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(Reuters) - The suspension of U.S. sanctions barring investment in Myanmar in response to political reforms in the poor Southeast Asian state opens the door to U.S. companies queuing to scout for business in one of the last frontier markets.

Industrial heavyweights including General Electric Co and Caterpillar Inc are joining rivals from Asia and Europe that have already moved into a market of up to 60 million people in the former British colony. Analysts and experts have said there will be opportunities for foreign companies across the industrial landscape - from energy, mining and construction to agriculture, finance and tourism.

GE, the biggest U.S. conglomerate, said on Friday it was working with the Myanmar government on possible infrastructure projects and opportunities in the healthcare and energy sectors.

" We are looking at healthcare. We are working with the government on energy. Eventually we will look into all of the infrastructure businesses," GE Vice Chairman John Rice told Reuters in Hong Kong.

" We are looking at Yangon's power needs, working with the ministry and the government to figure out how we can help reduce some of the shortages," said Rice, who runs GE's global operations and visited Myanmar in April.

Even before the suspension of sanctions, Caterpillar sold its bulldozers and excavators in Myanmar through an independent dealer - an arrangement it uses around the world. The suspension will allow the world's biggest maker of earth-moving equipment to use its financial services arm to help that dealer expand.

" There had been prohibitions on financial services support, and as we understand it these would be lifted (with the suspension of sanctions) and we believe this will give us an opportunity to support that dealer better, to better allow them to expand and grow and support the customers in the market," said Jim Dugan, a spokesman for the Peoria, Illinois-based company.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the suspension of sanctions at a news briefing on Thursday with Myanmar Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin, on his long-isolated nation's first official visit to Washington in decades.

" Today we say to American business: invest in Burma and do it responsibly," Clinton said.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has huge gas resources, but a dysfunctional power grid, with nationwide rolling blackouts.

A spokesman for automaker Ford Asia told Reuters: " It's very encouraging to see the rapid and positive developments ... We are sure Ford will find opportunities to participate in this ongoing transformation."

Hotel chains and airlines are also looking for a chance to move in -- earlier this year executives of Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International said they were interested in opening properties in the country.