Yangon: US billionaire investor and
philanthropist George Soros will meet Aung San Suu Kyi in
Yangon next week, a spokesman for the democracy campaigner
said on Friday.
The financier -- one of the world's richest men who funds
pro-democracy initiatives in Myanmar -- will visit Suu Kyi at
her home on Monday, her party spokesman Nyan Win told a news agency,
without giving details of the topics to be discussed.
"It's not just investors from the US -- top local
businessmen have also met Daw Suu recently," he said. Daw is a
term of respect in Myanmar.
Soros, who made a huge fortune from speculating, has
given away billions of dollars to philanthropic causes in
recent years. His Open Society Foundations have funded a
number of projects in Myanmar.
The country, which remains subject to tough Western
sanctions, was left impoverished and isolated by nearly half a
century of military rule.
A nominally civilian government, dominated by
ex-generals, took power in March following controversial
elections and has recently indicated a will to boost
engagement with the outside world.
Suu Kyi has received a steady stream of visitors in
recent months, including United States Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton in December, amid thawing relations with the
regime.
Suu Kyi has even met Myanmar tycoon Tay Za, who owns a
string of luxury hotels and Myanmar airline Air Bagan and is a
top target of US financial sanctions.
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 30, 2011, 20:57