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(01-06-2013, 10:06 PM)CityFarmer Wrote: [ -> ]

(01-06-2013, 09:09 PM)NTL Wrote: [ -> ]

(01-06-2013, 08:49 PM)CityFarmer Wrote: [ -> ]

(01-06-2013, 04:13 PM)Gaudente Wrote: [ -> ]Considering the extremely tiny starting base , GDP quadrupling by 2030 would not be such an improbable outcome... the problem is: how can the retail investor profit from this ? Apparently , in no way

http://vninvestment.wordpress.com/2012/0...-problems/

Well, i recalled that emerging market expert, Mark Mobius's opinion on ways to access emerging market
- "Proxies" of Myanmar's companies in SGX e.g. Yoma. The key to success is to pick the right one
- Mutual fund on emerging market, with sizable weight on Myanmar. I am not sure it is available since i don't invest in mutual fund.
- Yangon Stock Exchange should be ready by end of 2015, so direct investment into Myanmar company will be available soon...
- If direct investment is too risky then, probably ETF of Yangon Stock Exchange is an alternative.

So no hurry, more options available with time goes by...

I think you had answered your question regarding mutual fund. If they don't have an exchange, how do a mutual fund able to invest in Myanmar? Unless through proxy such as Yoma?

Well, private companies are also invest-able. Yoma did it, and there is no reason mutual fund can't do it

IIRC, Mark Mobius is doing the same for emerging markets, and some are without stock exchange.

As far as I know, mutual funds do have the requirement that the investments must be easily marked-to-market on daily basis. Thus, they are unable to invest in non-listed companies, or properties. Only in hedge funds, then they don't have such ruling, and can invest in anything they wish to.

Sharing Mark Mobius's opinion on Myanmar...should be useful for those interested...

Mark Mobius: 2 Things Need To Happen Before Investors Can Flood Into Myanmar

President Obama has finally authorized American companies to invest in Myanmar.
For the first time in 15 years, companies like General Electric and Chevron that have been aching to tap the energy-rich nation's resources will be able to do just that.
But the process isn't going to be as easy as all that.
Mark Mobius, investment guru and executive chairman of Templeton Emerging Markets Group,told us that the key now is a credible banking system and a currency regime that allows investors to put money in the country:
"Up until now, the currency has been very much controlled. And in that case, the fluctuations in the currency rates makes it difficult for investors to invest.
In the case of direct investors, people who are not involved in capital markets, it's not a problem, because you've got a situation where you can pay in money and take up a view that you are going to be able to convert it at some time in the distant future.
In the case of portfolio investing – investing in the stock market – it becomes more problematical, because in that case, you've got the problem of – if you're running open-ended funds like we do, we have to be able to get money in and out of the country on relatively short notice.
So, we don't want to have currency controls or some problem in getting money out. So, that I think is the big challenge that they face."
That being said there are the three sectors he thinks are most interesting in Myanmar:
"The obvious one would be tourism. That includes hotels, anything to do with food services, restaurants, anyone supplying those kinds of goods.
The second area would be mining because there is a lot of potential for mining in the country, particularly when it comes to gems. As you know, Myanmar is one of the largest sources of jade in the world.
Already there have been substantial investments by Thai companies in the oil and gas sector. So, that would be another area."
Transcribed by Matthew Boesler.

http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-mobi...mar-2012-7