Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi opens branch in Myanmar, to finance learning centre

THE Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU) on Wednesday said it will fund the development of a new learning centre at the Myanmar Institute of Banking, the training arm of the Myanmar Banks Association (MBA).

The announcement comes as the Japanese bank became the first foreign lender to open a branch in Yangon.

The learning centre is expected to be ready by the second half of 2015, and will be used to provide computer-literacy and language training programmes catered to the staff of the MBA's member banks.

Go Watanabe, BTMU's chief executive officer for Asia & Oceania, said: "In order to realise the vision for long-term mutual prosperity of Myanmar and Japan, it is important for the bank to support Myanmar as it embarks on its journey to build a strong and mature economy.

"This new learning centre marks the beginning of a mutually beneficial partnership between BTMU and Myanmar Banks Association in raising the overall competency of the workforce in the financial services sector. This I believe will help Myanmar to build a solid foundation for a more sustainable future growth."