[18]Myanmar Gets Record Investment After Years of Isolation -- Myanmar Gets Record Investment After Years of Isolation: Energy -- Myanmar, shunned since the 1990s for tolerating corruption and human trafficking, is set for record foreign investment in 2012 led by oil companies after the southeast Asian nation took its first steps toward -- democratic moves, and the International Monetary Fund forecast direct foreign investment into the country formerly known as Burma will rise 40 percent to a record $3.99 billion this year. Natural gas is -- President Barack Obama in July authorized U.S. businesses to invest in Myanmar after President Thein Sein started a democratic process that -- The deals carry extra risk for investors in a nation sandwiched between China and India thatâs seeking to emerge from 50 years of economic and -- âCompanies will be careful before investing because many policies are still very uncertain, and once in place thereâs no certainty they wonât -- Control Risks, a global business risk consultancy which also advises companies investing in Myanmar, said in an interview in New Delhi Sept. 13. âA stable and secure investment environment is a long-term project.â -- âPressing the button on transparency will help attract major western companies to invest in Myanmar to a certain degree. It shows the willingness of Myanmarâs authorities to fight widespread corruption and provide much-needed regulatory clarity for foreign investors,â said Siddik Bakir, a London- based energy analyst for the Middle East and -- Hundreds of foreign investors met in Myanmarâs capital last week as they scout opportunities in the country even as Coca- Cola Co. and -- âForeign investment is crucial for Myanmarâs economic growth,â Ba Hla Aya, Charge dâAffaires of the Myanmar embassy in New Delhi, said at a -- she was elected to parliament in April, said during a visit to Europe in June that âtransparency is the keyâ to attracting investments in the oil and gas sector. She cautioned companies from entering into joint -- and China National Petroleum Corp. are among companies with oil and gas investments in Myanmar. -- President Thein Seinâs attempt to open the economy to foreign investments is not the first time Myanmarâs leadership has taken steps toward restoring a democracy only to backtrack. The junta released Suu -- hydropower dam across the Irrawaddy being built with China Power Investment Corp., saying the project was against the will of the people.