Driving economic growth through corporate competitiveness: Insights from Myanmar's business landscape

This study investigates corporate competitiveness in Myanmar by integrating a multi-dimensional analytical framework with a business function approach. Focusing on nine major enterprises that represent a substantial share of the formal corporate sector, the research employs 15 quantitative indicators across five theoretical pillars: Productivity, Profitability, Image, Stability, and Growth. These are used to evaluate firm-level performance under severe institutional and resource constraints. Rather than exhibiting balanced excellence, Myanmar firms display specialized competitive profiles, reflecting adaptive strategies shaped by political instability, infrastructure limitations, and human capital shortages. The study contributes novel empirical insights into how enterprises in fragile emerging markets navigate competitiveness trade-offs, emphasizing the strategic relevance of specialized capability development. The findings offer actionable implications for policymakers, investors, and corporate strategists seeking to understand and improve competitiveness in transitional economies.