Qatari delegation holds energy talks with Myanmar junta

MWD

A senior Qatari delegation met Myanmar’s military regime in Naypyitaw this week to discuss potential investment in the country’s struggling energy and mining sectors, as the junta seeks new foreign partners amid mounting economic pressure.

Led by former defence minister and deputy prime minister Mohammed Al Attiyah, the delegation held separate meetings with junta Foreign Minister Than Swe and Natural Resources Minister Khin Maung Yi on Tuesday. According to regime statements, talks centred on opportunities for Qatari companies to invest in oil, gas and mineral extraction, though no specific agreements were disclosed.

The visit follows junta chief Min Aung Hlaing’s appearance at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China in August, where he expressed interest in expanding energy cooperation with SCO member states. Qatar, a major oil producer and the world’s third-largest holder of natural gas reserves, is a member of the bloc, which Myanmar is seeking to join.

Myanmar’s energy output has declined sharply in recent years, with officials acknowledging the need for foreign investment to revive production. Energy Minister Ko Ko Lwin has also invited Qatar’s neighbour, the United Arab Emirates, to consider offshore ventures.

The talks come as the junta faces tightening Western sanctions and dwindling hard currency reserves. In response, Myanmar has turned to Middle Eastern countries including Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties. Than Swe previously met his Qatari counterpart Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi during visits to Iran and Uganda last year.

The regime is also pushing to boost domestic production of iron and steel to reduce reliance on imports and conserve foreign exchange.

While details of the Qatari delegation’s discussions remain undisclosed, the visit signals Myanmar’s ongoing efforts to court investment from non-Western allies in a bid to stabilise its economy and offset international isolation.

-2025-10-02