Career diplomat, and Minister of the Office of the Union Government, U Thaung Tun, has been appointed chair of the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC). The appointment was made on June 5 and comes after former Minister for Planning and Finance, U Kyaw Win, resigned in May. Incoming minister U Soe Win was expected to take over the role. A local source said that the decision to place him as the head of the investment commission has split opinion among the business community. “More than experience, the most important thing in this role is leadership,” Dr Aung Tun Htet, an MIC member, said according to the article. “He was appointed because the government has witnessed his leadership skills.” However economic researcher U Hla Maung said he would have preferred to have seen a businessperson in the role, not a politician. Also the country’s Security Advisor, Thaung Tun is regarded as being close with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.