After two decades of economic sanctions on Myanmar, the US has decided to lift them. The announcement was made following a meeting between President Barack Obama and Myanmar's State Counsellor-cum-Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi at the White House on Sept 14.
For many in Myanmar and the US, the lifting of economic sanctions is a win-win for both the Obama and Suu Kyi administrations.
Mr Obama's decision is partly a recognition of the democratic progress made by the National League for Democracy (NLD) government and a view to strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations, particularly in the economic sphere.
Mr Obama said, "The United States is now prepared to lift sanctions that we have imposed on Burma for quite some time … It is the right thing to do to ensure the people of Burma see rewards from a new way of doing business and a new government."