Support domestic production for national economic development; hard work and job generation are pivotal
NAY PYI TAW May 22
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met MSME entrepre-neurs from Bago Region at the City Hall in Bago this afternoon and discussed regional and economic development.
Present together with the Senior General were SAC Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, union ministers, Bago Region Chief Minister U Myo Swe Win, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, Southern Command Commander Maj-Gen Htein Win, deputy ministers, region level officials, towns elders and officials.
Individual presentations on MSME functions and requirements
The chief minister reported on endeavours for development of local MSMEs, internal and external investments, situation of MSMEs.
Bago Region Rice Millers Association chair U Pyae Phyo Aung, Oil Millers Association chair U Moe Thet, U Aung Kyaw Hsan on behalf of sculpture entrepreneurs, U Zeyamin of Light House Coffee (Toungoo), U Htay Win on behalf of steel millers, townelder U Sunny and other attendees discussed State’s financial and technological assistance for development of rice milling business, extension of palm oil industry which has a local market, development of the local successful sculpture industry and State’s assistance for its participation in internal and external art and craft exhibitions, capital for coffee business development, assistance for operating local MSMEs, possible benefits for setting up township level brokerages for farming businesses, and requirements for emergence of good human resources and regional development. The Senior General looked into the requirements.
Union ministers’ sectorwise clarificati ons
Union ministers explained ministry wise implementations, State’s disbursement of loans under various headings, provision of financial loans only after all the previous loans are repaid, availability of business loans and procedures, ongoing soft loan programs for business extension, effective use and repayment of loans, proper ways to get further financial assistance for business expansion, availability of machinery, investment and technology for agrobusinesses through the relevant departments, extension of forested areas in the region through inclusive participation in and prioritization of environmental conservation, MSME fairs and competitions to extend mark-ets for local products, and continuous contacts with MSME task groups. The chief minister discussed undertakings for MSME development.
Visiting Bago Region for business development
As regards regional and economic development, the Senior General said the goal of the visit is to seek means for national economic development, and fulfill the needs of entrepreneurs in Bago Region. Based on the presentations, the government devises plans for business development. Bago Region has the most robust economy in all regions and states after Mon State. It is a region reliable for national economy. Country’s economy started to fall in 2018. The economy further dropped in 2020 due to COVID-19. In 2021, the nation saw negative eco-nomic growth due to COVID-19 and political conflicts.
Products based on agriculture and livestock breeding promoted
In the past, only a few measures were taken to promote domestic manufacturing businesses. It is necessary for the country to produce sufficient goods to be sold. Products based on agriculture, livestock breeding, land resources and water resources must be manufactured. As agriculture is a sound manufacturing business which has a great potential for success, the government has been promoting the sector and it is important to exert efforts. Our country grows 15 million acres of monsoon paddy and has 13 million acres of farmland.
If double cropping is carried out on farmland after monsoon paddy has been harvested, crop yields will increase. In agriculture, seeds, soil, water and techniques are essential and must be perfect. It is necessary to use high quality seeds but also while measures are taken for soil enrichment. Similarly, sufficient water, which is essential for the success of agriculture, must be supplied to farmland. It is also important to utilize correct agricultural techniques. Only then, will peracre yields of crops increase. In the same way, quality strains must be raised by using correct techniques and feeding properly in livestock breeding.
By enhancing the double cropping capabilities, more agricultural goods can be produced for the country and revenue for the country will increase. If agriculture and live-stock breeding tasks can be carried out more successfully, crop yields will increase and revenue for Bago Region will increase.
Raw materials, electricity, inputs and human resources essential for success of MSMEs
Raw materials are essential for MSMEs. Similarly, electricity is important for manufacturing businesses. Although efforts were made to implement power generation projects in our country previously, they were delayed or stalled due to various reasons. As a result, electricity shortages have been common until now. Although hydropower dams were built to generate electricity in Bago Region, the dams were destroyed by some armed organizations including the socalled PDF terrorists. Therefore, there are electricity shortages. Measures have been taken to import fertilizer for agriculture from other countries. As the government will be able to import products if it has enough foreign exchange, it is necessary to make concerted efforts to improve manufacturing businesses to earn foreign revenues.
The government has been offering capital loans for MSMEs in accordance with rules and regulations. In the same way, agriculture, livestock breeding and technical high schools have been opened to nurture human resources for agriculture and livestock breeding. The formal education completion rate of the country is low. Only when one completes formal education, he or she will be able to learn technologies.
The country has to import dairy products every year. It was learnt that cattle breeding can be carried out successfully and dairy products can be manufactured in Bago Region. Similarly, if meat, fish and eggs needed for Yangon Region can be produced in Bago Region, regional revenue will increase. In the same way as products are sold in the domestic market, value-added products can be manufactured for exports and it will be beneficial for Bago Region.
It was learnt that about 50,000 acres of rubber trees were grown in Bago Region. It is necessary to produce tyres for vehicles and motorcycles and other household products needed in the region from rubber. Similarly, it was learnt that Bago Region has been enjoying local rice sufficiency. It is necessary to produce livestock feed from bran and broken rice from rice milling beneficially. If oil crops can be cultivated successfully, local edible oil consumption can be fulfilled. The country has to import edible oil every year by spending foreign exchange. If oil crops can be grown through doublecropping, imports of edible oil can be reduced. Therefore, it is necessary to make efforts to grow oil crops in Bago Region successfully. Will revenue increase only when manufacturing businesses can be conducted successfully and socioeconomic lives of the people will improve.
Necessary to work and create job opportunities
As it is necessary to achieve economic growth for the country, entrepreneurs are required to make concerted efforts for economic development. It is mainly necessary to work and to create job opportunities.
The government has been creating job opportunities.
The true strength of the country lies within. Therefore, we must rely on our own strength in encountering hardship.
The government has guaranteed that state responsibilities will be transferred to the elected government after holding election without fail. Therefore, measures have been taken to restore stability first. We would like to make known to all that we will join hands with anyone who works out of goodwill for the country. The government is confident that it will achieve success as it is working out of goodwill for the country.
Then, the Senior General cordially greeted MSME entrepreneurs who attended the meeting.
Afterward, the Senior General enthusiastically viewed the local products, foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial products, traditional handicraft and textiles displayed at each exhibition booth and asked about their market shares. Entrepreneurs conducted round the Senior General at the exhibition booths.