Oil & Natural Gas: Remains the largest source of foreign revenue for the state. Major offshore projects (e.g., Yadana, Yetagun) involve international partners (from Thailand, South Korea, etc.) and are difficult to sanction due to complex joint ventures.

A Lifeline Sector: Employs a majority of the population. Rice, beans, and pulses remain crucial for domestic food security and export to neighboring China, India, and Thailand.

Challenges: Farmers face soaring input costs, currency volatility, and transport disruptions due to conflict.

Critical for Survival: With the formal banking system broken, trade along borders with Thailand, China, India, and Bangladesh has become vital. This includes formalized border-trade zones and a massive increase in smuggling of everything from consumer goods to luxury cars and fuel.

Mixed Picture: Mobile money and digital apps saw growth pre-coup. Internet access remains, albeit with frequent shutdowns and surveillance. The sector is constrained by poverty, conflict, and lack of investment.

Garment Industry: Once a major employer and exporter, it has been devastated by sanctions, brand withdrawals, and worker boycotts. Many factories have closed or relocated to other countries.