Executive Summary: "Myanmar has embarked upon an ambitious reform package characterised by people-centred participation, development and inclusion. The task is ambitious and presents real opportunities for a successful transition from a heavily natural resource-reliant economy to an economy that leverages the skills and expertise of its human capital. As a newcomer to the ?Asian Century?, Myanmar is geographically well positioned to transition into an ?Asian Tiger? economy personified by fast-paced growth and innovation. One of the key lessons learnt globally when transitioning from a lower to middle income country and upwards to an advanced economy is that successful countries do not first become wealthy and then decide to invest in human capital rather they become wealthy by investing in both physical and human capital simultaneously. Equitable access to quality social services is both good for people and for the economy. For mineral-rich countries, investing natural resource revenues in expanded health and education services and social transfers - including pensions, family allowances a nd social assistance – is fundamental. Such investments build human capital and generate e mployment. They reduce distributional conflicts, enhance social cohesion, and lessen gender, ethnic and regional disparities. Myanmar is blessed with an abundance of natural resources which can be turned into meaningful, sustainable, impactful social investments right now, starting with children. At this pivotal moment in the nation?s history, the good news is Myanmar could enjoy a high level of human capital return for a relatively small amount of fiscal spend. For example: * Less than 9 days of natural gas revenues would be n eeded to ensure one teacher per each primary school grade; * A 0.57% increase in the actual tax collected on har dwood extraction would secure the annual salary of 6,000 social workers; * 0.87% of revenues from new natural gas projects wou ld provide for the purchase of all the vaccines needed annually in Myanmar; * One extra dollar in tax collected for each kilogram of jade could have built 14,596 classrooms over the last 9 years; and * Just over one quarter of Myanmar?s 2010 sales from the auction of precious and semi- precious stones could have provided for a universal child benefit of 15,000 Kyat per month for all Myanmar children under 5. UNICEF encourages the Myanmar Government to actively explore such options as part of the next 30 months of socio-economic reform. The time for enhanced social investment is now and if done right, will dramatically propel Myanmar along its transition to becoming the next economic ?Asian Tiger?..."