The government hosted the Rakhine Investment Fair last week, aiming to attract foreign companies to invest in the troubled state. This is part of plans led by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to encourage development in Rakhine State. Aung San Suu Kyi made comments at the event, held at Ngapali Beach, where she spoke of the region’s “untapped” economic potential. She gave little mention of the violence that the state has seen in recent years, much of which continues today. In her speech, Aung San Suu Kyi said that Rakhine “still remains untapped”, according to an AFP article. She highlighted the huge potential of industries including tourism, manufacturing and oil and gas as “one of the shining assets of Rakhine State”. According to the article, participants from India, Japan, South Korea and China attended the event. The government has consistently said that development is needed to bring an end to the long-running conflicts in the state. However, critics of the investment fair say that it failed to deal with some of the deep-seated issues in there. Renewed fighting between the Myanmar Army, also called Tatmadaw, and the Arakan Army have been taking place. Over 100,000 Muslims, who call themselves Rohingya, are still living in segregated camps in Rakhine. Many people do not have access to healthcare, education and livelihoods.
