Burma: Introduction

Burma, also known as Myanmar, is a country in Southeast Asia bordered by the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Neighboring countries include Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, and Thailand. Burma has a strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes. The government system is a military regime. The chief of state is the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council and the head of government is the Prime Minister. Burma has a complex economic system combing both traditional and command economic systems.  Many citizens engage in subsistence agriculture; however, the central government has a strong influence. Burma is a member of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).