The US Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker reaffirmed on her first visit to Myanmar, the United States’ commitment to closer economic and commercial ties with Myanmar.
According to a press release by the US Em-bassy in Yangon at the end of her two-day Myanmar visit, Pritzker met with President U Thein Sein, Vice President Nyan Tun, Speaker of the Lower House Thura U Shwe Mann and several government ministers during the trip in Nay Pyi Taw and discussed the United States commitment to economic engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, deep-ening responsible US investment in Myan-mar and supporting continued reform.
She also met with Chair of the Lower House’s Rule of Law and Tranquillity Committee Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, civil society leaders, and executives from leading US companies investing in the country.
Pritzker revealed that as of the end of April, US companies have planned to invest US$ 243.6 million in Myanmar’s economy. To promote new investment, she announced the opening of the first-ever US Foreign Commercial Service office in Yangon. As part of this commitment, the Commerce Department is working to encourage mu-tually-beneficial growth in Burma and the entire ASEAN region.
She joined APR Energy to highlight the signing of a large-scale turnkey power con-tract that will lead to construction of one of the largest thermal power plants in the coun-try providing power to more than six million people.
In addition, she joined the Ball Corporation to announce plans to build an aluminum can factory outside Yangon. She also met with the American Chamber of Commerce Myan-mar Chapter to discuss responsible business practices, community development efforts and other aspects of good corporate citizen-ship.
