ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA)

What is the ACIA about?

The ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA) came into effect on 29 March 2012 and was signed by ten ASEAN member states. Its objective is to support a free, open, transparent and integrated investment regime in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region in line with the goal of achieving an ASEAN Economic Community by 2015. Furthermore it is designed to support increasing intra-ASEAN investments and to enhance ASEAN's competitiveness in attracting inward investments into ASEAN in order to achieve the end goal of economic integration under AEC in accordance with the AEC Blueprint.

What is the role of Myanmar in the ACIA?

Myanmar as a member state of ASEAN and part of the ACIA is going along with the other ASEAN members to implement the four pillars of ACIA:

For further information please refer to the official website  of ASEAN and the “Guidebook for Businesses and Investors”.

Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with Myanmar

Myanmar signed regional Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with 

  • China (ASEAN – China in 2002) -Entry into force 1st January 2010
  • Korea (ASEAN – Korea in 2009) -Entry into force 1st January 2010
  • Australia / New Zealand (ASEAN – Australia / New Zealand in 2009) -Entry into force 1st January 2010
  • India (ASEAN – India in 2009) -Entry into force 1st January 2010

Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with Myanmar 

So far, Myanmar has twelve Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), namely as follows:

Country
 
Year
 
Attachment
Israel 2014 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the State of Israel for the Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments
Republic of Korea 2014 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the Republic of Korea for the Promotion and Protection of Investments
United State of America 2013 nvestment Incentive Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the United States of America
Indonesia 2013 Framework Agreement on Trade and Investment between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia
Japan 2013 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of Japan for the Liberalization, Promotion and Protection of Investment
India 2008 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the Republic of India for the Promotion and Protection of Investments
Thiland 2008 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand for the Promotion and Protection of Investments
Kuwait 2008 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the State of Kuwait for the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments
Laos 2003 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments
China 2001 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Promotion and Protection of Investments
Vietnam 2001 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments
Philippines 1998 Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Government of the Republic of Philippines for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments