20 Dec
The MSME Agency held its 1st annual conference and launched the Regional MSME Action Plans for collaboration of the central agency and its regional branches to promote MSME sector.
Vice President U Myint Swe delivered an address at the ceremony that took place at Park Royal Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
It was also attended by Union Ministers Dr Pe Myint, Dr Aung Thu, U Ohn Win, U Soe Win, Dr Myo Thein Gyi and U Thaung Tun, Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council Dr Myo Aung, Deputy Ministers U Aung Hla Tun, U Tha Oo, U Aung Htoo, U Maung Maung Win and Dr Min Ye Paing Hein, Nay Pyi Taw Council Member U Aung Myin Tun, ministers of Region/State governments, chairman of leading body of Palaung Self-Administered Zone, Deputy Mayor of Nay Pyi Taw, Permanent Secretaries, Directors-General, Chairman of UMFCCI, members of MSME Work Committee and its Agency, members of Nay Pyi Taw and State/Region agencies, diplomats of foreign missions, experts, representatives of relevant organizations, MSME owners and invited guests.
At the ceremony, Vice President U Myint Swe explained the reasons for drawing separate action plans for specific regions with different advantages and disadvantages, investment types and sizes, interests of business firms.
Myanmar enacted MSME Development Law, its bylaws and policies in 2015 and 2016. Moreover, Myanmar is implementing the ASEAN Strategic Action Plan for SME Development 2016-2025.
The Vice President called for cooperation in implementing good practices of this plan.
He added while the global countries have experienced technical developments and concept changes, Myanmar also has seen some challenges in technologies, concepts, competitive strategies and skills together with the increasing foreign investments into the country.
The Organization of Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) designated eight areas in ASEAN SME Policy Index (ASPI) 2018.
The MSME policy and the ASEAN Action Plan highlight the fundamental needs for development of MSME in the region.
Led by the central MSME development committee and its working committee, the MSME Agency and its regional MSME Agency developed respective action plans with the contribution of relevant organizations, departments and entrepreneurs with their discussions on advantages, disadvantages and strategy.
In the Ease of Doing Business Index 2020 Report released in October 2019, Myanmar moved up six places from 171st to 165th, and the country also included in ‘Top-20 improvers in Doing Business 2020’.
Vice President U Myint Swe also called for conducting capacity building trainings and technology transfers to ensure smart businesses that use modern technologies for implementation.
The conference aimed for reviewing interest and implementation of relevant organizations, departments and agencies in the action plans, as well as cooperation of Union government and regional governments in it.
The Vice President said results from conference could identify the needs in future plans for implementation in Union Territory Nay Pyi Taw, states and regions. He also called for MSME work committee, MSME Agency and supporting groups, relevant departments, local agencies to do an effective implementation of the Action Plan.
During the second session of the conference, Deputy Minister for Commerce, in his capacity as the Chairman of MSME Agency, U Aung Htoo, Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry, as the Joint Chairman, Dr Min Ye Paing Hein explained about the 1st conference and launching of MSME Action Plan. They also presented certificates to the donors and partner organizations with the agency. Vice President of Myanmar Computer Federation Dr Tun Thura Thet introduced the ‘MSME Application’. Participants also discussed the related topics of MSME development at the two-day conferences.—MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)
