BUSINESS CULTURE

In Myanmar
 Do you know Myanmar?

▪ Myanmar is a country that is comprised with the multitude of ethnicities and

prevalence of Buddhism.
▪ And Myanmar's economy is based on agriculture as the country consists of
abundant fertile land and water resources.
▪ But Myanmar is also to a degree rooted in its colonial past, with some familiar
customs and decent levels of spoken English.
▪ Business in Myanmar requires patience as well as a willingness to build friendships
and foster trust.
▪ If we attempt to do business without due regard for the local culture, our way of
doing business will be difficult.
▪ Myanmar has a culture of hospitality and openness.
▪ The greeting culture is smiling in first meeting in Myanmar.
▪ A simple smile that is included good faith can alleviate the situations that are
uncomfortable or embarrassing to you or your hosts.
▪ And handshakes are common in Myanmar business culture.
▪ When we meet new business partners, businessmen will typically greet each
other with a handshake.
▪ Generally we should give or receive with our right hands and avoid the use of left
hand.
▪ The exchanging of business cards is commonplace in Myanmar
and it might be suitable to print double-sided cards with both
English and Myanmar text.
▪ It is also a good custom to address people by their honorific
title and full name.
▪ In Myanmar ‘U’ and ‘Daw’ are used as equivalents of ‘Mr.’ and
‘Mrs.’ or ‘Ms.’.
▪ Personal relationships play a large role in Myanmar business culture.
▪ Personal relations are culturally important for business as the important aspect of doing
business in Myanmar is the need to be in the country either permanently and regularly.
▪ Trust is key to be a good business and they will be looking for an honest commitment to the
relationship from us.
▪ Their business networks are often comprised of relatives and peers, as nepotism is perceived
to guarantee trust.
▪ A meeting will simply be an opportunity for parties to get to know each other, as a prelude
to more serious discussions.
▪ Myanmar do not like to use the word ‘No’, which means that what Danes may think is a “yes”
can be an attempt to politely decline and avoid that the partner loses face or indicate that
more discussions are needed.
▪ This is not always the case and matters are sometimes concluded more rapidly, but it is
something which should be kept in mind. Most deals are agreed verbally and then followed up
with a written contract.
▪ Matters can initially seem ambiguous and we may need to make contact several times before a
matter is finalized.
▪ In honour of your business partner, do not try to fast-track business proceedings.You should
be patient and allow to meet plenty of time to be dedicated to acquainting parties with one
another.
▪ In Myanmar, we should listen to the opinion of the oldest person in the room and respect
them.
▪ And we should consider that ‘Yes’ may not always mean ‘Yes’ and we may need to consult
them a number of times to finalise a matter.
▪ Myanmar are famously friendly, and they understand that cultural differences exist just as well
as you do. They’ll be forgiving of the smaller mistakes you’ll probably make.
▪ Golf has become a common way of building the relationship between the business partners.
▪ Exchanging gifts are often part of the first rituals of getting to know each other.
▪ While gift giving isn’t a necessity on a first business meeting, it is certainly
appreciated.
▪ Gifts need not be overly expensive and the cost of the gift can make the
recipient feel uncomfortable receiving it.
▪ But there are many intentions for giving the gifts.
▪ On the Corruption Perception Index (2017), Myanmar is ranked 130 th out of 180
countries, receiving a score of 20 (on a scale from 0 to 100). This perception
suggests that the country’s public sector has some corruption.
▪ Removing the shoes to go into an office; this is the next business culture in
Myanmar.
▪ It can be surprise for businessmen from foreign countries.
▪ Generally, we can wear the shoes in public corridors, but we must
removed in front of the door of a firm’s offices.
▪ And Myanmar businessmen commonly wear Myanmar traditional man
clothes and longyi, but some wear the shirt and style pant or suit.
▪ Myanmar dress are suitable for the season in Myanmar.
▪ But you should not dress in revealing clothing in this fairly conservative
culture. Skirts should reach the knees and shoulders should be covered for
any business dealings.
• Myanmar culture has something of a middle ground approach to
small talk.
• Myanmar people are usually curious about foreigners’ impressions
of their country, culture, and cuisine of their country.
• Knowing a few words of Burmese will be particularly impressive for
first meeting.
• When doing business in Myanmar, it is important to also consider
the many public holidays in Myanmar, 25 to 27 days per year.
• Most of the private businesses are closed during public holidays, but
shipping and customs are generally open.
Reference

1. Go-Myanmar.com. 2021. Doing business in Myanmar (Burma) | Go- Myanmar.com.

[online] Available at: https://www.go-myanmar.com/doing-business-in-myanmar
[Accessed 5 February 2021].

2. Discovery. 2021. Etiquette Advisor: Tips for doing business in Myanmar - Discovery.
[online] Available at: <https://discovery.cathaypacific.com/etiquette-advisor-tips-
business-myanmar/> [Accessed 5 February 2021].
Thanks for your attention about the talk of the business
culture in Myanmar