Two competing business chambers have agreed to merge into a single organisation representing Australian businesses in Myanmar.
The Australia-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and AustCham Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding on August 14 outlining details of the merger.
The new Yangon-based entity will be called the Australian Chamber of Commerce based in Yangon, the Australia-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce said in a statement.
Companies and individuals participating in the growing Australia-Myanmar economic relationship will be represented by a new merged organisation following an agreement to create a merged
Australian ambassador to Myanmar Mr Nicholas Coppel said the merged organisation would provider greater support for Australians in Myanmar.
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“One unified chamber will have critical mass and strengthen the position of the Australian business community in Myanmar,” Mr Coppel said in the statement.
Under the agreement, Mr Chris Hughes, Yangon-based partner at legal firm Berwin Leighton Paisner, will become chairman of the new AustCham Myanmar. Ms Jodi Weedon, currently CEO of the Australia-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce, will be retained as CEO of the new organisation, the statement said.
A transition committee comprising members from the two organisations will “work on bringing the two groups’ management and members together” ahead of an Annual General Meeting for AustCham Myanmar planned for later this year.
