Nay Pyi Taw September 18
Acting President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Chairman of State Security and Peace Commission of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met departmental officials and elders from Dawei,Taninthayi Region, this morning at Dawei town hall, and discussed regional development.
Also present at the meeting together with the Senior General were Commission Secretary Joint Executive Chief General Ye Win Oo, union ministers U Min Naung, Dr Myo Thein Kyaw, Taninthayi Region Chief Minister U Myat Ko, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the Coastal Region Command commander, deputy ministers, officials, and members of region government.
Reports on regional points and ongoing development undertakings
The chief minister presented a report on salient points of the region, successful agricultural activities in it and efforts to hit the peracre yield target, extension of raw edible oil and finished edible oil mills, rubber and coffee cultivation and yield, activities for further progress of breeding industry, extension of fish resources and marine products manufacturing factories, electrification programs in all rural and urban areas, arrival of foreign tourists at tourist destinations in the region, opening of schools in the region and education activities, matriculation examination pass rate, opening of mechanical, agricultural basic education high schools, provision of healthcare services, mangrove forests conservation and environmental conservation through large-scale tree-growing ceremonies, and ongoing development activities in Dawei area.
Local elders and officials of organizations and associations reported on necessary assistance to facilitate the exportation of raw rubber and increase profits, develop fish and other marine resources farming in Dawei district, extend roundtrip flights, promote MSMEs and improve road transportation in the area and requirements for regional development.
Clarifications of union ministers and officials
In response, union ministers and deputy ministers said rubber exports from Myanmar must meet international terms and conditions and certification standards, and the goods will find more markets if they are exported through the legal means set up by the state. Regarding kitchen crop cultivation and land for MSME industrial zones, applications can be presented in accord with the set rules. As the national economic development fund is disbursing loans business wise for specific periods, they must be received and repaid in accord with rules. Students from Taninthayi Region can attend the agriculture and farming university that will be opened in the academic year 2025-2026 in Ayeyawady Region and new universities will also be set up annually. Taninthayi Region must strive for the success of coffee cultivation as it has resources for the successful growing of lowland coffee. The State will provide assistance for entrepreneurs to run sea prawn farming in accord with the set rules, and the products have high foreign demand. Passenger availability of flights of State-owned and private airways to towns in Taninthayi Region. Efforts are underway to establish airports that can handle large cargo planes for direct aquatic product exports. Dawei jetty is ready to be upgraded for the smooth flow of passengers and goods along the coast. They also explained the opening of universities, colleges and basic education for development of human resources, skilled in science and technology. The chief minister said the requirements of local elders and businesspersons will be relayed to the relevant ministries to be fulfilled through coordination.
Discussion on Regional Development
Following this, the Senior General, in his discussion on development matters in the Dawei region, stated that Dawei is a city with a long history and has been a city with a good historical record since the struggle for independence. Culturally, it has also been a region with a strong foundation for many centuries. In recent years, he had visited the Dawei region and, upon noticing the need for a city hall, had taken action to have a new building constructed. Furthermore, he had also facilitated the upgrading of the Shwe We Thiri sports ground and had given instructions regarding the necessary measures for upgrading Dawei Airport.
Regarding the rubber products mentioned in the presentations, he noted that the raw rubber materials produced in our country need to be upgraded. While efforts will be made to facilitate the easy export of raw rubber materials abroad, if they can be upgraded, better market access and prices can be obtained. Besides exporting raw materials, it would be more beneficial if value-added rubber products such as tyres, tubes, and consumer goods could be produced to a standard that captures the market. Therefore, the State is encouraging and supporting the development of the rubber product industry and is also providing investment funds. In rubber cultivation, based on the plant’s lifespan and potential yield, it is necessary to cultivate with calculation, including the provision of inputs, to establish a continuous rubber production chain. As rubber products will always be in demand for the State, emphasis must be placed on developing rubber-based industries.
Development of Fish, Prawn, Crab, Marine Products, and Livestock Breeding Industries
There is a significant demand for fish, prawn, crab, and marine product meat in our neighbouring countries. We can obtain fish and marine products through natural catching and can also successfully undertake breeding operations to produce them. Therefore, fish and prawn breeding industries, for which there is market demand, need to be expanded, and it is necessary to sufficiently produce the required feed for the breeding industry domestically. Consequently, it is necessary to take action to develop both inshore and offshore fishing operations within our maritime territory, and required support will be provided. Similarly, necessary assis-tance and support will be pro-vided for the development of fish and prawn breeding industries.
To further develop regional economic activities and improve connectivity, work is underway to upgrade and expand Dawei Airport. Arrangements will also be made to expand and operate more interisland flight routes, such as to Bokpyin and Kawthaung. Regarding Dawei Port, measures are being taken to carry out river dredging work to facilitate the smooth entry and exit of vessels in the Dawei River. The best efforts will be made to support the upgrading of Dawei Port.
The State has provided investment capital for livestock breeding industries and their development, and he urged efforts to make these ventures successful. The high prices of meat, fish, and basic food commodities are due to high production costs and an imbalance between supply and demand. Furthermore, illegal trade also causes commodity price inflation. Efforts are being made to ensure commodity prices are at reasonable levels, and action is being taken to combat illegal trade flows. Illegal trade not only causes high commodity prices but also significantly damages and causes losses to the State’s rightful tax revenues. Therefore, efforts are being made to encourage domestic production to substitute for imports. If domestic production can meet internal demand and also produce quality goods for export, it will greatly contribute to the country’s economic development. The Taninthayi Region also needs to strive to increase regional production to promote both regional and national economies.
He stated that his visit was to provide necessary support for the development of economic activities within the Taninthayi Region and to mutually discuss requirements. For regional development, besides the government’s efforts, all local people also need to collectively strive and work together. It was observed that due to the inability to achieve target peracre yield rates in the Dawei region, there is a lack of rice sufficiency in the region. By ensuring regional rice sufficiency, the circulation of money within the region will improve, greatly aiding the regional economy. Similarly, efforts must be made to increase the yield of other crops and achieve target yield rates. The funds that would be spent on buying from outside due to a lack of regional sufficiency should instead be used for regional development in other areas to foster the region’s progress.
Development of agro-based industries
It is necessary to exert efforts for development of agro-based industries and Robesta coffee can be grown in Taninthayi region. Favorable conditions in the region must be utilized beneficially and agro-based industries must be implemented by growing coffee, cocoa, durian, cashew and coconut trees, which are suitable in the region. Similarly, bamboo and rattan resources are abundant in the region and if value-added products can be manufacture from them, contribution can be made for regional economic development.
Measures must be taken to produce goods successfully to export them to other regions and countries by carrying out agriculture and livestock breeding tasks successfully. If systematic and consistent production based on agriculture and livestock breeding can be implemented, not only regional socio-economic development but also national economic development can be achieved.
Nurturing educated human resources
To be able to do so, human resources instilled with knowledge and technology must be cultivated. Therefore, it is necessary for us to promote education without fail and it was found that class pass rates in the region dropped. Concerted efforts must be made to enable all school-aged children to go to school to attain formal education and to achieve higher pass rates. The government has been taking measures for higher education standards of the country and it is necessary to make efforts to nurture abundant human resources because education weaknesses will force people to work in other regions under the leadership of other peoples. It is necessary for us to place emphasis on nurturing human resources that will lead the future of the country.
The government is ready to fulfill the needs for socio-economic development of the region and local residents are urged to make concerted efforts for regional development.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and party cordially greeted the attendees and observed the MSME exhibition booths of industries in the region, inquiring about matters of interest.
Then, the Senior General and his wife and party proceeded to the home for the elderly in Dawei, paid respects to the elderly before donating supplementary edible bird-net, foodstuffs and clothes. Afterward, the Senior General and party asked after the health of the elderly and cordially greeted them.
Then, the Senior General inspected the home for the elderly and gave necessary instruc-tion on reports of officials before donating cash for the home for the elderly.
Afterward, the Senior General and party inspected places in the town and Seikkantha Road by car.
Then, the Senior General and his wife and party offered flowers, water and lights at land-mark of Taninthayi region the Dawei Lawka Marazein Buddha image and the Shwetaungsar Pagoda and paid obeisance to the Buddha image and pagoda by circling clockwise. Then, the Senior General signed the guest book of the pagoda.
Then, the Senior General and his wife and party donated cash for the pagoda to members of the pagoda board of trustees, who presented a certificate of honor to the Senior General.
Then, the Senior General and party paid respects to the Shwetaungsar pagoda and gave instruction on offering gold robes to the pagoda.
Then, the Senior General and party arrived at Shwe We Thiri stadium and inspected the upgrading of it before giving necessary instructions.
Afterward, the Senior General and party arrived at Dawei airport and heard reports on upgrading the airport and its runway reported by the deputy minister of transport.
After hearing the reports, the Senior General gave necessary instructions on long-term systematic tasks and other needs.
