SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing meets State, district and township level departmental officials, town elders, MSME businesspersons in Kengtung of Shan State (East)
NAY PYI TAW May 12
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing this morning met with departmental officials at State, district and township levels, town elders, and businesspersons of micro, small and mediumsized enterprises at the city hall in Kengtung of Shan State (East) and discussed regional development measures.
Also present at the meeting were Council Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, Council members Admiral Tin Aung San, Poe Rei Aung Thein, Dr Kyaw Tun and U Yan Kyaw, Union ministers U Win Shein, Dr Kan Zaw, U Ko Ko, U Min Naung, U Hla Moe, U Khin Maung Yi, Dr Charlie Than and U Aung Naing Oo, Shan State Chief Minister U Aung Zaw Aye, senior military officers from the Office of the Com-mander-in-Chief, the commander of Triangle Region Command, departmental officials at Shan State (East), district and township levels, town elders, local ethnic people, MSME businesspersons and officials.
Individual reports on requirements for development of businesses First, Chairman of Shan State Administration Body Branch (Shan State East) U Ye Naing reported on regional data of the Shan State (East). Chief Minister of Shan State U Aung Zaw Aye presented implementation of MSME in Shan State.
Then, MSME businesspersons Chairman of Jadel Arkha Coffee Industry owner and Shan State East Coffee Entrepreneurs Association U Ya Tun, Patron of Kengtung Hoteliers U Soe Shwe, Chairman of Royal Mongyawng Rice Mill Cooperative Society U Soe Thiha, Chairman of Myanmar Tea Growers and Exporters Association (Shan State-East) U Shauk Ti and attendees reported on ex-tension of sown acreage of coffee in Kengtung with assis-tance of the government to have larger volume of raw coffee, needs of more assistance for distribution of quality coffee saplings, market requirements of coffee, needs to maintain the domestic coffee quality, needs to stabilize the market, assistance for development of tourism industry in Kengtung and Tachilek regions of Shan State (East), formation of cooperative society in the region for development of rice mills in Mongyawng region, progress of improving domestic tea industry, upgrading roads in poor facility of transport in some areas, assistance for service personnel in smooth transport in discharging duties in the region as transport charge is high in Shan State (East), installation of telephone lines for convenience of the region in communication difficulties, and requirements for develop ment of businesses.
Responses of Union ministers to relevant sectorsNext, the Union ministers discussed respective sectors to respond to the reports of businesspersons. In their clarifications, they explained objecti ves of the SAC, implementation of road map for development of the State, encouragement to MSME businesses to boom the State economy, operation of local and foreign investments in Shan State, creating employment opportunities in Shan State (East), smooth work process for domestic agriculture and livestock farms and assis-tance of relevant ministries in providing necessary machinery, heavy machinery, capitals and technologies, needs to contact relevant departments to seek assistance, formation of cooperative societies to develop rural region and enhance socioeconomic life of rural people, assis-tance of machines and capital, enlarging coverage of forest areas in Shan State (East) and participation of all locals in environmental conservation.
The need to participate in the MSME shows and exhibitions to seek market and have constant contact with the MSME work committee and take supervisory measures against illegal trade as it can hamper MSME development and national economy. The chief minister said the state government would take notes of those discussions, adding that there will be prompt contact and cooperation with relevant ministries.
The Senior General then gave necessary instructions.
In this speech, he said he was in Shan State (East) to discuss needs for national economic promotion and fulfil the requirements of local entrepreneurs.
The government is performing State duties by laying down its objectives and future work programmes.
Encouragement of local products and manufacturing of valueadded goods can promote national economy Now, the country is facing various sanctions in various ways. So, private business sector development will improve the national economy. Exporting finished agricultural products rather than selling natural resources and agricultural produce as raw materials will generate more benefits. With the production of valueadded goods and finished goods, there will be more job opportunities, thereby facilitating socioeconomy. The development of a country depends on its citizens. Manufacturing is crucial for economic progress. Agriculture plays a greater role in the manufacturing sector. About 70 percent of the population live in rural areas. So, agricultural and livestock sector development will improve the national economy.
Our country’s GDP is lower than that of other Asian countries. And this has resulted from State instability and low production. The country has about 15 million acres of monsoon paddy, 13.9 million of which is farmland. This year, there are still about 5 million acres that have yet to cultivate. Successful agriculture will surely facilitate the national economy. The State is trying to provide irrigation water to places with scarce irrigation water.
Manufacturing is important in the MSME industry. There will be production only if there are raw materials. Other inputs such as electricity, fuel, pesticides and others are necessary as well. Investment money and human resources are also essential. Shan State (East) can engage in agriculture. It can grow perennial industrial crops such as coffee, rubber and tea.
Necessary to successfully grow local crops including coffee and tea As foreign demand rises, coffee growers are making money. It is necessary to export our coffee directly to foreign countries. Coffee growing and production will benefit Shan State (East). Quality is necessary to maintain the coffee market on a long-term basis. So, quality coffee must be produced by following correct procedures. Contact can be made with the Coffee Entrepreneurs Associa-tion for local and international excursions. Likewise, tea culti-vation must be successful. Regional crops can be sold within the country and to foreign countries as well.
Shan State (East) has favorable conditions for successful productivity. Kengtung is seeing high prices in foodstuff. That has resulted from high production cost and imbalance between demand and supply. Therefore, regional agricultural and livestock breeding activities must be successful.
The hydropower projects in the country were cancelled or delayed for various reasons. Now, there is insufficient power supply. Despite several resour-ces, Shan State (East) could not generate electricity for various reasons. Consequently, there have been high production costs and high prices. Production should be in line with the modern ways rather than conventional ways. It is necessary to promote production capacity. Mixed cro-pping capacity must be promo-ted to produce high yields and meet targets. Correct cultiva-tion methods will also meet the targets and benefit the country.
In eastern Shan State, it is possible to grow oilseed crops such as sunflower, sesame and peanuts. If the regional oil crops can be successfully developed and the oil demand of the region can be met, it will be beneficial for the region. Similarly, if the livestock activities can be carried out successfully, the meat, fish and eggs needed for the local food, will be available in sufficient quantity and the high price of meat will be controlled. Those who want to carry out livestock farming activities in the region will be lent investment capital by the state. The fruits and vegetables produced in the region can be produced as grocery products to export abroad, as well as making jams. We also need to promote rubber production. If the glutinous rice developed in the region can be produced as valueadded products, more products will be produced.
Tourism development In Shan State (East), the government is doing what is necessary for the development of tourism. Hotel and travel operators need to be able to serve places to stay, foods and local food at a high level. The upgrading works of Kengtung and Tachilek airports are underway, and foreign tourists will be able to enter by flight from neighboring countries. It is needed for the locals to prepare for the attractiveness of the area and the places where they will stay so that they are ready when tourists come to their area.
Human resource development We need to produce scholars for the development of human resources. The state is working to open agricultural high schools in 50 districts in order to obtain human resources. Through this, colleges and universities will be opened, so that they can continue to learn advanced sciences. Our country is on the road to democracy, but there are weaknesses in respecting the law, which is the basis of democracy, and having economic awareness for economic development. Therefore, in order for the students to know economics and understand law, economics and law are being taught in universities.
The government is making vigorous efforts for the comprehensive development of the country, and the regions and states also need to make efforts as far as their own regional development is capable. If administrative organizations, township elders and locals in the region work together to make an allround effort, there will be regional development, and through that, there will be development on a national scale so we want everyone to work together, said the Senior General.
After that, the SAC Chairman warmly greeted the state, district and township levels officials, township elders and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) entrepreneurs.
Watching the display of local products After that, the SAC Chairman studied with interest at products such as resource and mineral products, food, consumer goods, industrial products, traditional craft products, clothes, and traditional medicines, and the market access conditions were discussed and explained by the businessmen according to their business.
Inspection of the construction of the bypass road in Kengtung city In addition, this morning, the SAC Chairman and members visited Shan State(East) to inspect the construction of the Kengtung bypass road and Road Department Director U Ye Lin gave a briefing on the operational conditions.
In response to the briefings, the Senior General said that during heavy rains, there is a lot of water falling from the mountains, so it is necessary to complete the works before the rainy season. There is a need to carry out land clearing operations in a systematic manner to prevent landslides. It is needed to calculate and build the longterm strength of the road. The road construction need to be completed within the specified period and trees should be planted in the areas on the left and right sides of the road.
After that, it was reported that the SAC Chairman and members toured and inspected along the Kengtung bypass road by vehicles.