Will Obama visit open up Southeast Asia economies?

Today President Obama made a short but highly symbolic visit to Myanmar, the southeast Asian country also known as Burma. The six hour stopover is part of a wider tour of the region that also included Cambodia and Thailand.

As it begins to open up its economic system, Myanmar has quickly caught the attention of many foreign investors. The county has a strong manufacturing workforce and is rich in natural resources such as timber, oil and gas.

Yet, while the government of Myanmar appears to be moving in a democratic direction, many rules are still not clear. So for now, companies looking to make a safe investment may have to watch and wait as the country’s political and economic system gains more structure and clarity.