Israel’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tzachi Hanegbi, conducted an official visit to Myanmar from 27-29 August 2014. This was the first official visit of its kind in 35 years by a senior Israeli official since the visit by then Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan in 1979.

Myanmar has a friendly and long standing relationship with Israel, beginning in the 1950’s, when Burma’s Prime Minister U Nu visited Israel (1959) and Israeli Prime Minister David Ben Gurion reciprocated (1961).

In recent years, Myanmar is undergoing a process of democratization and national reconciliation, aimed at ending the conflicts between different ethnic groups. Myanmar, currently Chair of ASEAN, is developing its economy at an intensive pace, making it known in economic circles as the most recent “Tiger” of South East Asia. It has thus become an attractive destination for investors, including companies and businessmen from Israel.