Challenging year holds much promise for Myanmar's development

Four years into its transition to democracy, Myanmar has progressed rapidly, whether in terms of implementing much-needed reforms, attracting foreign investments or achieving development milestones. But the nation of 54 million still has a long way to go — and the next 12 months can be a crucial turning point.

“This year, 2015, poses a challenging year for Myanmar,” President Thein Sein said in a speech during the opening of the country’s third Development Cooperation Forum held this weekend in Naypyitaw. “This government fully understands and remains committed to successfully overcoming [the] challenges.”

Some of these challenges include the conduct of the country’s upcoming general election late this year — marking the first time since its transition where “all political stakeholders will contest freely and fairly” — the signing of a nationwide cease-fire agreement to put a stop to ethnic conflicts in the country, furthering the government’s administrative reforms to include greater cooperation and transparency, and “reconciling the wide range of views regarding amendments to the constitution.”

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