By Zimbabwemetro Zimmetro — In the 1940-1950s, Myanmar was the wealthiest nation in Southeast Asia, a country who was on its way to become the second developed nation in Asia after Japan. By 1950, Myanmar was the first Asian economic tiger, whose economy was on fast-track development. At the end of 1960 Myanmar had built up the largest pool of qualified, educated workforce in Southeast Asia. The country is extremely rich in natural resources, it has oil, gas, teak & timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, marble & limestone, gems, plus huge hydro-power and agricultural capacities. It was once the world’s largest exporter of rice, with Myanmar helping to alleviate severe famines in India last time, but today it is the one plagued by starvation. The country supplied 75% of the world’s teak, and is also well-known for its precious stones like sapphires, pearls and jade. 90% of the world’s rubies come from Myanmar, whose red stones are prized for their