Singapore's Sphere Conferences finds second Myanmar partner

Singapore-based Sphere Conferences will jointly organise a series of industry-specific investment conferences with the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), following the signing of a cooperation agreement on January 11.

The events include a Myanmar Urban Development Conference and a Myanmar Banking and Finance Conference in May, and a Myanmar Logistics and Supply Chain Conference in September.


“Myanmar is transforming into a modem country, and we seek foreign participation in these industrial sectors. We are happy to partner with Sphere Conferences for the upcoming conferences, which will profile the country’s key sectors such as urban planning, banking and logistics,” said UMFCCI vice president Dr Maung Maung Lay.

He said that the conferences aim to foster better partnerships between the government and international businesses.

“With our re-engagement with the international communities, we aim to grow and develop Myanmar as a country that is both socially and economically attractive.”

Sphere Conferences chairman Mr Chua Wee Phong said the events “will create dynamic platforms” for both companies and government bodies to engage with foreign investors.

“This will be the first step in developing Myanmar’s economy by equipping the conference delegates with the knowledge to make smarter and well-informed decisions about investing in Myanmar,” he said.

Mr Phong told The Myanmar Times that the conference topics were chosen based on demand from potential investors, Myanmar exporters and foreign firms looking to buy Myanmar’s exports.

UMFCCI is Sphere Conferences’ second Myanmar partner. On October 2, 2012, it signed a similar agreement with the Myanmar Tourism Federation (MTF) to cooperate on the Hospitality and Tourism Conference, which will be held from February 26 to 28.

Mr Phong said early indications were that the conferences would be well attended. “We have already sold more than 60 percent of our capacity. It is going pretty well. We are also dependent upon MTF to get local delegates in because the conferences must not just be international communities. Everybody has a different idea. So a lot of sharing needs to take place and locals must come in and do the networking. I’m sure they will come,” he said.

Sphere Conference is the conference arm of Singapore Press Holdings, which publishes The Straits Times.

source: The Myanmar Times
Singapore-based Sphere Conferences will jointly organise a series of industry-specific investment conferences with the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), following the signing of a cooperation agreement on January 11.