1.2 Background of the project
After shifting to civilian rule and open-door policy for foreign direct investment in
2011, Myanmar has faced historical turnaround such as the regime change from the
military to NLD (National League for Democracy) and the lifting of US economic
sanction in 2016. In comparison with other ASEAN countries, Myanmar achieved
significant economic growth (real GDP growth rate: 7.3% in 2012, 8.4% in 2013, 8.7%
in 2014, 7.0% in 2015). Therefore, capital demands from domestic companies, foreign
direct investment and demands of retail banking services have grown. In addition,
“Economic Policy” released by the new administration in July 2016 made mention
that the stability of finance and currency should be one of the most important policy
challenges.
Central Bank of Myanmar (hereinafter, CBM) introduced Central Bank of Myanmar
Financial Network System (hereinafter, CBM-NET) in January 2016 under the
Japanese official development aid “THE PROJECT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ICT
SYSTEM FOR CENTRAL BANKING” (E/N: October 2013, JPY5.1billion)
(hereinafter, phase1 project). CBM-NET makes a series of manual-based operations
such as the management of current account and its outstanding, issuance/interest
payment/redemption of government bond and its balance into system-based ones. In
addition, as a result of financial system reform, for example dematerialization of
government bond and the introduction of government bond book-entry system etc.,
the financial infrastructure in Myanmar has been developed step by step.
On the other hand, comparing to the situation when the first project preparatory
survey was conducted in November 2013, the environment surrounding financial
infrastructure has been widely changed along with the economic growth.
The first point is the environmental changes of retail banking in Myanmar. Banking
account holding rate in Myanmar is still 23% (15-year-old and above, Roland Berger
survey 2016), lower than the ones of other ASEAN countries (Thailand: 78%,
Malaysia: 81%, Indonesia: 36%, Vietnam: 31%, Roland Berger survey 2016). So, the
rate in Myanmar has possibility to expand, in fact, the numbers of banking account
have increased 10% annual basis. Furthermore, as mobile banking services using
smartphone have become widespread and Fintech boom has been risen, retail
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