Northern powerhouse at the end of the road to Mandalay

Hutchison's Myanmar International Terminal Thilawa on the outskirts of Yangon

Myanmar Times reports that the country’s second largest city, Mandalay, has the potential to become an economic powerhouse. Citing the region’s chamber of commerce, the story claims the city is already set up with the necessary trade, transport and logistics infrastructure. Given additional warehouse space and improved roads and power supply, the chamber believes that in as little as two years, the city could start to gain ground on Yangon. While the report provides interesting reading, it does get a little jingoistic towards the end. Considering the crisis on the country’s borders, it may take more than new roads and more reliable power supplies for Mandalay to realise any real potential.