With Burma's eighth domestic airline taking to the skies last month and another three set to follow suit, the country’s civil aviation sector is overcrowded, and on the whole, unprofitable.

Burma’s Ministry of Sport has suddenly reduced without explanation the amount of bonus to be paid to Burmese medal winners at the SEA Games, according to an official who asked to remain anonymous.

Just one year ago, Burma was a purely cash economy: there were no ATMs and international credit cards were not generally accepted. Now VISA and MasterCard are leading the way in; but infrastructure in Burma is still a setback.

BUSINESS IN BURMA THIS WEEK: Sponsors for the SEA Games; international oil firms post finals bids for Burma's offshore reserves; Japan in position to take over Dawei project; Singaporean bank looks to cater for increased bilateral trade; and Pepsi enters the cola wars.

Suu Kyi calls for 'responsible investment'; Japanese firms to modernize Burmese aviation; and Burmese-Thai businesses try speed dating.

Burma's lending and savings rates are among the highest in the world, but now the Central Bank is weighing up the pros and cons of bringing them in line with international standards.