16 July

U Thaung Tun, Union Minister of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, yesterday participated in a World Economic Forum (WEF)facilitated virtual dialogue on strengthening ASEAN’s digital economy in support of a more inclusive and sustainable post-COVID-19 recovery.

Joining Ministers and prominent business leaders throughout the region, Union Minister U Thaung Tun noted that, despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Myanmar remains committed to facilitating the country’s transition into the digital age guided by Myanmar’s COVID-19 Economic Relief Planand the country’s Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan. 

Connecting on this year’s ASEAN Youth Survey, the Union Minister concurred with the report affirming that: 

“…accessible, affordable and reliable connectivity will play a crucial role in enabling [Myanmar’s] transformation – spurring innovation, improving services, and enhancing living standards.” 

Describing how Myanmar’s young people have expressed resilience and adaptabilityto Myanmar’s ‘new normal’, the Minister noted: 

“…our young people have interpreted ‘stay-at-home’ to mean ‘get-online’, with at least one service provider reporting a 27-per-cent increase in data traffic amidst lockdowns and movement restrictions.” 

Myanmar’s participation in the WEF Regional Action Platform for the Asia Pacific providesthe country with a valuable opportunity to exchange perspectives and share insights designed to strengthen regional resilience and coordinated responses in the leadup to the WEF Annual Meeting scheduled to be held in Davos, Switzerland in early 2021.

MNA