Rice Communications enters Myanmar

Rice Communications, a boutique communications agency headquartered in Singapore, has launched operations in Myanmar.With a team based in Yangon, Rice Communications Myanmar has started operations with clients such as Hughes and Bosch. It aims to deliver creative and communications support to multinational clients and local companies.“Myanmar is the most exciting emerging market in Asia, and phenomenal growth is on the cards this year as the country leapfrogs into the digital age,” Sonya Madeira, Rice Communications, founder and managing partner, said.“With the combined strength of our teams in Singapore and Myanmar, we offer brands entering Myanmar international levels of account servicing with market-relevant insights.”Myanmar’s economy is on course to grow 7.8% this year, with foreign direct investment expected to reach more than US$5billion in 2014-2015, according to the Myanmar Investment Commission.Almost a-third (31%) of the total investments received as of end August 2014 was in the telecommunications sector, followed by oil & gas (23.8%), real estate (18.4%) and travel & hospitality (13.3%).The banking and finance sector is also closely watched by the international business community.“Before the end of 2014, Myanmar granted licenses to nine foreign banks and plans are underway to launch the country’s first-ever stock exchange in Yangon in October. We couldn’t have chosen a better location for our first overseas expansion. All eyes are on Myanmar and we’re raring to support companies that are as bullish as we are about the market,” Madeira added.The team in Myanmar is led by associate director Donna Garcia, who has over 10 years’ experience in corporate communications, government relations, and public affairs across Asia Pacific. Dividing her time between Singapore and Yangon, she will continue to lead several of the agency’s key regional accounts in Singapore.Actively building its presence and network in the market, Rice recently hosted two events in Yangon: a dialogue with bloggers and technology journalists on digital PR, and a training session for PR and marketing executives in the hospitality industry.Rice Communications currently has 22 people across Singapore and Myanmar. Key retainer clients of Rice Communications include Bosch, ESET, FICO, Inmarsat, Kimberly-Clark, Millennial Media, Mobile Marketing Association, National Instruments, and Palo Alto Networks.