Burma signed an agreement Monday with Singapore, seeking help from the city-state to open up and modernize the Burmese economy.

President Thein Sein arrived in Singapore Sunday for a four-day visit, accompanied by a delegation of business leaders and economic ministers.

Under the agreement, Singapore will offer technical and vocational education to help Burma train people in areas such as economic planning and urban development.

Burma’s economy was stifled and largely cut off from the world during decades of mismanagement and by sanctions against the military rulers’ poor human rights record.

However, the military-backed civilian government has recently put in place a number of reforms, including the release of hundreds of political prisoners, peace talks with ethnic rebels and loosened controls on the media.