Switzerland-based international freight forwarding and logistics company Panalpina has now opened its own office in Myanmar. Established in Myanmar’s largest city of Yangon, Panalpina’s new office officially took up operations in mid- August. Panalpina’s team on site is able to handle end-to-end ocean and air freight shipments, both imports and exports, for local and international customers.

“Panalpina has worked with customers in Myanmar for many years through dedicated agents,” said Thorsten Harenberg, country manager for Panalpina Myanmar. “We have been grateful for their support, but having our own team on the ground here in Yangon will allow us to work more closely with and better meet the needs of our customers during this exciting time of investment and development.”

Myanmar had been isolated from international trade for decades until 2011, when a new civilian government was elected. As economic sanctions against Myanmar have been eased, international trade has escalated, especially imports.

Th e majority of imported goods come from other Asian countries and Europe.

Trade with China is growing, with new direct shipping services having been launched between Shanghai and Yangon, but the lack of infrastructure remains a challenge for this country of 51 million people, Panalpina said.

For Panalpina, the biggest opportunities for growth are in telecommunications, manufacturing, oil and gas, as well as capital projects. Apart from transport infrastructure, power plants, refineries and gas terminals need to be built.

Myanmar has vast off shore natural gas reserves and is rich with oil deposits and other natural resources such as gemstones and minerals.

“We expect our Energy Solutions team to be heavily involved, as the country develops in the coming years,” says Harenberg. “In the short term, both air and ocean imports will be driving the business. Exports will be limited until the country develops a viable manufacturing industry. Further down the road we also intend to offer value-added logistics services.”