Myanmar, also called Burma, is located in Southeast Asia and encompasses a land mass comparable to the size of Texas, with an area of ​​676,578 square kilometers (“Burma”). The country borders two of the world's superpowers, India and China, as well as a vast border with Thailand. Laos and Bangladesh also share relatively close borders with Myanmar. The geographical location of the country can be considered highly strategic. Myanmar's location is close to major shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean, making trade an asset for the country. The Irrawaddy, Myanmar's main river, flows south through the country. It is the longest river in Myanmar, with a total navigable length of approximately 900 miles (Tinker). The Irrawaddy flows through Myanmar's central lowlands, the country's most important region in terms of population and economy. The river is navigable for most of its length, providing Myanmar's main transportation route for communication, warfare and, most importantly, commerce. Myanmar consists of six diverse regions, divided into the Central Lowlands, Tenasserim, Shan Plateau, Northern and Western Mountains and Arakan (Silverstein). The central lowlands contain the upper Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers. Along the banks of these rivers are permanent communities and developed agriculture. Tenasserim is the coastal area of ​​Myanmar located between the Andaman Sea and the country's southeastern border. This region is vital for its tin resources, fisheries and rubber. The third region of Myanmar is the Shan Plateau. This area includes the eastern highlands that rise from the central plain and narrow southward to Tenasserim. The northern highlands have an average elevation of about 3,000 feet and are watered by the Salween and...... middle of paper ...... focus on Myanmar's strength in its natural resources. Currently, the people of Myanmar face numerous export restrictions, production controls and military orders that dominate the agricultural landscape. Myanmar's recent success as an exporter of beans and pulses shows that it can respond strongly and quickly to market ("economic") signals. If the country were to establish an export substation, Myanmar would see a shift toward exporting its increasingly processed bean and pulse products. By exporting more of these raw materials, the country would reduce unemployment rates and create added value for the country. This policy is superior to import substitution because Myanmar's power lies in its agricultural production. By exporting more of these goods and importing less, Myanmar would increase its GDP and begin to solve its economic problems..