The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population has identified a list of businesses that must be allowed to stay open during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The list (included at the end of this article) includes fire fighting services; hospitals, clinics and other medical services; banking and finance; manufacturing; and ports, warehousing and other logistics. Businesses which will be allowed to continue operating must follow strict health and safety guidelines.

The list represents a desire to protect Myanmar’s key economic sectors as well as its public health. Even in January and February, when the worst of the outbreak was still within China, Myanmar exports suffered, with merchants unable to move their goods. As the global pandemic continued, dozens of factories have closed their doors and laid off tens of thousands of workers. Including manufacturing, shipping and warehousing among the country’s “essential” operations may serve to protect the country’s economy. On the other hand, looser regulations risk increasing the spread of the disease and, therefore, the length of Myanmar’s lockdown measures.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear how effectively Myanmar will contain the coronavirus or how long the COVID-19 quarantine measures will last. Organizations such as the Asian Development Bank and IMF predict economic growth to all but halt in 2020. The government recently announced a comprehensive stimulus plan that may pump hundreds of billions of kyat into the economy.

The following is the full list of essential businesses:

1. State-owned factories and enterprises;
2. Businesses that supply water;
3. Businesses involved in electricity, fuel energy production and transmission;
4. Providers of fire services;
5. Private hospitals, clinics and healthcare service providers,
6. Telecommunication service providers; and
7. Information providers and technology businesses.
8. Transportation;
9. Warehousing and wholesale;
10. Port services;
11. Logistics and freight;
12. Export and import;
13. Municipal services;
14. Banking and finance;
15. Insurance;
16. Toll-collections;
17. Printing and publishing businesses;
18. Mining and resources;
19. Chemical-related firms;
20. Construction businesses;
21. Fisheries