Know the sector.
Find the entry route.
Twelve reserved fields, private participation and investment restrictions.
Understand the layers before planning your entry.
Twelve fields, clearly defined.
A guide to section 3 of the 1989 law. Open each field for its scope and qualifications.
These are the original law’s categories. The list alone does not determine whether a particular business may enter today. [1] [4]
SECTION 3 · 01Teak
Extraction and sale in Myanmar and abroad.
SECTION 3 · 02Forest plantations
Cultivation and conservation, except village-owned firewood plantations for villagers’ own use.
SECTION 3 · 03Oil & natural gas
Exploration, extraction, sale and production of related products.
SECTION 3 · 04Pearls, jade & gems
Exploration, extraction and export.
SECTION 3 · 05Reserved research fisheries
Fish and prawn breeding and production in fisheries reserved by government for research. This provision does not cover every fishery.
SECTION 3 · 06Post & telecommunications
Postal and telecommunications services. Check sector legislation and licences for the proposed activity.
SECTION 3 · 07Air & rail transport
Air transport and railway transport services.
SECTION 3 · 08Banking & insurance
Banking and insurance services, subject also to the relevant authority’s rules and permissions.
SECTION 3 · 09Radio & television
Broadcasting and television services.
SECTION 3 · 10Metals
Exploration, extraction and export of metals.
SECTION 3 · 11Electricity generation
Excludes private and cooperative generation permitted by law.
SECTION 3 · 12Security & defence products
Manufacture of security and defence products designated by government notification.
Four categories to check next.
Section 42 of the Investment Law and MIC Notification 15/2017 distinguish four restriction categories. Match the activity, ISIC/CPC codes and conditions.
Union-only activities
Includes designated defence manufacturing, air traffic services and control of the power system.
Closed to foreign investors
Specified activities such as freshwater fisheries and jade/gem prospecting and production.
Joint venture required
Listed activities require a JV with a Myanmar citizen or citizen-owned entity. Check the local equity requirement.
Ministry approval required
Specified activities, including broadcasting, need the relevant ministry’s approval and applicable conditions.
JV equity conditions
For activities under Notification 15/2017(C), Investment Rule 22 generally requires at least 20% direct Myanmar equity, subject to any separate applicable stipulation. [5]
Activities outside the list
The notification’s closing notes preserve sector laws, authority policies for banking, insurance and finance, and Commerce Ministry import/export policies. [3]
Prepare your next step.
Turn the business plan into a clear set of application requirements.
- 01
Define the activity
Specify products/services, processes, location, customers and ownership.
- 02
Check reservation & exception
Check section 3 and the applicable section 4 permission or notification.
- 03
Identify approvals
Identify restriction category, regulator, MIC permit/endorsement needs and sector licences.
- 04
Keep the conditions
Record approved scope, equity, validity, reporting and change procedures.
SOURCES & APPLICABILITYSources and applicability.
Sources and applicability.
Public information checked on 13 October 2026. Legislation dates, data reference dates and our review date are shown separately.
This is a general guide. Confirm project-specific applicability, amendments, practice and approval conditions with the authority and advisers before applying. This page is not updated automatically.
- 01LAW 9/89 · 31 MAR 1989
State-owned Economic Enterprises Law ↗
English law text hosted by the ESCAP policy database. Section 3: twelve fields; section 4: exceptions; section 5: conditions. The law’s date is separate from our review date.
- 02DICA · LAW 40/2016
Myanmar Investment Law ↗
18 October 2016. Sections 74–81: tax holidays, imports, reinvestment, depreciation, R&D and separation from SEZs.
- 03MIC · 10 APR 2017
Notification 15/2017: restricted activities ↗
Commerce Ministry portal and official English PDF. Categories A–D, activity codes and closing notes. We use 10 April 2017 from the notification, rather than inconsistent portal metadata.
- 04JETRO · 10 NOV 2025
Restrictions on foreign investment ↗
JETRO page updated 10 November 2025; checked again 13 October 2026. Context on the overlapping state-enterprise, investment and sector-permit frameworks.
- 05DICA · INVESTMENT APPLICATION FAQ
Investment and company registration FAQs ↗
Investment Rule 22 and Notification 15/2017(C) on JV equity; additional sector licences; routing applications involving government entities.
- 06TILLEKE & GIBBINS · 15 SEP 2026
Professional commentary on Notification 5/2026 ↗
Law-firm analysis of the 19 August notification: regional procedures and MIC review of incentive changes. This is commentary, not the notification itself.