September 9, 2020
The ninth meeting of the Working Committee to address the impact of COVID-19 on the country’s economy was held via video conference this morning.
The meeting was chaired by U Thaung Tun, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations. Members of the Working Committee Union Minsters, U Soe Win , U Thein Swe and Dr. Than Myint, Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar, U Kyaw Kyaw Maung and representatives of the Ministries concerned took part in the meeting.
The government established the Kyat 100 billion COVID-19 Fund to assist the affected hotel and tourism industries, CMP enterprises and SMEs in April, 2020. In continuation of the measures, a second tranche of 100 billion kyat will be provided by the State to affected enterprises in the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries and food processing sectors agencies dealing with labour recruitment, vocational schools as well as export-oriented and import substitution industries. The meeting discussed matters relating to ways and means to expedite the process for the disbursement of loans from the COVID-19 fund.
The meeting also discussed the need to consider new strategies to meet the challenge posed by the spike in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks.
It has been reported that the government has provided a total of Kyats 1908.085 billion to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the country’s economy:
|
No: |
Title |
Subject |
Billion |
|
1 |
Household Support |
1st time (5 Rations) 5.3 million 2nd time (20,000-2 times) 5.4 million |
71.103 billion 218.112 billion |
|
2 |
Household (3rd time) |
(Issuance of 20,000 kyats rate) 5.6 million |
113.535 billion |
|
3 |
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation |
Paddy Seed Production, Village Fund Project, Distribution of Fish Species and Fingerlings, Cash to Support Input, Construction of Production Route and Village Infrastructures, Educating Programmers for Animal Breeding, Training to Seafarers for Safety and Security at Sea, Agricultural Services, Cash for Job Training. |
92.612 billion |
|
4 |
Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement |
Cash assistance to senior citizens of ages between 80 and 84 and pregnant women, provision for 30 days of charity homes and homes for elderly, household support in IDP camps to buy 5 food stuffs, school uniform support for students from IDP camps, assistance to people with disabilities, leprosy patients and victims of human trafficking from abroad and victims of domestic trafficking. |
35.923 billion |
|
5 |
Ministry of Health and sports |
Purchasing the necessary medicines, medical equipment and related items for hospital upgrade and spending on building and renovation works |
267.903 billion |
|
6 |
Teashop(Loan) |
Providing loan for teashops and street-side shops |
100 billion |
|
7 |
MFI (Loan) |
Micro Credit Loan to Microfinance businesses |
100 billion |
|
8 |
MSME Fund (Loan) |
Microfinance Businesses Supervisory Committee providing loans to SMEs |
200 billion |
|
9 |
MADB (Loan) |
Cash assistance to farmers by 50,000 kyats for one acre |
600 billion |
|
10 |
Exemption of Electricity Charges |
April, May, June |
107.379 billion |
|
11 |
Electricity Charges in Taninthayi Region |
|
1.518 billion |
|
Total |
|
|
1908.085 billion |
