Nay Pyi Taw, 5 December 2019

An Opening Ceremony in honor of the 2nd Myanmar Development Effectiveness Roundtable took place at the Myanmar International Convention Center in Nay Pyi Taw in this morning. Vice Chair of the Development Assistance Coordination Unit (DACU) and Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, U Thaung Tun, delivered the keynote address.

Union Ministers, Chair of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, Chief Ministers of States and Regions, Deputy Ministers, Hluttaw members, Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General, Ambassadors, Development Partners, domestic and international private sector representatives, NGOs, INGOs, and invited guests totaling in excess of 500 people, attended the ceremony.

In his keynote address, the Minister underlined the fact that all stakeholders including the private sector, the public sector, civil society organizations and development partners played an important role in driving Myanmar’s development agenda forward. The Minister expressed his appreciation to all development partners including the World Bank, ADB, USAID, JICA, DFID, UNOPS, GIZ, KOICA, Australia, China, EU, France, Germany , Italy and others country partners , UN and INGOs organizations.

The Minister also noted that Myanmar’s economic growth was forecast to grow at 6.8 percent in 2020 which places Myanmar amongst the fastest growing economies in both the region and globally, and that growth was leading to increased productivity and improvements to living standard experienced by Myanmar’s people.

The Minister also emphasized the implementation of Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan, supported by the establishment of key institutional mechanisms including the Project Bank, the Land Bank, a new Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, and Central Transformation Unit.  The Minister also warmly acknowledged development partners’ support to the development of a MSDP National Indicator Framework.

The Minister went on to highlight a number of key economic reform related achievements under the guidance of the MSDP, including the creation of a more investment enabling environment, increasingly openness of the insurance and banking sectors, the implementation of the legal framework supporting Intellectual Property Right, and the establishment of a Competition Commission. The Minster also underscored Myanmar’s remarkable achievement noting that Myanmar was recognized as one of this year’s 20 most improved economies on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.

The Minister explained the government’s commitment to achieving universal health coverage by 2030, and National Health Plan (2017-2021) which led to the achievement of a 90 percent reduction in Malaria cases, and with 85 percent of eligible HIV/AIDS patients received the life-saving drugs. Furthermore, monthly cash payments to pregnant women as part of the Government’s “1,000 days” are leading directly to significant health improvements to mother’s and their babies.

The Minister also highlighted linkages between the National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women 2013-2022, and the newly drafted Prevention and Protection of Violence Against Women Law, and the newly enacted a new Child Rights Law, and the empowerment of Women in Myanmar more broadly.

The Minister concluded his remarks with 3 key messages, the first being the crucial role of partnerships between development partners, the private sector and civil society in order to attain the goals outlined in the MSDP. The second, message noted the need for more systematic and well-structured Strategic Coordination Groups to facilitate MSDP implementation and monitoring. The third message noted that Myanmar must seek to use Official Development Assistance (ODA) wisely and in ways that can draw additional private sector financing for sustainable development.  

The opening ceremony was followed by 2 Roundtable Discussions. The first Roundtable Discussion on “Coordinating Assistance in Support of Myanmar’s National Development Priorities”, was moderated by Mr. Newin Sinsiri, Asian Developent Bank Country Director.  Deputy Ministers for Planning, Finance and Industry U Set Aung and U Min Ye Paing Hein, Daw Si Si Pyone, Director General of Treasury Department, and Daw Thway Thway Chit, Director General of Planning Department, shared updates relating to the implementation of MSDP, and the Project Bank online portal and associated project financing mechanisms.

Moderated by U Than Aung Kyaw, Director General of Foreign Economic Relations Department, Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, a second roundtable discussion was continued by the remarks given by the United Nations, USAID, the Myanmar CSO Partnership for Aid and Development Effectiveness, Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, AustCham Myanmar, and the INGO Forum. In their remarks, they expressed their commitments to support the future Myanmar’s development program and shared experiences, views as to how to strengthen a new set of Strategic Coordination Groups in support of more effective cooperation.  

Following that, the summaries of previous day discussions were presented by the co-moderators.

The second Roundtable Discussion focused on” Mainstreaming the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan” moderated by Dr. Wah Wah Maung, Director General, Ministry of Planning , Finance and Industry.  U Hla Moe Aung, Chief Minister of Ayeyarwady Region and U Saw Bo Bo Wai Maung, Social Affairs Minister of Kayin State, discussed investment opportunities, cooperation programs and future development prospects of their respective States and Regions. Then, U San Myint, Director General of Central Statistical Organization, Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry, U Than Aung Kyaw, Director General of Foreign Economic Relations Department, Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, and Mr. Gordon Johnson, United Nations Development Program Resident Representative, presented a proposed National Indicator Framework to support the financing, monitoring and evaluation of the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan, and revitalizing the new set of Strategic Coordination Groups which development are now being planned.

The sessions were followed by open dialogue between all participants.

Union Minister U Thaung Tun provided remarks during the closing session.  In his remarks, the Minister expressed appreciation to all parties including development partners,  CSOs, NGOs, INGOs, UMFCCI and the private sector, officials and all concerned person who have continued to support Myanmar’s development agenda and reform process, as well for assistance which made possible this most successful event. The Minister committed to continue closely collaborating with development partners in support of Myanmar’s development journey.