Business communications and Introductions

1. “When introduced to Burmese people, always refer to them by their full name, regardless of whether it is two or three syllables long. Never shorten a Burmese name as this is considered inappropriate.

2. “The use of business cards is widespread in Myanmar and it is not uncommon for the owner of even the smallest tea-house or restaurant to present foreigners with his/her card.

3. “Always give and take cards with both hands as a sign of respect and always take a few seconds to read cards presented to you.

4. Never place a card immediately into your pocket or wallet. This is particularly important when dealing with Myanmar’s sizeable Chinese community, many of whom dominate the country’s commercial environment, particularly in the north, around the regional centre of Mandalay.

5. “Burmese names are unique in that they cannot be classified as given names or surnames. Burmese people are given one name, often two or three syllables long, which denotes neither marital status nor family connections. It is therefore possible, and in fact quite common, for Burmese siblings to have entirely different names. Similarly, women do not take their husband’s name when they marry.

6. “Burmese is a very polite language which contains around half a dozen honorific titles

7. “The most commonly-used honorifics are U (as in U Nu) which means “Uncle” and is the approximate English equivalent of “Mr.”, and Daw (as in Daw Suu Kyi) which means “Aunt” and is the English equivalent of “Mrs.”, “Ms”, or “Madam.”

• “Most Burmese men wear a traditional sarong referred to as a “longyi” with a western-style shirt. Women wear a similar outfit comprising a sarong with matching top. Most Burmese business people, however, will wear a western-style suit or shirt and tie when dealing with foreigners.

• “During informal meetings you can wear a smart shirt or blouse with a collar as an alternative to a jacket and tie.

• Government offices in Myanmar are generally open from 8am to 11am and then from around 2pm to 5pm.

• Private businesses and shops usually keep longer hours.

• National holidays are held on the following days: January 4 (Independence Day), February 12 (Union Day), March 2 (Peasant’s Day, anniversary of the 1962 coup), March 27 (Armed Forces Day), May 1 (Workers’ Day), July 19 (Martyrs’ Day) and December 3 (National Day).