“If Bill Gates was born in Burma, he would still be poor”. A funny but true statement during last weeks DVB Debate on the lack of business opportunities for the next generation. Foreign currencies are pouring in, since the global sanctions were lifted. But most money flows directly to the usual suspects; the business tycoons with close ties with the regime and army.

These cronies are in the business of gem stone and gold mining, (illegal) logging and oil. It is extremely hard to start something really new. There is almost no infrastructure nor legal framework and forget about internet: 70% of the Burmese have no access to electricity.

The plan is to solve these problems within the next couple of years. Building roads, harbors and power plants is relatively easy, but developing a functioning and transparent legal structure, is not. Burma is still one of the most corrupt countries on earth.

Apart from legal frameworks and electricity there is another power cut that is even more difficult to repair: brain power. Decades of anti-intellectual politics have been dramatically successful; there are few smart talents. Schools and universities focussed solely on apolitical topics (for example ‘botanic studies’) and state propaganda. Intelligent people who didn’t flee, were locked up. The thousands of political prisoners called jail cynically the ‘university of life’.

Despite all beautiful words about an open and democratic society, making some more money will truly relief the daily pain of poverty. It’s the economy, stupid. Only a smart and innovative workforce can make it the youngest ‘Asian tiger’. There is no quick fix for that; educating a new generation of independent critical minds will take at least another decade.