Yangon

Yangon (also known as Rangoon) is the capital of Yangon Region and the most important commercial center in Myanmar.

The city is divided into four districts. The districts combined have a total of 33 townships. The current mayor of Yangon is Hla Myint. Each township is administered by a committee of township leaders, who make decisions regarding city beautification and infrastructure.

Yangon is the country’s main center for trade, industry, real estate, media, entertainment and tourism. The city alone represents about one fifth of the national economy. According to official statistics for FY 2010–2011, the size of the economy of Yangon Region was 8.93 trillion kyats, or 23% of the national GDP.

Bayinnaung Market is the largest wholesale center in the country for rice, beans and pulses, and other agricultural commodities.

Much of the country’s legal imports and exports go through Thilawa Port, the largest and busiest port in Burma.

The city is the centre of country’s garment industry which exported US$292 million in 2008/9 fiscal year.

Yangon is Myanmar’s main domestic and international hub for air, rail, and ground transportation.

Yangon International Airport is the country’s main gateway for domestic and international air travel. It has direct flights to regional cities in Asia – mainly, Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Guangzhou, Taipei, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Kunming and Singapore. Although domestic airlines offer service to about twenty domestic locations, most flights are to tourist destinations such as Bagan, Mandalay, Heho and Ngapali, and to the capital Naypyidaw.

Yangon Central Railway Station is the main terminus of Myanmar Railways whose reach covers Upper Myanmar, upcountry, Shan hills and the Taninthayi coast.

Yangon has a 4,456-kilometre (2,769 mi) road network of all types (tar, concrete and dirt) in March 2011. Many of the roads are in poor condition and not wide enough to accommodate an increasing number of cars.

Highway buses to other cities depart from Dagon Ayeyar Highway Bus Terminal for Irrawaddy delta region and Aung Mingala Highway Bus Terminal for other parts of the country.

Yangon is the country’s hub for the movie, music, advertising, newspaper and book publishing industries. Most television channels in the country are broadcast from Yangon. Yangon has three radio stations.

Nearly all print media and industries are based out of Yangon.

Construction is a major source of employment. Tourism represents a major source of foreign currency.