christian SIODMAK, business strategist, owner and CEO of SBC at christian.siodmak@gmail.com. Many thanks.
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