SINGAPORE, Jan. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Rice Communications, a boutique communications agency headquartered in Singapore, recently announced the opening of Rice Communications Myanmar. With a team of seasoned professionals based in Yangon, Rice Communications Myanmar is poised to deliver creative and compelling communications support to multinational clients and local companies, with anchor clients including Hughes and Bosch.
"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," says Sonya Madeira, Rice Communications Founder and Managing Partner. "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 percent 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 Yangon Stock Exchange 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 adds.
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.
Rice Communications has extensive experience across Asia Pacific in sectors such as automotive, consumer, healthcare, travel & hospitality, mining & energy and technology. It is well-placed to provide organizations of all sizes with strategic counsel, insight and execution services in Myanmar.
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. The team is a good representation of the melting pot that is Asia, coming from a wide variety of cultural, educational and professional backgrounds. Key retainer clients of Rice Communications include Bosch, ESET, FICO, Inmarsat, Kimberly-Clark, Millennial Media, Mobile Marketing Association, National Instruments, and Palo Alto Networks.
About Rice Communications
Rice Communications was established in January 2009 to provide strategic, insightful and customised professional communications services. Rice caters to companies seeking to strengthen their profile across the Asia Pacific region through its offices in Singapore and Myanmar. With a zealous team of consultants, Rice is committed to raise the bar of the Asian PR and communications practice through value-oriented partnerships with clients, industry associates, suppliers, stakeholders and influencers, and the media. Rice Communications Singapore and Rice Communications Myanmar are both wholly-owned subsidiaries of Sirocco Holdings Pte. Ltd.
For more information, please visit: www.ricecomms.com
