Surbana International Consultants has set up up a branch office in Yangon as part of its expansion plans in Myanmar.

Surbana International Consultant chief executive officer Pang Yee Ean said the company is "committed to be here for the long haul", at the opening ceremony.

Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry, noted that Myanmar has made impressive strides in undertaking economic reforms.

Bilateral trade and investment have also enjoyed robust growth.

Last year, Singapore's trade with Myanmar increased 71 per cent year-on-year to $3 billion and was Myanmar's third largest trading partner.

In terms of investments, as of January 2014, Singapore was Myanmar's fourth largest investor with cumulative approved investments amounting to about US$3.8 billion.

The opening of Surbana's branch office is in response to growing demand for its services and part of Surbana's regionalisation plans.

It will house local full time Myanmar professional and support staff, overseen by Surbana's deputy general manager for Myanmar operations, Mr Gareth Wong.

Surbana has several projects in Myanmar with the two largest being a residential development within the Dagon Seikkan Township with the Ministry of Construction which will yield 19,000 housing units on a 220 acre plot, and the Yangon Ecological Aquarium with the Myanmar Aquarium Company, a 20,000 square metre major tourist attraction.

Surbana plans to hire up to nine local staff to support immediate projects in the pipeline, and has plans for further growth and expansion in the next few years.