Extraordinary Endeavors in Turbulent Times: Asian Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact during COVID-19

ASIA BUSINESS COUNCIL HONG KONG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 8 2 Yoma Group (Myanmar) Extraordinary Endeavors in Turbulent Times citing the example of the Japanese and the Chinese competing over infrastructure projects and giving very cheap loans to build infrastructure in Myanmar. “We are a Myanmar-Chinese family,” he continued. “I grew up in Hong Kong, and my father went through the Cultural Revolution, but at the same time we are a Myanmar company. We have to keep reminding people that our partners are very diverse. We have a wide range of relationships, and will do what makes the most sense for us and for Myanmar in terms of expertise and culture.” According to Pun, while Yoma is very much engaged with Western companies coming from an international governance perspective, there is also a lot of Chinese money coming to Myanmar. Pun is thus careful and sensitive about partnering with a breadth of different companies and getting the right Chinese companies to support Yoma. Conclusion At year-end in 2020, Pun conducted performance reviews for the CEOs of all the different entities in Yoma. The first thing that he asked them was: How has your action and your business impacted Yoma’s vision to “build a better Myanmar for its people?” This key performance criteria reflects Pun’s emphasis on social value. He candidly admitted that Yoma has also made mistakes, where he would look back at a project and realize that “it made money, but there was no real social value for the country.” At year-end in 2020, Pun conducted performance reviews for the CEOs of all the different entities in Yoma. The first thing that he asked them was: How has your action and your business impacted Yoma’s vision to “build a better Myanmar for its people?” This key performance criteria reflects Pun’s emphasis on social value. The Yoma Micro Power project is about building off-grid solar sites and renewable solar power