In Episode 3 of Asia Forward, host Ledy Simarmata sits down with Tan Sawaddichai, Project Director of What Do You Want New York and curator of a Thai fashion showcase “Up to the Sky” during New York Fashion Week in February.

Together, they explore how designers from Bangkok are stepping onto the global stage, and what it takes to bring Southeast Asia’s creative talent to U.S. and international audiences.

Tan shares how Thailand’s fashion industry is gaining global recognition, with government initiatives playing a role in supporting the country’s creative economy. From organizing a successful runway show at the One World Observatory in New York City to building a growing fan base and growing commercial sales for Thai designers in the U.S. fashion capital, he explains why New York remains an important gateway for designers looking to expand beyond Asia.

In Episode 2 of Asia Forward, host Ei Thant Sin speaks with Ambassador Susan Stevenson, former Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Yangon from 2023-2026, about the realities of doing business in Myanmar amid political instability, sanctions, and ongoing conflict.

Since the 2021 coup, Myanmar’s economy has been shaped by currency controls, import restrictions, U.S. sanctions on military-linked entities and financial blacklisting. Yet despite the conflict and reputational risks, parts of the private sector continue operating, and businesses on the ground show notable resilience.

This episode explores the real business climate in Myanmar in 2026 and what U.S. companies need to consider before entering, staying in or exiting the market.

The conversation dives deep into political risk, sanctions compliance, supply chain shifts in Southeast Asia, rare earth minerals and critical resources, the rise of the shadow economy, labor shortages, digital payments, and Myanmar’s role within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

As Southeast Asia positions itself as a supply-chain alternative beyond China, where does Myanmar fit, if at all?

This conversation offers essential context for investors, policymakers, and business leaders navigating emerging market risk.

What We Discussed:

Introduction: How Myanmar’s political instability shapes its investment outlook in Southeast Asia.

1:50 What the situation on the ground in Myanmar looks like beyond the headlines.

4:59 What Myanmar’s elections could mean for political stability and economic liberalization.

8:29 Whether Myanmar can be considered a failed state in 2026, and what the economy on the ground reveals.

10:43 How Myanmar’s shadow economy, scam centers and transnational crime are reshaping the country’s economic landscape.

14:05 How brain drain, labor shortages and migration are reshaping Myanmar’s workforce.

15:29 Do U.S. sanctions on Myanmar’s military work, and how are they affecting the broader economy?

17:44 How U.S. businesses can avoid military-linked entities while operating in Myanmar.

21:06 How Myanmar’s rare earth minerals and critical resources factor into U.S. supply chain strategy.

23:16 Is it possible to surpass working with sanctioned entities when trying to get critical minerals out of Myanmar.

23:57 How U.S. companies can compete with and complement China’s dominant presence in Myanmar.

26:10 What Ambassador Stevenson sees as her most meaningful contribution during Myanmar’s post-coup transition.

28:10 What Myanmar’s role could be in Southeast Asia’s economy over the next five years.

30:03 What prolonged instability means for Myanmar’s economy and its place in ASEAN’s development agenda.

32:24 Whether Myanmar could benefit from supply chain diversification beyond China, and in which sectors the U.S. may have an early advantage.

34:40 Whether Myanmar can adapt to digital payments, fintech and a modern banking system.

37:13 How capital controls and financial restrictions affect companies trying to move money in and out of Myanmar.

39:03 What other risks beyond sanctions could deter U.S. companies from entering Myanmar, and what factors they must consider.
Why Asia Forward?

Our podcast series brings you straight-talk conversations with leaders, experts and change makers about Southeast Asia’s growth and what it means for U.S. audiences.

Check out our website at www.asiaforward.org. Find us and connect with us on our socials: IG: https://www.instagram.com/asiaforwardLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asiaforward/Let us know what topic you'd like us to discuss and drop a message or two on [email protected].

Southeast Asia is one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, yet it remains underrepresented in U.S. global business strategy.

The first episode of Asia Forward examines why a region with hundreds of millions of consumers and a multi-trillion-dollar economy has often been overlooked by U.S. companies, and why that dynamic is beginning to change.

In this episode of Asia Forward, host Ledy SImarmata speaks with Frank Lavin, former U.S. Under Secretary for International Trade and former U.S. Ambassador to Singapore. Drawing on his experience in trade policy, diplomacy and global business, Lavin explains why Southeast Asia’s diversity can be challenging for U.S. firms, and why technology and e-commerce are lowering the cost of entry.

The conversation also looks at how Southeast Asia fits into the China+1 strategy of supply-chain diversification and why the region still appears less frequently in U.S. business conversations. A portion of the episode focuses on U.S. investment patterns, including why a large share of U.S. foreign direct investment in ASEAN flows through Singapore and how much of that capital is actually deployed across other Southeast Asian economies.

The episode concludes with a forward-looking assessment of which Southeast Asian markets may warrant closer attention in 2026, why the gap between U.S. and Southeast Asia business engagement is narrowing, and the risks for U.S. companies that choose not to engage. It also considers how soft power and people-to-people ties shape long-term business relationships.