NAY PYI TAW January 27
Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivers speech at Union Government Meeting 1/2023
The Union Government Meeting 1/2023 was held at the meeting hall of the Office of the Chairman of State Administration Council in Nay Pyi Taw this morning and Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered a speech at the meeting.
Also present at the meeting were Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win and union ministers.
First, the Senior General delivered a speech, elaborating on political developments resulted from vote-rigging in the 2020 multi-party democracy general election, violence against the innocent people and government employees by the CRPH, NUG and PDF, which have emerged based on ugly and unruly vote-rigging in the 2020 general election, measures taken by the government to address the political instability caused by political differences in accordance with the law and economic developments of the country.
The economy of the country has improved to certain extent due to promotion of domestic manufacturing
Then, the Senior General said the economy of the country was falling due to the mismanagement of the previous government and COVID-19 when our government started assuming the responsibilities of the State. The economy of the country fell beginning from 2018 and the government has encouraged domestic manufacturing enterprises based on agriculture and livestock breeding for the economic growth of the country. Now, the economy of the country has improved to a certain extent and the economic sector of the country has begun to take off. It is necessary to manufacture quality domestic products to meet the demand and to supply sufficient goods needed in the market to maintain price stability. Measures must be taken to provide raw materials and inputs at reasonable prices and human resources necessary for the manufacturing sector. If production costs can be reduced, commodity prices will drop.
Similarly, if efforts can be made to supply sufficient food, water and basic needs in respective states and regions, the people will be able to buy things at cheaper prices and live conveniently. Therefore, respective states and regions are required to exert efforts to supply sufficient food, water and basic needs. By learning from the past economic experience, measures must be taken for the economic development of the country. Priority must be given to domestic manufacturing enterprises based on agriculture and livestock breeding as MSMEs play an important role in economic growth of the country.
International relations
When the SAC started assuming the State responsibilities, there were crises in international relations as some countries imposed sanctions on Myanmar and condemned the country. As the country has been a nonalign country for a long time, efforts were made to establish friendly relations with the international community. The country has so far adopted an independent and active foreign policy. Political instability was caused by the political differences over the country, interference and instigation of some foreign countries. The government is exerting efforts to maintain friendly international relations at its best.
Take measures for people’s education improvement
The education standard improvement of the people plays an important role in national development. Current data show that the country still has weaknesses in educational progress. Most of the people aged 25 and above are below middle education level. This is why encouragement must be given without fail for the education promotion of the people, and education reform will continue. Talking about the health and education sectors, the Senior General said: “The second point concerns health affairs. The Covid outbreak has caused many losses. In our country life expectancy is about 70. It is very little. We are the lowest among our neighbouring countries. Laos is higher than our country and so is Bangladesh. Calculations may be different. However, those calculations are different, we really need to live long. We need to be healthy. For good health, we need to have enough food. Secondly, our living conditions must be good. For smooth living conditions, we must have job opportunities and education levels. Without these two factors, we will still have many weaknesses in our health sector. No matter how many people have been vaccinated, it will not work. There are still Covid outbreaks despite vaccinations. As far as I am concerned, only improved living standard will help improve our health. Our businesses must be successful to improve our living standard. We need improved education levels and skills to improve our businesses. That’s the way we should go. As such, our lowest education level must be at least KG+9. With this, we can go to vocational training at the minimum. Industrial, agricultural and livestock breeding schools will be opened district-wise. Frist, there will be 50 schools. Anyhow, we must be educated. We dare and can invest in education. After the first 50 schools, all districts will have one each. Then, there will be more schools in townships. We must be able to do basic things.”
Necessary to meet electricity needs for national development
The Senior General said electricity needs are the country’s biggest challenge. Under the previous governments, hydropower projects were implemented but some projects were stopped or cancelled for various reasons. Now, measures are being taken to generate enough electricity, and the year of 2025 is targeted to have enough power supply. Enough electricity will help improve the country’s productivity and public transport system. Electricity consumption in public transport can reduce fuel usage and foreign exchange spending. Therefore, efforts are being made to generate enough electricity. During our tenure, we are making all-out efforts for national development.
Regarding politics, the Tatmadaw has accepted and agreed with the multi-party democracy system and continues to develop it. Building a Union based on democracy and federalism is the political objective. The national objective is to ensure prosperity and food security of the nation. It is to carry out tasks to ensure adequate drinking water and cultivation water in regions and states. It is necessary to ensure food security through promoting. our main businesses of agriculture and livestock farming. In this day of technology, universities concerned need to produce graduates skillful in modern technology. The State has been encouraging development of human resources within the country.
Necessary to ensure development of Nay Pyi Taw Council Territory
Nay Pyi Taw is the capital of the country enacted in accordance with the Constitution. Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital while Yangon is the commercial and business city. Over the past 17 years, Nay Pyi Taw has changed a lot and grown. It is to continue to take measures in order that the capital will be in accordance with a capital’s characteristics. Efforts must be made to ensure improvement of socio-economic life of the capital residents. It is to develop the capital to become a green, clean and smart city. The government is supporting tasks for development of the capital and the Nay Pyi Taw Council is to make efforts for development of the capital as well. Ministries are also urged to work together in order that Nay Pyi Taw will meet its capital characteristics.
Then, union ministers reported on sector-wise matters. In his concluding remarks, the Senior General praised and recorded all for their efforts for interests and development of the nation over the two years period while the State Administration Council has been taking the responsibilities of the State. The Senior General also gave necessary instructions on the reports saying all ministries need to systematically supervise and scrutinize matters on information security.
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