Success Strategies for Poverty-Alleviating Rural Development for Myanmar: Lessons from Asian Experience

Myanmar faces a set of well-known challenges and problems, both in the overall economy and in rural areas in general and in agriculture. But Myanmar is also in one of the most blessed situations on the planet to expect rapid growth and poverty alleviation: it is next to (literally surrounded by) the fastest growing and largest food markets in the entire world, in China, India, Southeast Asia, and eventually Bangladesh, to name a few; the trade opportunities these represent are with only few historical parallels. Myanmar is in the best position to fuel rural development from regional trade, on the planet.