Myanmar Monthly Business Brief, April 2026

Economy

Formation of the Union Government

New Union Government was formed on 10 April as follows;

• U Min Aung Hlaing President
• U Nyo Saw Vice-President
• Nan Ni Ni Aye Vice-President
• 30 Union Ministers for 30 ministries

Formations of state level organizations and appointments of Chief Ministers of the States and Regions were announced as well.

100-day programme of the new government of Myanmar

President U Min Aung Hlaing underscored the 100-day pro­gramme of the government at the meeting of the Union government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in Nay Pyi Taw on 20 April 2026. Salient points are as follows;

Education Sector

• the government has transformed the system into a compulsory educa­tion system up to KG+9.
• In the 2026-2027 financial year, 6.92 per cent of the State budget has been allocated to the Ministry of Education, and when ed­ucation-related expenditures of other ministries are included, a total of 9.22 per cent of the State budget will be spent on the education sector.
• Over the five-year term of the government, spending on education will be increased to up to 20 per cent of the national budget.

Economic development

• The government has planned to establish more industrial, ag­riculture and livestock basic education high schools across the nation.
• Efforts must be made to generate hydropower from renewable energy and solar power in order to develop the nation.
• The government issues loans to MSME businesses for their develop­ment by easing necessary restrictions.
• The Ministry of Finance and Revenue will issue agriculture loans such as K300,000 for paddy, wheat and long staple cotton, K250,000 for the other 18 kinds of crops and K150,000 for niger, canola and jute. Moreover, the loans will be set at less than K300 million and more than K300 million for agricultural machinery.
• The Ministry of Co­operatives and Rural Development will carry out rural water supply for consumption and agricultural activi­ties through the solar-powered water pumping system.

Development of Peace

• Ef­forts will be made to invite PDF terrorist groups to return to the legal framework.
• The government will invite EAOs to hold talks by the final dead­line of 31 July.

Transportation and Communication

• Upgrade of Anisakhan (pyinOo Lwin) Airfield. Myanma Port Authority will prioritize the construction of warehous­es. Moreover, railways will be upgraded prioritizing the Yangon-Mandalay, Yangon-Mawlamy­ine and Yangon-Pyay sections. Roads and tracks will be repaired on the My­itkyina-Mogaung-Mohnyin railway. In addition, locomotives, carriages and factories will be improved.
• In the com­munication sector, 27 new mobile sta­tions will be extended within 100 days. Of them, nine mobile stations will be upgraded to 4G LTE facilities.

Health sector

• the Ministry of Health will appoint deputy health officers in 50 regions and states, districts and townships in order to en­hance the healthcare activities. Medi­cal wards at the heart treatment units at Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay will conduct the medical treatment, assessing the heart diseases for 100,000 patients in cooperation with China.
• Moreover, nursing schools in regions and states will be upgraded to nursing institutes.

In General

The development projects in education, health and transport will be implement­ed in addition to the rehabilitation of government buildings, roads, bridges and communication infrastructures damaged by the natural disasters including Mandalay Earthquake.

Finance

FE market rate stabled; Gold Prices Fluctuate

The kyat depreciated to K4,297 per US dollar on average at market selling rate in April. The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) intervened throughout the month, selling millions of US dollars, yuan, and baht to stabilize the exchange rate and support imports of essential goods. CBM injected and auctioned amount US dollars 212 million in April, into the edible oil, fuel, and CMP sectors.

16 Peye Gold price was declined throughout the month at 10.4 million kyats per tickle for selling on 30 April.  Domestic fuel prices increased during Thingyan Holidays but it was decreased to K 4,668-4,909 per litre in Octane and K 5,752-7,012 in diesel at end of April.

Trade

Hpa-an-Kawkareik-Myawady Asian Highway section reopened but traffics are limited

The Hpa-an-Kawkareik- Myawady Asian Highway, part of the Greater Mekong Sub-region East-West Economic Corridor and a main communication route in Kayin State, was reopened on 2 April however cargo traffics were less amount in April. Both authorities from Myanmar and Thailand are trying to reopen Myanmar- Thai Friendship Bridge 2 in Myawaddy.

Garment accounts for highest export in five years

MYANMAR mostly exported garments and petroleum products, which are primarily imported in the five years from the 2021-2022 financial year to 2025-2026 FY, according to the Department of Trade under the Ministry of Commerce. Out of 20 export items in the past five years, garments ranked first with 26 to 28 per cent. Myanmar’s garment products are exported to 85 countries, including Japan, Germany and Poland.

The second largest export during the five years was natural gas, mostly exported to China and Thailand, with 21 to 25.29 per cent in the five years.

Regarding import, Petroleum products were placed first among the top 20 import items. These petroleum products were imported from 27 countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Rice exports generate US$861M in FY 2025-2026

Myanmar’s rice export in the financial year 2025-2026, exceeded 2.7 million tonnes, bagging US$861 million, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF). Myanmar’s rice trade is heavily reliant on sea trade

Investment

Manufacturing sector FDIs soar in FY 2025-2026

Foreign direct investments of over US$245 million flowed into Myanmar’s manufacturing sector in the previous finan­cial year 2025-2026 which indicated a sharp rise compared to $182.6 million recorded in the FY 2024-2025, as per the statistics released by the Directorate of Investment and Company Ad­ministration (DICA).

The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) permitted 80 enterprises to make invest­ments in the manufacturing sector last FY 2025-2026. Chi­nese companies primarily made investments in the manu­facturing sector. The manufac­turing enterprises that need a large labour force are prior­itized to create job opportuni­ties for the locals.

The Myanmar Investment Commission gave the green light to 85 projects from China, Hong Kong SAR, India, Taiwan Province of China, Japan, Thai­land, the Republic of Korea, Sa­moa, Singapore and the UK to invest over $472.6 million in the past FY, including expansions of capital by existing enterprises.

Energy

Notice on Fuel Sale & Distribution by MOEE

Ministry of Electricity and Energy announced that due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, disruptions have occurred in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply is transported. As a result, global crude oil prices have risen continuously, leading to increases in fuel prices and causing various difficulties. Through systematic management and controlled usage, the country has now achieved a reserve for up to 60 days. Although global fuel prices have increased, the ministry takes measures to prevent significant rises in domestic fuel prices. Compared to other Southeast Asian countries, domestic fuel prices remain at a reasonable level. If crude oil can be purchased and refined domestically, the public would be able to access fuel at more affordable prices. And so, the government is implementing plans to expand and construct new oil refineries and upgrade the existing facilities. The ministry directly distributes domestically produced fuel to consumers for motorcycles, three-wheeled vehicles, and some motor vehicles at K17,252 per gallon of RON 68, at K17,707 per gallon of RON 72, whereas at K10,000 per gallon of diesel for the farmers. Plans are also in place to continue such distribution.

Transportation

Yangon-Pathein Road upgrading completed, key sections improved and maintained

Road upgrading works, including asphalt over­lay and concrete paving along sections of the Yangon-Pathein Road, have been completed 100 per cent, according to the Ayeyawady Region Department of Highways. The Yangon-Pathein Road stretches 95 miles and six furlongs, from Milepost 17/4 at the border between Yangon Region and Ayeyawady Region to Pathein. The section from Milepost 17/4 to 56/0 is being implemented under a BOT system by Oriental Highways Company Limited.

Upgrading works from Bo Myat Tun Bridge to Milepost 56/0 are being carried out by the company, while the Department of Highways is responsible for the section from Mileposts 56/0 to 113/2. At present, a six-mile section between Mile­post 56/0 and Milepost 63/0, near the boundary between Kyaunggon and Pantanaw townships, has been upgraded into a 30-foot-wide concrete road. In addition, concrete paving work cover­ing three furlongs, with a width of 30 feet at the entrance to Pathein, along with shoulder works, has been fully completed. Although no new upgrading works are currently underway between Pathein and Ng­wehsaung, maintenance and repair works are ongoing.