Min Aung Hlaing pitches own vision of 'land bridge' to Thai investors
Myanmar’s President Min Aung Hlaing co-chaired the opening of the Thailand-Myanmar Business Forum 2026 yesterday, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC), proposing to position Myanmar as a strategic ‘land bridge’ connecting three regions, while inviting Thai businesses to invest in energy, electric vehicles and major infrastructure.
Extending greetings to Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and attendees from businesses, the military leader highlighted Thailand's position as Myanmar's fifth-largest foreign investor, with 103 active projects valued at US$4.6 billion.
He emphasised that combining Myanmar’s abundant natural resources and labour pool with Thai capital, technology and management capabilities would cultivate a stable, win-win business ecosystem for both nations.
Highlighting Myanmar’s geographic position, bridging East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia, Min Aung Hlaing pitched the country as a vital logistics conduit linking the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
He urged Thai entities to invest heavily in special economic zones (SEZs), specifically highlighting the Dawei deep-sea port project as the most direct export gateway for Thai goods moving toward South and West Asian markets, alongside development in the Thilawa and Kyaukphyu SEZs.
The address outlined several priority sectors open to foreign capital, notably green technology, electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, battery production and steel fabrication.
In addition to high-value agricultural processing and pharmaceutical production, he invited Thailand's healthcare sector to invest directly in medical services, while encouraging expanded transport and logistics ventures along border economic zones in Myawaddy, Tachileik and Kawthaung to leverage the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway.
Addressing issues along the shared 2,400-kilometre border, Min Aung Hlaing called for joint enforcement to eliminate illegal trade passing through major checkpoints, such as Mae Sot-Myawaddy and Mae Sai-Tachileik.
He noted that illicit trade deprives both states of tax revenues while exposing consumers to dangerous, unregulated medicines and low-quality goods.
To reassure prospective investors, the Myanmar leader pointed to ongoing economic and regulatory reforms, including the full implementation of four intellectual property laws enacted in 2024 and tax incentives for EV supply chains.
He guaranteed business safety and legal protection under the Myanmar-Thailand Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, promising streamlined administrative procedures to support incoming cross-border enterprise.