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Myanmar gets ready for business
緬甸努力為外國投資做好準備
Opening soon
正在開放
Big opportunities and big problems for firms in Myanmar
對于投資緬甸的企業來說，巨大的機遇與巨大的風險并存
IT DOESN'T happen every day that a country of 60m people in the most dynamic region of the world is suddenly open for business,
在世界上最有活力的地區內，具有六千萬人口的國家一夜之間就放開了商業上的限制，這種事兒可不常見。
argues Hans Vriens, a consultant in Singapore.
新加坡國顧問漢森威爾森如此說道。
He is describing the prospects in Myanmar, as the once isolated country moves from a military dictatorship to something less ghastly.
他所描述的正是緬甸國內發生的變化，一個曾經封閉的國家從軍官獨裁之恐怖局勢中解脫出來的過程。
Rich in teak, minerals, oil, gas and much else, half a century ago Myanmar was one of the more prosperous countries in the region.
憑借著豐富的柚樹、石油、天然氣和其他資源，緬甸半個世紀以前曾是東南亞區域內相對富有的國家之一。
Decades of state socialism, oppression and sanctions put paid to that.
但是國內數十年不成功的社會主義化進程，以及來做國外的壓迫、制裁卻使得這些優勢消耗殆盡。
But now Myanmar seems to be rejoining the real world. The army has relaxed its grip somewhat,
不過現在，緬甸看起來又要重新回到世界舞臺了。
and the government is angling for foreign investment. Will the economy regain its former lustre?
軍方已一定程度上放松了對國家的控制，政府也盡力爭取國外的投資。那么，緬甸國的經濟能否重新恢復往日的光彩呢？
Myanmar's reforms may win diplomatic rewards.
緬甸的改革也許可以贏來外交上的回報。
America and the European Union imposed sweeping economic sanctions in the 1990s to punish the regime for stealing elections and jailing opponents.
美國和歐盟曾在20世紀90年代向緬甸實行全面的經濟制裁以對其無視選民的選舉權利并且關押反對派人士的行為做出懲罰；
These may be lifted.
緬甸改革以后，這些制裁都有可能被取消，
That would allow foreign firms, and particularly Western ones, to pour in.
進而海外的尤其是來自西方國家的企業，將大量進入緬甸市場。
Some countries are moving already.
有一些國家已經開始行動。
America is allowing IMF and World Bank teams to visit the country in part to help the government modernise its sclerotic financial system.
現在美國正允許世界貨幣基金組織以及世界銀行的工作組在一些領域內訪問緬甸以幫助該國政府扭轉僵化的金融系統、實現現代化。
The EU has abolished visa restrictions on leading government members and is expected to announce further relaxations in April.
歐盟則已經針對主要的政府成員解除了簽證限制，并有預測指出四月份，更多的限制會被放寬。
Western firms are excited by the country's big population, abundant natural resources and palpable demand for modern products and services.
緬甸國的巨大人口，豐富的自然資源以及對現代化產品和服務的明確需求都讓西方企業激動不已。
Myanmar's clocks stopped some time in the early 1960s, after the generals took over, so its citizens are hungry for just about everything.
20世紀60年代軍官獨占統治權后，緬甸的社會曾經一度停止發展，因而現在，緬甸人民對即將到來的一切都如饑似渴。
Few people own cars and the gleaming malls and supermarkets that infest much of Asia are largely absent.
目前緬甸國內幾乎無人擁有汽車，大多數亞洲國家內都成批出現的豪華購物中心或豪華超市也都在緬甸國內不見蹤影。
Mr Vriens says investors see opportunities everywhere, from finance to hotels to food processing.
威爾森先生說投資者在金融，酒店乃至食品加工等各個領域內都可以看到機會。
Myanmar's new government is embracing Western investors.
緬甸的新政府非常歡迎西方國家的投資者。
During the years of sanctions, the main large investors were Chinese firms keen to extract oil, timber and other natural resources.
在多年制裁后，現在主要的大規模投資者是將目光放在石油，木材等自然資源上的中國企業。
Few of these firms did much for local workers, or paid much heed to the environment. Now Myanmar has other options.
但是大部分這些企業都既不關注當地環境，也沒有幫助改善當地工人的生活狀況。現在，緬甸國有其他選擇了。
To make the country more attractive to foreign investors, the government is trying to rush through broad reforms of its legal and economic system in just a year.
當國政府正努力加緊在一年內完成從法律系統到經濟系統的廣泛改革。
New land and investment laws are being drafted, special economic zones created and advice solicited from all quarters.
新的國土與投資法律正在起草之中，經濟特區已劃好，更多的建議也從不同的地區被征集。
Officials are painting the country as the strategic nexus between China, India and South-East Asia,
中國、印度與東南亞是當下世界范圍內增長速度最快的三大市場，
with easy access to the three fastest-growing markets in the world.
憑借著通向這些市場的綠色通道，緬甸官員正努力將緬甸建設為中國、印度與東南亞之間的戰略紐帶。
However, it will still be a hard place in which to do business.
但是，當下緬甸依然不是投資的理想環境。
First, the exchange rate is rigged.
首先，該國匯率受到操控。
The official rate is 6 kyat to the dollar;
官方利率是6緬元對1美元；
the more realistic black-market rate is about 800.
但黑市上的利率卻是800:1，這一比率更真實。
The country lacks a proper banking system.
其次，該國也缺少真正的銀行系統。
In the new spirit of openness, officials concede that corruption is endemic.
在開放的戰略下，官方終于承認腐敗現象在地方盛行。
That is putting it mildly:
如下事實以溫和的方式表述了現狀：
Transparency International, a watchdog, ranks it 180th out of 183 countries. Building a functioning legal system could take a long time.
監管機構透明國際，將該國在全部183個國家中放到了第180個位置。顯然緬甸國想建立起真正發揮作用的法律系統還尚需時日。
A few firms have done well in Myanmar for years, despite sanctions.
盡管制裁政策的存在，依然有一些企業對在緬甸的國商業投資上表現不錯。
Total, a French oil firm, is used to doing business in nasty places.
道達爾，一家法國石油公司，就曾經在使人不悅的土地上成功投資。
DHL, a German delivery company, has profited from the absence of a reliable postal service.
敦豪快運公司，一家德國物流企業，也曾經在缺少可靠郵政服務的情況下順利盈利。
But these are exceptions.
但是這些公司都是特例。
If Myanmar wants to join the broad-based Asian boom, it will have to keep reforming for years to come.
如果緬甸想要在亞洲廣泛的增長局勢中分一杯羹，它還需先經歷多年改革才行。
