The British Chamber of Commerce 2019 Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday 13th November, at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Yangon.
The format of the AGM included a mini expo in the afternoon with 18 member organisations showcasing their products and services. We saw a range of companies which is reflective of the diversity in our membership, industries included Banking, Insurance, Real Estate, Tourism, Education, FMCG’s and many more. Thank you to all the companies who took part - Sandar Hotel, CB Securities, Koe Koe Tech, Skyline Industry, Emmerson Real Estate, Job Net, Tilleke & Gibbins, Department for International Trade, Dulwich, ABE, Unilever , UBM, ERM, Sampan Travel, Lost Tea Company, JM Wine, CSKM and Slade Property Services.
The afternoon expo was followed by the meeting itself which covered the ‘Report of the Board of Directors’, presented by the Chamber’s Chairman, Peter Beynon; the accounts for the financial year ending on 31 March 2019, presented by the incoming Treasurer of the Board, Mike Phone Myint; the approval of the Articles of Association, which having been agreed, means voting for the 2020 Board of Directors will finish on the day of the AGM, not one week before as was previously been the case; and finally the all-important announcement of the results of the election for the Board of Directors.
Our 2019 election marked a new record in voter participation, with 97 member company representatives having cast their votes. Thank you to all companies who were involved and we hope to get even greater participation next year.
Congratulations, welcome and welcome back to our 2019/20 Board of Directors –
Newly Elected Board Member
Milla Rae of KBZ Bank
Re-Elected Board Members
Srikanth Srinivasamadhavan of Unilever
Richard Emmerson of Emerson Real Estate
Catherine Smith of Pragma Ventures
Thiri Thant Mon of Sandanila
Tom Platts of Stephenson Harwood LLP
Continuing Board Members
Chairman Peter Beynon of Jardine Matheson
Treasurer Mike Phone Myint of PWC
Ross Taylor of Tilleke & Gibbins
Thu Zaw of Sithar Coffee
Eddy Herbert of Focus Core
We would also like to thank Rupert Trotter of Venari Consulting and Tim Rues of the Savoy Hotel for putting themselves forward as candidates and hope we have many more members next year eager to be elected onto the Board.
We are sad to have to say goodbye to Tim Mahon who served as Treasurer of the Board for one year from November 2018 to November 2019. Tim did some valuable work with the Chamber during his time here but will be relocating to Vietnam, hence having to vacate his seat. We wish Tim all the best and thank him for his input over the last year.
The Chambers growth has continued this year, finishing at an all-time high in September on 279 Member companies. Chamber events have also increased in frequency and attendance, with almost double the number of events at around half the price of the previous year, allowing more and more members to attend. On overage we now welcome around 400 attendees a month to workshops and seminars.
The Trade and Business Services department is becoming more competitive, with a deeper concentration on attracting international businesses to Myanmar, as well as continuing to support local companies link up with UK organisation and UK companies explore their opportunities in Myanmar. We are increasing our collaboration with regional networks aiming to promote Myanmar regionally as an investment destination.
We look forward to another year in Myanmar working to support our members, attract businesses and investment to Myanmar and develop business opportunities for our stakeholders.
Thank you to our sponsors who supported our vision for a new format AGM, Allen & Overy and BDO. We will continue this next year to help our members talk to one and other and promote their businesses.
