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 AFP, 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.