NAY PYI TAW March 5
The Russia-Myanmar Business Forum, jointly organized by the Myanmar Embassy to the Russian Federation, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry-UMFCCI and Myanmar Airways International (MAI), Roscongress Foundation, Fund RCInvestments, Russia-ASEAN Business Council and Russia-Myanmar Business Council, took place at the Business Hall of Radisson Collection Hotel in Moscow this morning.
It was attended by Myanmar’s Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Dr Kan Zaw, Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Mr Maxim Gennadyevich Reshetnikov,UMFCCI President U Aye Win, business people from the Russian Federation and guests.
The Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and the Russian Minister of Economic Development delivered opening speeches.
The UMFCCI President explained a brief on doing business in Myanmar whereas delegates from both countries submitted their topics.
They all watched a video clip on use of MIR cards of Russia in Myanmar.
In the afternoon session, the Senior General delivered a supplementary speech at the forum. He said: Myanmar successfully hosted the 5th Myanmar-Russia government to government trade and economic cooperation commission’s retreat, the plenary meeting and signing the agreements as well as the business forum this month.
As meeting result from the commission meeting, cooperation could be raised in legal frameworks, trade and investment, energy, transport, construction, infrastructural development, banking service and monetary, information, communication, technology, tourism, education, science and healthcare services sectors.
Especially, the Senior General expressed his satisfaction at cooperation as new stride with the Russian Federation to upgrade Dawei Special Economic Zone to be a strategic outlet to the sea.
Myanmar has adopted the strong legal framework, and expects to sign the agreement to rise investment and protection between the two countries as a result of this ceremony soon thanks to efforts of relevant departments and coordination.
In order to link maritime trade with the inland trade, Russian businesspersons will be invited to invest with many opportunities in necessary transport infrastructures along the economic corridors in Myanmar.
At today’s meeting with private entrepreneurs on economic investment and trade, it became evident that communication networks between the two countries both at the government and private sector levels could be further expanded, presenting new opportunities for cooperation. Despite the geographical distance between Myanmar and Russia, we believe this event will strengthen trade and investment collaboration across various economic sectors.
We are very pleased to see that investment is currently being made in Myanmar’s agricultural sector for the first time. We discussed opportunities for cooperation in the agricultural, industrial and service sectors, including the transfer of advanced technology based on agriculture.
In addition, we saw that investment projects using new technologies are being implemented in the industrial and energy sectors. In the infrastructure sector, in line with Myanmar’s needs, we would like to work with you in the near future to develop projects that will harness renewable energy sources, especially wind, solar, and hydropower, that do not harm the ecosystem, especially along the mountainous terrain and along the long coastline.
Through bilateral cooperation, we have begun integrating payment systems to facilitate smoother trade. As one of the world’s top 10 countries in digital development, Russia presents valuable opportunities for collaboration in information technology and digital infrastructure.
Additionally, we aim to work together to enhance Myanmar’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, which have long required development.
A key national priority for Myanmar is creating quality job opportunities through human resource development. In this regard, we deeply appreciate Russia’s programs to enhance Myanmar’s workforce, particularly in the energy, information technology, service, and healthcare sectors.
I would like to reiterate that we will continue to support the creation of mutually beneficial opportunities and employment opportunities between private businesses that will be implemented through government to government cooperation between the two countries.
In the near future, we will continue to work together to build equal cooperation between the two countries and realize common interests.
Then, the Chairman of the State Administration Council, the Prime Minister, continued to say. First, I would like to say that Russia and Myanmar trusted friends. Russia is a large superpower country that stretches from the Asian region in the east to Europe in the west in the northern Hemisphere. It is a geographically important country that wins international interest. No attack against its success can annihilate its richness and technology. So, we would like to request you to distribute your richness and technologies in Asia, and we from Myanmar want to offer you this opportunity. In this regard, I invite you to invest in Myanmar with full confidence. You can come and witness Myanmar’s condition before making an investment. Members of the Myanmar team here represent their country. You can know more about the real situation of Myanmar citizens by seeing with your own eyes.
If you do business in Myanmar, we will have to take into account the market. Myanmar has a population of only 51 million.
But Myanmar is surrounded by countries with a total population of nearly 3 billion. Apart from 10 ASEAN countries, China, India and Bangladesh, another populous country, are sharing common borders with Myanmar.
As regards the said countries, you should think about the means to find a market, and it is a good idea. First thing is the production of valueadded goods based on natural goods available in Myanmar. Then you will have to make investments and manufacture goods with your technology. I daresay that both means if applied will be truly beneficial.
Yesterday, I met with your President. We both discussed and agreed on the promising areas of cooperation with Myanmar. You should not be so worried about some of the present hardships.
They are just temporary. I believe that we will be able to overcome all those difficulties through bilateral cooperation.
The important part is the will and determination. So, I invite all our Russian friends and entrepreneurs, and if needed, I will meet with you in person again. Thank you.
After the ceremony, the Chairman of the State Administration Council, the Prime Minister, warmly greeted those attending the ceremony.
After the Russia-Myanmar Economic Forum, Russian media reported that Major General Zaw Min Tun, head of the information team of the State Administration Council, responded as follows:
In Russia, the Senior General met not only with President H.E. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin but also with all other leaders including the secretary of the Security Council, chairman of the Federation Council, the upper house of the parliament, the chairman of the State Duma and the defence minister of the Russian Federation. To sum up, Myanmar-Russia cooperation will be enhanced. All cooperation including economic, political, social and defence cooperation will be enhanced. When the Senior General met with President H.E. Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, we were able to create the strengthened Myanmar-Russia friendly alliance relations. We managed to discuss promotion of cooperation in all sectors including economic, political and social ones. Today, we had a Myanmar-Russian Business Forum and related meetings. The Russian Federation is a great power that is most trustworthy and ever-lasting. We especially would like to thank the Russian Federation for its stance with Myanmar in the international and domestic arenas.
We will build a 110-megawatt nuclear reactor with the help of the Russian Federation.
Moreover, we will cooperate with the Russian Federation to build a Dawei deep sea port, which will serve as an important economic foundation for Southeast Asia.
It is an extremely huge project. By using the deep sea port, a new inland route will emerge to connect Dawei deep sea port and Da Nang port in Vietnam and other ports bypassing the Malacca Straits. The deep sea port is important because it is located in lower Myanmar. The Malacca Straits is located in the further lower part of the region, connecting the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.
After meetings between Myanmar and Russian authorities, a new consulate general will be opened to promote friendship.
On return, we will proceed to Vladivostok in Russia to open a new consulate general. What I would like to say in pleasure is that we have opened a new historical chapter to strengthen and further sustain the Myanmar-Russia relations as of today.
