As the name suggests, the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) located on the south of Thanlyin (Yangon State), is a region in which firms can situate their factories and offices without stringent regulation. The Myanmar Thilawa SEZ holdings Public Ltd. (MTSH) reports the zone has attracted major foreign investment, with most being Japanese companies. 

“As of now, 108 companies from 19 countries have invested in the Thilawa SEZ” states Dr. Than Myint, the Union Minister for Ministry of Trade and Commerce and the chair of the newly formed SEZ Central Working Body. 

Of the 109 firms which have invested in the SEZ, sixteen are construction companies, ten are packing and container companies, eight are garment and clothing, logistics, food and beverage, and agricultural companies. Furthermore, there are five automotive, five electricity and energy, six pharmaceutical, three shoes and miscellaneous production factories, two factory use-gas companies, two ship paint factories, four service companies, and one real estate development company. 

In addition, other industries include, factory-use gas production, cold-storage, machinery transportation, plastic molding, residential appliance production, vocational training, waste treatment facilities and rental services.

Foreign investment is strong in the region as out of the 108 companies located in the zone, only four are from Myanmar. As Dr. Than Myint pointed out over half the companies—55 of the 108 firms—are Japanese. While the rest are investments from east Asian nations with 14 being Thai, six Korean, five Taiwanese, three Singaporean, and three Malaysian. And lastly, USA, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Australia, Netherlands, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India each have a firm in the SEZ.