March 28, 2016
Press Release No. 079
The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Myanmar will begin to operate in Yangon on March 28 to provide consular services and facilitate people-to-people contacts between Taiwan and Myanmar. TECO in Myanmar (formerly known as TaiwanICDF, Myanmar Branch Office) will also help promote mutually beneficial exchanges between the two sides in such areas as trade and investment, agriculture and fisheries, labor, education, culture, and tourism.
Since economic reform began in Myanmar in 2011, Taiwan business people have been actively exploring market opportunities there. More than 200 Taiwan companies are now operating in Myanmar, with 11 banks establishing representative offices there. In early March, E.SUN Commercial Bank became the first Taiwan bank approved to open a branch office in Myanmar.
In response to intensified people-to-people links between Taiwan and Myanmar, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) set up the Taiwan Trade Center (Yangon Branch) in 2013 and the TaiwanICDF established its Myanmar Branch Office in 2014. The Myanmar government also opened the Myanmar Trade Office (MTO) in Taipei in 2015.
With stronger and closer bilateral relations between Taiwan and Myanmar, bilateral trade volume increased from US$286.8 million in 2013 to US$335.7 million in 2014. A decrease in two-way trade volume in 2015 to US$276.5 million was due to the weak global economy. The opening of TECO in Myanmar will further promote bilateral trade, cooperation on agricultural technology, the exchange of development experience regarding small and medium enterprises, benefiting the peoples of both sides. The office will also provide immediate assistance in the event of emergencies involving ROC nationals in Myanmar.
Myanmar covers an area of 676,577 square kilometers and is home to 51.4 million people, including 2 million ethnic Chinese. ROC citizens made almost 32,000 trips to Myanmar in 2015. China Airlines now offers five to seven flights per week between Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Yangon International Airport.
Contact information:
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Myanmar
Address: 7D, Pyi Daw Aye Avenue, Yankin Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: (002-95) 1-657-772
Fax: (002-95) 1-657-772 (please call before faxing)
Emergency Tel: (002-95) 925-426-9703
Office Hours: Mon-Fri (08:30-12:30; 13:30-17:30)
Consular Services: Mon-Fri (09:00-11:30 to submit applications; 13:30-15:00 to pick up documents)