This is ONE of Eight Regional Sections of Burmese Orchid and Greater Yangon Area Regional Section is the base capital section of Burmese Orchid.
Greater Yangon Area Regional Section
The Greater Yangon Area refers to the metropolitan region that includes, Yangon (Rangoon) City, Myanmar's largest city and former capital and its surrounding urban and suburban areas in Myanmar (Burma). It’s the country's main economic hub and has a rich cultural and historical significance. Let’s break it down a bit:
Facts about Yangon
Here are some facts of Yangon.
- Burmese Orchid is based in Yangon, with majority of its members being youths from the city, but it mainly operates online.
- The organisation originally conducted official activities in Yangon.
- However, these activities are now on hold due to security concerns.
- The Greater Yangon area includes Yangon City and its surrounding townships in Yangon Region.
- The Yangon City spans over 600 square kilometers and consists of 33 townships officially designated by the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC).
- The area extends to developing suburban areas like Hlaingthaya, Dagon Seikkan, and Thanlyin — which have grown rapidly due to urbanization and industrialization.
- Yangon’s metropolitan population is estimated at around 7–8 million people, making it the most populous and diverse urban area in Myanmar.
- Rapid urban expansion has led to the development of satellite towns and informal settlements.
- Greater Yangon is the economic heart of Myanmar, home to major industries like manufacturing, trade, finance, and telecommunications.
- Key industrial zones include Hlaingthaya, Shwepyithar, and Mingaladon.
- The Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) — located southeast of Yangon — has attracted significant foreign investment.
- Yangon is famous for landmarks like the Shwedagon Pagoda, Sule Pagoda, and Kandawgyi Lake.
- The colonial-era architecture downtown reflects its historical past, with ongoing efforts for urban conservation.
- Infrastructure remains a challenge, with issues like traffic congestion, limited public transport, and flooding during monsoons.
- Rapid urbanization has put pressure on housing, sanitation, and public services.
- Informal settlements and slums have grown as rural migrants move to Yangon in search of better opportunities.
