Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win meets with MSME entrepreneurs, departmental officials, local national races
Nay Pyi Taw January 23
Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win met with MSME entrepreneurs, departmental officials and local national races in Kayin State at Zwekabin Hall in Hpa-an this morning.
Also present together with the Vice-Senior General were member of the SAC Mahn Nyein Maung, union ministers, the chief minister of Kayin State, senior officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, the commander of the Southeastern Command, deputy ministers, MSME entrepreneurs, departmental officials and local national races.
First, Kayin State Chief Minister U Saw Myint Oo reported to the Vice-Senior General on salient points and implementation of development tasks for MSME enterprises in Kayin State.
U Aung Zaw Htet, who spoke on behalf of rice traders and Vice Chairman U Myo Min Aung Kyaw of the Myanmar Hoteliers Association (Kayin Zone), who spoke on behalf of hoteliers, reported to the Vice-Senior General on tasks being carried out and challenges and tour operations in Kayin State. SAC member Mahn Nyein Maung, union ministers, deputy ministers and officials discussed offering loans from the state economic promotion fund for development of MSMEs in regions in states, the needs to use the loans beneficially and the prerequisite of peace and stability for development.
Ministers and deputy ministers from respective ministries discussed tasks being carried out for MSMEs by their ministries, offering trainings for human resources development, possibilities for entrepreneurs to take out loans for their enterprises by applying them in accordance with the law, rules and regulations,
provision of capital investments for formation of cooperatives for regional development, enhancement of socioeconomic lives and higher income generation, possibilities to contact relevant ministries and local departments for availability of inputs, the needs to register rights for trademarks and assistance for MSMS offered by relevant ministries.
After hearing the reports, the Vice Senior General discussed issues related to the reports and coordinated the matters together with responsible officials.
Then, the Vice-Senior General delivered a speech, saying the purpose of the visit is to learn about implementation of guidance given by the Chairman of the SAC Prime Minister during his visit to the state and to fulfill the needs. The government has encourage enterprises to carry out tasks based on 10 items of raw materials produced locally including edible oil, rice and broken rice, cotton, rubber, tea, coffee, rattan, timber and bamboo in line with availability of them in respective regions. In manufacturing finished products, raw materials are essential and it is necessary to take locally available raw materials into consideration in production goods. In manufacturing finished goods from raw materials, it is important to take measures aiming at meeting the local, domestic and export demands in line with the slogan, "One region, one product."
Cooperation of local departmental officials, MSME agencies and members and local residents is essential for the success of MSMEs. Only when finished goods can be produced, will the local demand for foodstuffs and consumer products be met and can surplus be exported.
This amounts to production of import substitutes. According to the reports, there are 1,187 industrial enterprises, 625 members and two industrial zones known as Hpa-an and Myawaddy industrial zones in Kayin State and it can be seen that production can be carried out to a certain extent.
Entrepreneurs are required to apply for MSME Member Cards.
By doing so, entrepreneurs can grasp the opportunities to receive loans for business expansion. The member card is the evidence of being an MSME entrepreneur in the state. Capital investment is being offered not only from MSME development loans but also from 16 private banks, which offer collateral type loans.
The State Administration Council, during its inevitable temporary assumption of state duties, adopted two political objectives to strengthen a disciplined and authentic multiparty democratic system and to foster a Union founded upon democratic and federal systems. Prosperity of the country and security of food, water and basic needs is being realized as the national objective. In taking measures for prosperity of the country and security of food, water and basic needs, measures are being taken pragmatically to implement economic objectives to enhance development rooted in agriculture and livestock - inclusive of all ethnic people, utilizing contemporary production methodologies and to promote all-round growth in other sectors of the economy, to invigorate MSMEs for the fortification of the export sector, leveraging the momentum of the thriving economic landscape, and to spur the cultivation of oil crops to meet targeted production levels, thereby achieving self-sufficiency in local oil supply and striving towards both local adequacy and overseas export of surplus oil crops.
It will be seen that the MSME business is directly related to the national goal. The Prime Minister is the chairman of the Central Committee for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and he pays attention to the MSME enterprises in various regions and states, conducts meetings and fulfills their needs.
It was found out that the most frequently raised need in MSME meetings is the need for loans for capital, technical requirements, raw material requirements, market needs and equipment, and the needs of the land. Among them, as the capital requirement is found to be the most, the state has already released up to 170 billion kyats for the development of MSME businesses. If it meets the specified standards, it can be obtained Online Application and can make contact with 16 private banks.
In terms of technology, human resource (HR) development is a key to improving product quality.
Lack of access to the market and long-term impenetrability is due to the need for labor skills. In order to obtain skilled workers, 260 courses are being taught in ten ministries according to industry. The type and duration of the course are posted on the MSME Web portal, and local MSME agencies also need to create awareness so that everyone can know. Only with skilled workers, we will get good quality products and there will be demand in the market. Similarly, 51 schools have been opened in 51 districts for young people across the country who have passed KG+9 and who have difficulties attending basic and higher education for various reasons. Agriculture, breeding and industrial sciences are being taught to have working skills. If they get a certificate and can enter the workplace, if they excel, they can continue their university education in the subject they have learned.
Regarding the demand for raw materials, we need to make efforts to produce finished products based only on the raw materials produced in the area.
By purchasing the necessary raw materials from abroad, the cost of foreign currency and other restrictions may be encountered, and it may be difficult to operate in the long term. There are raw materials available locally in the country. In Kayin State, it has advantages over other regions in terms of rubber production and technology. As directed by the Prime Minister, there are markets where rubber products are used as tires for vehicles across the country, as well as in other consumer goods. Therefore, we need to strive to produce good quality.
According to the market demand, we need to communicate with ministries through MSME agencies. It is planned to hold MSME product exhibition competitions by region and state on the 77th Union Day, which will fall on February 12. It is needed to present the products by state and region in the best possible way. Some quality products can be produced locally, but most of them are not well known. It is needed to contact through ministries for market research and to make competitions and exhibition to promote. Yangon Region and Mandalay Region have been able to connect with Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to export some products to foreign markets and some products have been ordered.
There are two parts in Thilawa Special Economic Zone: Free Zone and Promotion Zone.
They must communicate with the management committee to export their products. In addition, regions and states need to connect with each other to know the needs and preferences of their users and to be able to produce quality products with technology. Therefore, as the state and regional governments and MSME agencies need to communicate with relevant ministries to access the market, entrepreneurs also need to improve the quality of their products and to increase value production.
Variety selection in agriculture is important. In some areas, it is seen that the good variety is being cultivated successfully through the contract system.
In the foreign market, one metric tonne of normal rice is only about between US$350 and 450, while good quality sweet rice can fetch about US$1,200 per metric tonne. In addition, although there is no difference in planting methods and inputs, it should be known that there are many differences in the benefits of traditional farming and scientific farming. As the saying goes “Unity brings about success”, the state and regional governments, MSME agencies and entrepreneurs and local people need to cooperate. In addition, regional stability is essential. The government is always open door for peace.
Efforts are being made for the country's stability and peace. MSME entrepreneurs need to make efforts to become exporters from being importers in order to be successful. He would like to encourage all-round efforts to be made by individuals, families, township and state for the development of the state.
After that, the Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Commander-in- Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) and members viewed displays of the products such as local products, food, consumer goods, industrial products and traditional handicrafts and the officials explained about them.