Suu Kyi urges businesses to invest in Myanmar

Washington

MYANMAR leader Aung San Suu Kyi urged businesses on Thursday to invest in the South-east Asian country as a way to advance its democratic transition, a day after US President Barack Obama pledged to lift long-standing sanctions on the country.

Ms Suu Kyi, speaking in Washington, said that economic development spurred by foreign investment was needed to show the impoverished nation of more than 50 million people that democracy could improve their livelihoods and promote further change. "Economic success is one of the ways that we can persuade everyone in our country, including the military, that democracy is the best way forward for our union," Ms Suu Kyi told a dinner of business officials, diplomats and government officials hosted by the US Asean Busness Council. "In order to make the political transition work, we have to have the economic expectations of our people fulfilled as well,"she added.