Japan gets 3 out of 9 Foreign Banking Licenses in Myanmar

Singapore is also a winner.

Nine foreign banks have recently been awarded preliminary Foreign Banking License in Myanmar.

According to a release from Consult-Myanmar, the award of the banking licence also shows the influence that the countries that the banks come from – in financing development and trade in Myanmar with the rest of the world.

The release noted that the big winner is Japan with three banking licences. This was noted to be unsurprising given the level of Japanese government aids and the investment by the Japanese government and private sector companies such as Mitsubishi, Marubeni and Sumitomo in Thilawa SEZ.

Here's more from Consult-Myanmar:

Singapore comes in second with 2 banking licences.

Singapore is an important financial and commercial hub in Asia – and its banks, law firms, accounting, architectural and consulting firms play a big role in the Myanmar economy.

China, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia each get 1 banking licence.

Visibly absent were Standard Chartered Bank and DBS Bank (S E Asia’s largest bank) & Korean banks.

Standard Chartered decided to withdraw its bid for unannounced reasons even though it has a 4 man rep office in Yangon.

DBS Bank has been a bit of a laggard in Myanmar compared to UOB or OCBC – both of which have long history in Myanmar.

However early this year DBS finally opened a rep office in Yangon which may be too little too late.

Given the growing level of trade and investment by Korean companies in Myanmar it was surprising that no Korean bank was awarded a licence.