The communication sector is projected to have the highest growth rate among 14 sectors, said officials.

According to World Bank (WB) statistics, Burma’s communication sector is still in the early stages of growth compared to other Southeast Asian countries.

For example, hand phone density in Burma is one in every 100 persons. In neighbouring Thailand, the figure is 101 for every 100 persons, according to WB statistics.

In Internet usage, only 0.2 per cent of every 100 persons can access the Internet, while in Thailand the figure is 20 per cent of 100 persons.

Burmese officials have implemented a five-year plan for hand phone usage in Burma, announcing it would allow 30 million hand phone connections starting from 2012. Since the second week of March, SIM cards were priced at 200,000 kyat each (US$ 244), a very high price when compared to neighbouring countries where SIM cards are selling for as low as 5,000 kyat (US$ 6) each.

According to the National Planning Law, the GDP growth target for the 2012-13 financial year is 6.7 per cent. The agriculture sector growth rate is projected at 3 per cent; the industry sector at 9 per cent; and services sector at 8.3 per cent.

The Planning Law projects GDP income will increase to 839,551 kyat (US$ 1,024 billions) in 2012-13 financial year from 740,814 kyat (US$ 904 billion) during the last fiscal year.

The export target is 9,211,143 million kyat (US$ 11.233 billions) and import target is 6,582,800 million kyat (US$ 8.028 billions) in current prices.