CONTENT Introduction 1 Chapters 1. Methodology 4 1.1 Research Locations 1.2 Research Participants 7 1.3 Research Protocols 8 1.4 Process 8 2. Contextual Understanding of Myanmar 10 2.1 Political History of Myanmar 2.2 Economy 12 2.3 Ethnic Groups 13 2.4 Religion 2.5 Calendars and the Myanmar Holidays 14 2.6 Food Culture 15 2.7 Linguistic Affiliation 2.8 Dress Code 2.9 Thanakas 16 2.10 Rural-urban Divide in Myanmar 2.11 Transportation 2.12 Typical Household and Family Structure 2.13 Local Governance Structure 17 2.14 Forms of Identification 3. Enterprise Management 18 3.1 Micro-Enterprises in Myanmar 3.2 Initial Capital 28 3.3 Income 30 3.4 Expenditure 32 3.5 Business Registration 35 3.6 Tax 36 3.7 Support Services 38 3.8 Suppliers 39 3.9 Marketing and Customer Management 41 3.10 Forms of identification 44 3.11 Driving Licence 45 3.12 Sources of Information 46 4. Financial landscape 50 4.1 Access to Financial Services in Myanmar 4.2 Saving Practices in Myanmar 51 4.3 Borrowing Practices in Myanmar 54 4.4 Money Transfer 58 4.5 Conclusion 59 5. Telecom Landscape 60 5.1 Acquiring SIM Cards 60 5.2 Handsets: Anticipating Leapfrog 63 5.3 Usage Pattern 64 5.4 Internet Use 65 5.5 Payment and Expenditure 66 5.6 Alternatives to Owning a Phone 5.7 Conclusion 67 6. Public Utilities 68 6.1 Sources of Electricity: Conventional and Alternatives 6.2 Water 74 6.3 Transport 77 6.4 Conclusion 79 Way Forward 81 Bibliography 83 Appendix 84