Looking Back: 2025 and Gazing Into: 2026
Looking Back: 2025
The year 2025 was characterised by continued regulatory consolidation, heightened enforcement, and expanding state oversight across multiple areas of law in Myanmar. Against a backdrop of political uncertainty, currency volatility, and constrained foreign investment, legal developments in 2025 were largely compliance-driven rather than reform-oriented. Banking and finance, trade, corporate regulation, employment, taxation, and intellectual property all experienced incremental but impactful changes that directly affected business operations and risk management.
Gazing into 2026
Looking ahead to 2026, Myanmar’s legal and regulatory landscape is expected to remain heavily influenced by political developments, fiscal pressures, and ongoing efforts to maintain economic and administrative control. A key overarching factor will be the general elections in 2026, the result of which may shape regulatory priorities, enforcement intensity, and investor sentiment. While meaningful liberalisation remains uncertain, businesses should expect continued regulatory continuity in the short to medium term.
In the banking and finance sector, monetary stability and foreign exchange control are likely to remain top priorities for the Central Bank of Myanmar. Continued oversight of digital payments, transaction monitoring, and capital movements can be expected, with limited relaxation of existing controls. Financial institutions and businesses should prepare for ongoing compliance obligations and potential refinements to reporting and monitoring frameworks.
Trade and investment policy in 2026 is expected to remain selective and pragmatic. The Government is likely to continue promoting export-oriented and foreign currency generating sectors while maintaining tight controls on imports and customs procedures. Regional trade engagement, particularly with neighbouring countries, may deepen in practice even as broader international investment remains constrained.
Digital regulation and cybersecurity are expected to emerge as major legal themes in 2026. With cybersecurity and data-related frameworks either newly enacted or moving toward enforcement, businesses engaged in digital services, e-commerce, and data processing may face increased obligations relating to data governance, system security, and cooperation with authorities.
In employment, tax, and corporate compliance, incremental tightening and enforcement rather than structural reform is expected. Increased audits, reporting requirements, and enforcement actions may be used to enhance revenue collection and regulatory oversight, reinforcing the need for proactive compliance and risk management strategies.
Full Report
Click on the link below for the full report which provides summaries of the key legal developments related to the above areas.
- Regional Round-Up 2025: Myanmar
Please note that whilst the information in this Update is correct to the best of our knowledge and belief at the time of writing, it is only intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter and should not be treated as a substitute for specific professional advice
