Emerging Insurance Markets - Cambodia, Cuba, Myanmar - Forecasts and Industry Insights for Foreign Insurers: MarketReportsStore.com

DALLAS, August 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

A nascent insurance market is one that is small and newly developing, and those that have been opened for foreign investment offer significant opportunities to foreign insurers. Insights into the Cambodian, Cuban and Myanmar insurance industries are provided at length in a June 2014 published report titled "Insight Report: Nascent Insurance Markets and Opportunities for Foreign Insurers" and available at http://marketreportsstore.com/insight-report-nascent-insurance-markets-and-opportunities-for-foreign-insurers/.

Myanmar's insurance industry began the transition from a centrally-planned operation to something closer to a free market in late 2012. The five decade long monopoly of state-owned Myanma Insurance was ended, with the establishment of twelve domestic private insurance companies, three life insurers and nine composite insurers in 2013. Even more dramatically, the new democratic government has tentatively announced that it will open the industry to foreign insurers as well in 2015.

Since the newly established private insurance companies will only complete their first year of operations in 2014, uncertainty remains over the total size of the industry. State-owned Myanma Insurance generated a total of MMK24.1 billion (US$28.6 million) in gross written premiums in the financial year ending March 2012. However, these amounts do not reflect the market's true potential. The Myanmar insurance industry is highly underpenetrated, with only one out of 86 individuals holding an insurance policy. Insurance penetration as a share of GDP is currently only 0.05%. This means that the industry has huge potential for growth over the next decade. It is estimated that the country will eventually generate between MMK1.3 trillion (US$1.6 billion) and MMK2.4 trillion (US$2.8 billion) of insurance premium revenue every year.

Some multinational insurers have already begun preparations so as to be ideally positioned to enter the Myanmar insurance market as soon as it is opened to foreign investment. These companies include AIA, ACE, MetLife and Prudential, which have all obtained authorisation from the insurance regulator to establish representative offices in the country. Through these representative offices they can provide training and consultancy services to both domestic insurers and the country's insurance regulator. This process will allow these multinationals to gain key strategic insights and contacts in the Myanmar insurance industry, and grant them an early-mover advantage that could be worth hundreds of millions in dollars once the market opens to foreign insurers.

Although the market will likely prove lucrative for foreign insurers, regulatory risks loom large. Private insurers are only permitted to underwrite business in six of the forty-eight recognised insurance categories in Myanmar. State owned Myanma Insurance will retain its monopoly over the remaining forty-two categories. The country is also imposing very high capital requirements, of US$7.1 million for life insurers, and US$47.4 million for non-life insurers.

Myanmar's regulatory standards remain very basic and lack proper guidelines on the establishment of insurance companies, solvency requirements, reserve requirements, or reporting requirements. The country's regulatory framework is still evolving, and new rules and regulations are to be expected at a moment's notice. Hopeful foreign insurers will have to keep a close eye on the market if they don't wish to be caught off-guard.

Order a copy of "Insight Report: Nascent Insurance Markets and Opportunities for Foreign Insurers" research at http://marketreportsstore.com/purchase?rname=14821 .

The untapped insurance industry of Cuba 

The insurance industry in Cuba was opened for private participation and foreign investment in 1997 under free-market economic reforms initiated by Fidel Castro's then-communist government. However, with the high level of political risk, the Cuban insurance industry is yet to be explored by foreign insurers. Only state-owned bodies such as Esicuba SA, Esen, Asistur SA and Heath Lambert de Cuba SA operate in the country.

The political and economic scenario in Cuba began to change when Raul Castro succeeded Fidel Castro to lead the communist government in 2008. From 2011, Cuba's centrally planned socialist economy began the gradual journey to becoming a free market economy. The government eased out state control in many industries and permitted self-employment in 178 economic activities. Private participation in the economy significantly increased personal wealth and gross national savings, creating increased demand for insurance. Economic reforms are expected to boost GDP growth, which has growing by 2-3% annually since 2010. The gradual economic liberalization is expected to encourage foreign insurers to explore the untapped insurance market in coming years.

A private insurance market is yet to be established in Cuba and it is difficult to estimate its size. The state-owned Esicuba SA generated a total gross written premium of CUP99.8 million (US$4.2 million) in the financial year ending December 2011, with annual growth of 29.3% over the CUP77.2 million (US$3.2 million) gross written premium generated in 2010. However, the industry has the potential to generate substantially greater revenues.

Beginning of a new life insurance market in Cambodia 

Cambodia ended decades of economic isolation in 2000, when it made the transition to a free market economy. This followed bold economic reforms and economic liberalization, which triggered rapid growth over the next decade. The non-life insurance segment was formally established in the country in 2003 with the entry of private insurers. It grew rapidly during its initial phase of development and generated premiums of US$35.6 million in 2012. The Cambodian insurance industry has substantial potential for growth and is expected to continue to grow over the next decade to become a US$200.0 million industry by 2023. As of May 2014, six non-life insurers operated in the segment.

The life insurance segment in Cambodia formally started in 2012 with the establishment of the state-owned life insurer Cambodian Life Insurance Company followed by foreign life insurers Manulife and Prudential. The untapped market has the potential to generate around US$80-90.0 million within a decade. Cambodia is an attractive investment opportunity for multinational insurers and more are expected to enter the market in the next five year.

Not yet sure about making a purchase decision on this report? Get your questions answered through http://marketreportsstore.com/inquire-before-buying/?rname=14821 before deciding to buy "Insight Report: Nascent Insurance Markets and Opportunities for Foreign Insurers".

Published in August 2014, "The Insurance Industry in Zambia, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2018" is a 145 pages market research report that says Zambia ranks among the top 15 fastest-growing economies globally, and its economy continues to be strong, with the country having achieved middle income status in 2011. Zambia's economy grew at a CAGR of 14.9% during the review period, and is estimated to grow by 7.1% in 2014. Led by relatively stable economic growth and a progressive regulatory environment, the country's insurance industry registered strong growth during the review period, driven primarily by the non-life segment, which accounted for 63.7% of the industry's gross written premium value in 2013. Gross written premium grew at a review-period CAGR of 15.6%, and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.9% over the forecast period. A number of insurance companies entered the industry, attracted by the positive growth potential and low penetration rate, which stood at 1.37% in 2012, compared with the African average of 3.65%. Complete report is available at http://marketreportsstore.com/the-insurance-industry-in-zambia-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2018/ .

Another 146 pages research "The Insurance Industry in Bermuda, Key Trends and Opportunities to 2018" published in Aug 2014 says that despite continued low investment yields and moderate economic growth in Europe and the US, Bermuda's insurance industry continued to thrive in 2013. Gross written premium increased at a rate of 7.4% from 2009 to 2013. The growth was primarily driven by low losses from catastrophes and proper reserve development in 2012. As a result, leading industry participants recorded a significant improvement in combined ratio, depicting strong underwriting performance which in turn supported their risk-adjusted capitalization. Complete report is available at http://marketreportsstore.com/the-insurance-industry-in-bermuda-key-trends-and-opportunities-to-2018/ .

Explore more reports on banking and financial services industries at http://marketreportsstore.com/category/banking-finance/ .

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