<div>As the charter plane full of delegates attending the WEF East Asia Summit landed in Nay Pyi Taw from Bangkok, we were transported to a world that hadn't changed much in 50 years. <br /><br />The recently built airstrip and terminal were mint fresh like the rest of entire capital city of Myanmar. Nay Pyi Taw was completed less than than half a decade ago when the government shifted the capital to the geographical centre of Myanmar. <br /><br />It was built from scratch and in many ways is still being built. The area next to the runway is muddy with puddles from recent rains. Workers with straw hats are still adding finishing touches. Commercial flights are not allowed yet but the terminal is large and modern.<br /><br />The roads are broad, new and empty. A 20 lane road leads to the Parliament. The entire capital has clear zones. One for hotels, one for ministries and another for markets. The residents are mostly government officials who live in apartments colour coded by the ministry they work in. <br /><br />The 900 people attending the World Economic Forum's East Asia summit are among the largest bunch of foreigners to have reached Nay Pyi Taw in many decades. <br /><br />This bunch is also special since it includes business leaders, global media, international aid and human rights agencies. These categories of people were either not welcome or uninterested. <br /><br />Among these are about 40 global CEOs of MNCs. These include Indra Nooyi of Pepsi and Martin Sorell of WPP. Co-chairs of the summit include S Ramadorai, vice chairman TCS, Tony Fernandes Group CEO of AirAsia and Yorihiko Kojima, Chairman of Board of Mitsubishi Corporation. <br /><br />Global roaming for mobile phones does not work but the government is now in the middle of inviting bids for two notional mobile telephone licences. Over 10 companies have bid for it. Mobile phone subscription is 2.5 per 100 compared to East Asian neighbour Hong Kong with 250 per 100.<br /><br />Myanmar's minister for economic development Dr Kan Zaw says reforms are being implemented on four fronts: political, economic, public administration and private participation. He says that over 95 per cent of population of population is literate thanks to monastic system of education. <br /><br />Most investors are hoping to build on this foundation to meet the growth needs of 60 million in Myanmar. India is keen to take advantage of its legacy relations that go back to 19 th century. About 500,000 people of Indian origin still live here. Many education, telecom and infrastructure companies have advanced plans to invest here. <br /><br />Myanmar is the only member of ASEAN that shares a border with India. While Chinese influence is high, Myanmar is keen to get global economic players to be present in the country. <br /><br />This basic dynamic will shape the future of Myanmar. <br /><br />(Pranjal Sharma is a senior business writer. He can be contacted at pranjalx@gmail.com)</div>
