Background... Country Strategies... Project Monitor... Resources... Contact..... "After a 25 year-long absence, International Financial Institutions (IFIs) returned to Burma in 2012 in support of the country?s political and economic transitions. Following the election of the civilian government in November 2010, the leadership of President Thein Sein indicated, in the eyes of the international community, signs of reform. International donors such as the World Bank Group (WBG) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) sought to support the reform process by deploying their staff, opening their country office, conducting assessments, rolling out their interim investment plans, and funding a few projects. Since their formal re-engagement in 2012, these multilateral institutions have stepped up their lending and non-lending activities. The civil society organizations of Burma, both those that are based inside and on the border of the country, were very clear in reminding the IFIs to avoid rushing into a country where the military still exerts a huge influence over the government (25% of the seats in Parliament are reserved for military personnel) and military cronies dominate the formal economic sector. However, donors continue to exhibit an overwhelmingly positive view about the prospects of Burma?s political and economic reforms and have already moved ahead with multi-million dollar projects..."