NAY PYI TAW February 7
Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met district and township departmental officials and MSME entrepreneurs in the town hall in Pathein this morning and discussed regional and economic development undertakings.
Present together with the Senior General were SAC Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, SAC members Admiral Tin Aung San, Union ministers, Ayeyawady Region Chief Minister U Tin Maung Win, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, South-West Command Commander BrigGen Kyi Khaing, and officials.
Individual reports on MSMEs operations in the region and requirements First, the chief minister presented a report on regional points, progress in setting up MSMEs in the region, assistance for MSME development, business operations in Pathien industrial project, operations of industries manufacturing main products, local farm products, production of handicraft and food industries, tourismbased hotels and services, ongoing programs for MSME development.
MSME entrepreneurs at the meeting, Chairman U Htay Myint of Global Earth Agro & Aqua Industry Public Co., Ltd, Managing Director U Shwe Kyaing of Delta Queen International Co., Ltd, ViceChairman U Sithu Soe of Ayeyawady Development Public Co. Ltd, Managing Director U Lumaw Myint Maung of Shwewanadi Agriculture Production Co. Ltd, Chairman U Soe Win of Ayeyawady Region Rice Millers Association, Chairman U Win Myint Hlaing of Ayeyawady Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairman U Min Kyaw Oo of Chaungtha Hoteliers Association, Charman U Kyaw Thuya of Ayeyawady Region Tapioca Exporters Association, edible oil entrepreneur Daw Mi Mi Kyaw and other attendees, reported on agriculturerelated advantages of Ayeyawady Reg ion, systematic fish farming, milk cow farming and valueadded dairy products distribution, functions of Pathein Industrial Zone, operating rice mills and quality strain requirement for increasing rice yield, local distribution of rice and exports, erection of rice mills and dryers in the vicinity of rice producing areas to reduce cost, benefits of income generating summer paddy and green beans cultivated under the assistance of State Economic Development Funds, capital for rice huskfired power plants, road transport development for increasing number of tourists in the region, cooperation between entrepreneurs and local government for development of tourism in accord with the State adopted policies, assistance for development of tapioca business in Myanmar as it is a strategic crop of Mekong region, upgrading of operating oil mills with the advanced technology and expected assistance from the government, and other requirements for regional economic development.
Sector-wise clarifications of Union ministers As regards the individual reports, Union ministers explained ministrywise implementation of task, phasewise motor, rail and water way improvement programs for transport facilitation in the region, systematic feasibility study for Pathein airport upgrading program, region’s potentials to attract local and foreign investments, sector-wise non-profit investments for national development and socio-economic improvement, availability of businesswise soft loans for development of edible oil industry, establishment of cooperative societies and provision of machinery and capital for rural socioeconomic development and income generation, help from local branches of the relevant ministries for the availability of quality seeds and other inputs, ministrywise and region/statewise support for MSME development, ongoing industrial registration programs, antiillegal trade campaigns, online paperwork services for export facilitation.
Encouragement for manufacturing based on local agricultural and livestock raw materials In his speech, the Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said that the government is encouraging micro, small and medium scale enterprises for economic development of the State. Some 70 percent of the population reside in rural area whereas 30 percent live in urban area. Eightyfive percent of people live in rural area of Ayeyawady Region and 15 percent in urban area. The majority of them are engaging in agriculture and livestock farms in growing paddy and oil crops as well as breeding fish. Manufacturing the raw materials of both agriculture and livestock farms are business of MSMEs. Products from these businesses come out feedstuff to be used in livestock farms.
An emphasis must be placed on domestic raw materials in doing local businesses. Raw materials from agriculture and livestock farms can be produced to the valueadded products. Ayeyawady Region is blessed with the resources to be successfully used in fish farming tasks.
It is necessary to breed fish species suitable for local consumption as the country needs high demand of meat and fish. Likewise, the Senior General stresed the need to use quality paddy strains for having high peracre yield. Agricultural tasks need to seek quality crops, fertile soil, sufficiency of water and high technique. Efforts must be made to produce larger volume of local raw materials, adding plans must be implemented to increase peracre yield of oil crops.
Manufacturing needs to produce quality products. It is necessary to use raw materials from agriculture and livestock farms for production. If so, these businesses will create job opportunities for local people and contribute to regional development as well as improvement of socioeconomic life of the people. As local raw materials can be supplied to the businesses continuously, it will help strong production. Amount of local circular money will increase and it will reflect socioeconomic development of the people as well as improvement of State economy. By successfully implementing the MSME businesses will manage importsubstitute process and help export of products to foreign countries for booming the State economy.
Cooperative system Myanmar has exercised the cooperative system and some developed countries are still exercising the cooperative system. The cooperative system will improve the work process and the cooperative system must be implemented in Ayeyawady Region. These cooperative societies need to distribute quality seeds of crops to increase peracre yield. The Senior General stressed the need to efficiently use the cultivable lands as well as land and water sources. If agricultural produce will have higher peracre yield, Ayeyawady Region will have remarkable development in the economic sector. Relevant townships and districts need to strive for booming process to have much benefit.
Regional beautification and socioeconomic development The government is carrying out betterment of roads and bridges across the nation in order to ensure smooth and swift flow of commodities and to develop the State economy. Arrangements will be made to upgrade Pathein Airport for improvement of tourism industry and socioeconomic development of local people. So also, local people and officials are to participate in regionwise beautifying tasks. Although Pathein port admitted docking of oceanliners in the past, but it cannot admit the international vessels for silting the water course. A plan is underway to build the port in Ngaputaw to admit docking of oceanliners so as to development the region and attract the travellers. So, it is necessary to upgrade the regional facilities and domestic products to be able to charm the hearts of travellers. Trade shows must be held with domestic products to catch attention of the people.
With regard of electrification, solar power can be generated in Ayeyawady Region. The government will conduct the research for using the wind power soon. All must make efforts for sufficient supply of electricity and they all need to join hands for development of the region.
Nation’s economy will be developed through encouraging domestic commodity production As regards the imports, the nation had a trade deficit due to large volume of imports without encouraging domestic commodity production in the past. Now, our government is encouraging domestic commodity production and taking measures to be able to resume suspended factories. If personal goods needed locally could be produced adequately, foreign exchange spending could be minimized. It is necessary to make efforts to become an exporter from an importer of basic personal goods needed for the nation. In doing so, when there is a balance in earnings and expenses, the nation’s economy will grow and the commodity prices will go down as well. The nation’s strength lies within. Other countries could not control our nation’s economy.
All citizens are to make efforts for nation’s economy with a global perspective As investment loans will be disbursed at the lowest rate to operate commodity production enterprises, the loans should be used profitably. There is a need to do studies for acquiring technology for MSMEs. Subjects on agriculture, livestock and mechanism will be taught at basic education high schools to ensure development of human resources. The State is giving encouragement to ensure development of human resources and better education. As Ayeyawady Region has already had basic raw materials needed for commodity production enterprises, the regional economy will grow more if efforts are made for development of commodity production enterprises in the region. In implementing One Region One Product initiative, it is necessary to eye not only the domestic market but overseas market. All the citizens are to be experienced and knowledgeable with a global perspective in taking measures for the nation’s economy and work together.
Then, the Senior General cordially greeted MSME entrepreneurs who attended the meeting.
Later, the Senior General took a tour of exhibits on fishery products, foodstuff, personal goods, industrial products, traditional handicraft, and clothing items and discussed market availability with the businessmen.
