Nay Pyi Taw February 3
Chairman of the State Administration Council Commander in Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met entrepreneurs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Indus-try and its associates in Ngushwewa Hall of the President House in Nay Pyi Taw at 11 am today.
Present at the meeting together with the Senior General were Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win, members General Mya Tun Oo, Admiral Tin Aung San, General Maung Maung Kyaw, Lieutenant-General Moe Myint Tun, Pado Mahn Nyein Maung, U Thein Nyunt and U Khin Maung Swe, Secretary Lieutenant-General Aung Lin Dway and Joint Secretary Lieutenant-General Ye Win Oo, President of UMFCCI U Zaw Min Win, Vice Presidents Dr Maung Maung Lay, U Wai Phyo, U Thaung Tin and U Hla Maung Shwe, Secretary General U Aye Win, Joint Generals Secretary U Myo Thant, Daw Khaing Khaing Nwe, Dr Aung Thein, U Kyaw De Wa, U Aye Tun, U Aung Soe Tha and Dr Win Si Thu, Treasurer U Mya Han, Joint Treasurer U San Linn, Auditor U Hnin Oo, Joint Auditor Dr Tin Latt, Chairman of Myanmar Pulses, Beans and Sesame Merchants Association U Tun Lwin, President of Myanmar Gold Entrepreneurs Federation U Kyaw Win, Myanmar Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Growers and Exporters Association U Soe Than Min Din, Chairman of Myanmar Fuel Oil Exporters and Distributors Association Dr Win Myint, Chairman of Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association U Kyaw Win, Myanmar Fertilizer, Seed and Agricultural Pesticide Entrepreneurs Association U Thadoe Hein, President of Myanmar Tourism Federation U Yan Win and Chairman of Myanmar Hoteliers Association U Aung Myo Min Din.
First, Secretary General of UMFCCI U Aye Win introduced officials of the UMFCCI and associates to the meeting individually.
In his keynote address, the Senior General said the meeting was called to deal with the general situation of the country. All the participants at the meeting are the persons re-presenting the agriculture, livestock, construction, trade and production enterprises. The Tatmadaw has to take over the duties temporarily because of the country’s situation and it has already announced to restore the systematic path to democracy. There are no restrictions over regular businesses and other undertakings during the emergency period. The COVID-19 positive cases have exceeded 104 million across the world up to now. Myanmar has over 140,000 positive cases and over 3,000 deaths and there may also be unknown viral infections. COVID-19 awareness, prevention and treatment must be carried out. Prevention should be made through effective means with added momentum to contain the virus. But those undertakings should not have impact on the regular business undertakings. The Tatmadaw has provided a lot of help to the COVID-19 prevention undertakings. It had tolerated various kinds of situations, but for certain reasons it has to take over the current duty. It will ensure the continuous functioning of the regular task without deviating from the course of democracy. Works being implemented together with international community are being continued, and international protocols will be continued to be observed in line with policies adopted by the State, and voter list errors in the general election will be identified and based on the findings, action will be taken against those responsible in line with electoral laws, and a new election will be held and the power will be handed over to the winner in accordance with democratic practices. The 2008 Constitution says after the state of emergency ends, the Tatmadaw has to hold election in six months’ time and hand over power to the winner. The election commission has been formed.
As businesses have suspended, low-income families do not have income and are struggling to make ends meet, impacting upon their socioeconomic lives. As businesses have suspended, there is no production, and no products to sell. Businesspeople are therefore short of funds to continue to operate their businesses. To overcome those difficulties, measures must be taken for businesses to be able to resume operations systematically. Concerned organizations must systematically supervise to enable factories and workshops to resume operations in line with COVID-19 regulations. Only when businesses resume, employers and employees will have income, and foreign currency income will increase again. Those present at today’s meeting represent different business fields. Regarding the national economy, the Senior General urged them to give priority to labour-intensive business that can support the livelihoods of many people. The Senior General asked them to present viable methods. Regarding transportation, rail, road and air travel has been resumed in line with regulations. Effective actions will be taken against those who negatively affect the majority by failing to follow COVID-19 regulations during the travel. It is important that one’s indiscipline does not disturb others. Measures are to be taken to purchase basic COVID-19 prevention equipment as cheapest prices as possible for the public, and if necessary the State must provide them for free. COVID-19 prevention works can be carried out effectively by doing so.
Pagodas and stupas of Buddhism and sacred sites of other religions will be reopened in line with COVID-19 regulations except for religious gatherings. Factories and workshops must be re-opened and production must resume. Agriculture and livestock farming provides foods for the people. There are over seven billion people in the world, and every country has food requirements. And Myanmar must take measures to supply foodstuffs produced from agriculture and livestock to those markets. To be able to export, foodstuffs must have good quality acceptable to the market, and must not have chemical ingredients exceeding the acceptable levels. If possible, quantity must be given priority over profits. For the time being, efforts must be made to sell many products as possible with least profits. And efforts must be made to resume operations at garment factories.
It is necessary to export products from the country through the friendly nations and to prevent the difficulties of banking services caused by rumours. To revive the economy of the country, the State will render support. Domestic tourism will be allowed to resume and hotels will be allowed to operate with certain restrictions. The State is taking the strength of the UMFCCI and associates to revive the economy of the country. The political, economic, peace and international relations will be carried on without changing the previous policies.
Afterwards, President U Zaw Min Win of the UMFCCI, Chairman U Soe Than Min Din of Myanmar Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Growers and Exporters Association, Chairman U Thadoe Hein of Myanmar Fertilizer, Seed and Agricultural Pesticide Entrepreneurs Association and Joint General Secretary Dr Aung Thein of the UMFCCI, Chairman U Kyaw Win of Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association and Myanmar Tourism Federation President U Yan Win reported on undertakings of respective associations, their difficulties and needs of assistance from the State Administration Council, and the Senior General reviewed the matters and promised to fulfil the needs immediately and some needs will be fulfilled as much as possible. The Senior General emphasized that it is important to observe the restrictions for worksites during the pandemic.
In conclusion, the Senior General said that the attendees were submitting their opinions for the interests of the country. The Senior General pledged to fulfil the needs. The Senior General said that there are roles to play by the government as well as the participants and pledged to fulfil the needs.
