25 Oct
Union Minister for Information Dr Pe Myint said he didn’t think that digital platforms brought about distinctive effects on print literature during the Digital Platforms and Future Direction of Book Industry Webinar yesterday.
In his opening speech, the Union Minister said that it is expected to gain much knowledge from the present online seminar and to get assistance from next seminars for the development of digital media and digital literature in Myanmar.
Electronic media development has created many reading opportunities and print literature books will continue existing with various forms, he added.
He suggested the creators of literature to study how to write attractively when they write for online magazines and journals and web contents.
By conducting knowledge-exchanging and knowledge-sharing programmes for those coming into the book industry, Myanmar book industry will be developed in line with changing technology trends.
Chairman of the Establishment Committee on Myanmar Digital Media Association U Thaung Su Nyein said it is planned to organize the webinars like this every two or three weeks, and the matters relating to filming will be discussed in the third seminar.
Formation of Myanmar Digital Media Association is underway so that those who are working for the development of the digital media sector in Myanmar can work together.
Sayamagyi Thayarwady Daw San San Nwet urged the people to join reading the books of non-fiction, fiction or both, saying that all books, including fiction or non-fiction are rooted in the brain.
She also recommended the book titled “Nway Oo Hmat Tan 2020” or “Spring Diary 2020” written by Hnin Maya to the readers.
It is important to read both fiction and non-fiction to train the brain and to develop the habits of reasonable thinking, she added.
A panel discussion was also held during the seminar and participated by the committee’s deputy chairman U Ko Ko (Ko Ko-RIT) as moderator and Chief Executive Officer of Myanmar Book Centre Dr Thant Thaw Kaung, U Aung Si Tha from Seikku Cho Cho Publishing House and Daw Phyo Phyo Aung from Chance Myanmar Online Education as panellists.
During the panel discussion, Dr Thant Thaw Kaung discussed matters relating to imports of international books, its strengths and challenges, market potentials, the connection between education and international books and copyrights.
U Aung Si Tha detailed about the use of digital platforms for bringing international books to Myanmar readers, future direction to digital platforms, and the things should be prepared by publishers and sellers.
Daw Phyo Phyo Aung discussed the matters relating to the purchase of international books as a reader, differences, strengths and weaknesses between print and electronic books, benefits of reading international books, and the visions desired to be seen in the future direction of Myanmar book industry to digital platform.
The seminar was concluded after Acting Director-General of Information and Public Relations Department U Aye Kywe, Daw Swe Zin Htike, Dr Thant Thaw Kaung and U Aung Si Tha answered the questions raised by online attendees.
The purpose of the seminar is to raise the understanding of Myanmar book lovers about the ways of ordering international books, the facts that should be known while ordering the books, benefits of digital literature and other opportunities.
The webinar was participated by Union Minister Dr Pe Myint, Deputy Minister U Aung Hla Tun, Permanent Secretary U Myo Myint Maung, departmental officials, members of Establishment Committee on Myanmar Digital Media Association, CEO of Myanmar Book Centre Dr Thant Thaw Kaung and participants in the panel discussion, media and interested persons.
MNA (Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)
