Nay Pyi Taw November 16
Acting President of the Re-public of the Union of Myanmar, Chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met with Mon State-level, District-level, and Township-level departmental officials and local town elders at the State Hall in Mawlamyine this morning to discuss regional development matters.
Also present at the meeting were Commission Secretary Joint Executive Chief General Ye Win Oo, Union Ministers, Chief Minister of Mon State U Aung Kyi Thein, senior military officers from the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Office, the Commander of the South East Command, Deputy Ministers, Mon State, District, and Township-level departmental officials, town elders, MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) entrepreneurs, and invited guests from Mon State.
A presentation detailing the implementation of regional development and the required necessities
First, U Aung Kyi Thein, the Chief Minister of Mon State, presented a briefing on the state of development in the agriculture sector; efforts to develop the industrial sector and increase rubber production; the output of fishery products and the export of solar-dried salt; activities to promote MSME development; the ongoing industrial activities and the hosting of MSME product exhibitions and competitions; efforts to improve the education sector within the State; student attendance at industrial, agriculture, and livestock training schools; activities to enhance the health sector; preparations for the successful holding of the multi-party democracy general election; and the execution of public awareness activities regarding voting with the Myanmar Electronic Voting Machine (MEVM).
Next, the town elders and entrepreneurs presented their needs, requesting low-interest capital funding to install solar power generation systems to supply electricity to hotels and guesthouses, given that the State is a highly visited area. They also requested the expansion of flight routes because the State attracts domestic and international tourists with numerous destinations. Other requests included the provision of pure, breeder seeds (RS) to expand seed-producing farms, the issuance of additional agricultural and livestock loans from the State Economic Promotion Fund to further expand rubber cultivation and livestock breeding, and support from the State Economic Pro-motion Fund to increase rice mill operations within the State, along with other necessities.
The Chief Minister of Mon State and the Union Ministers then provided explanations and discussed the points raised in the presentations
Regarding the presentations, the Chief Minister of Mon State supplemented the discussion by elaborating on the arrangements for providing the necessary loans to hotel entrepreneurs for solar power generation systems in accordance with the procedures, the ongoing plans to expand flight routes, the measures being taken to ensure a sufficient supply of pure breeder paddy seeds, the current issuance of capital loans for agriculture, livestock, and MSME sectors and the steps to process further loan requirements according to the procedures, and the ongoing and future plans for upgrading rural inter-village roads.
Following that, the Union Ministers and Deputy Ministers provided explanations on their respective sectors, detailing the issuance of necessary capital loans for agriculture, livestock, and MSME sectors from the State Economic Promotion Fund and the arrangements to provide additional capital to regions and states in accordance with laws and procedures; the distribution of quality seeds to farmers to ensure sufficient supply; the need to cultivate Lowland Coffee (Robusta variety) in Mon State where it can thrive; arrangements to ensure the provision of region-appropriate crop varieties for agricultural work; efforts to improve rubber yields; plans to cultivate human resources; the ongoing decrease in forest cover in Mon State and the necessary expansion of coastal mangrove planting; efforts to prevent deforestation and expand forest and tree planting; the potential for Mon State to produce bamboo-based products due to its abundant bam-boo growth; efforts to enhance the public health sector; and other relevant sector-specific matters.
Matters related to improving the socio-economic status of the local people in Mon State and enhancing the regional economy
Next, the Senior General gave a speech, stating that he was very pleased to see the noticeable development of the Mawlamyine region during this visit, recognizing Mon State as an economically prosperous State with many places capable of attracting domestic and international tourists. Therefore, he emphasized the need to keep the surrounding towns and villages clean, pleasant, and beautiful, citing the saying, “Guests will come only if the home is pleasant”. Similarly, he noted the abundance of ancient and historical buildings and stressed the importance of their preservation and maintenance to allow both domestic and international tourists to visit and study them.
He stated that for the public to freely relax along the Mawlamyine Strand Road, they will upgrade the pedestrian walk and construct areas for physical exercise and sports. Regarding the Mawlamyine Airport, he noted that they are planning and implementing the expansion of the airport and the further extension of domestic airline routes, which are already operating to Mawlamyine. Similarly, he mentioned that the railway sector is being enhanced through the upgrading and repairing of railway lines. However, he noted that the mining and bombing activities of some terrorists are disrupting the flow of goods, and while the State Government is providing and constructing basic infrastructure, some of these built roads, bridges, and buildings have been destroyed by saboteurs. He added that the need to reconstruct what has been destroyed by these acts of sabotage is causing a delay in implementing projects for the greater development of the nation.
He then stated that they are planning to issue additional State Economic Promotion Funds required for agriculture, livestock, and production sectors, and he also stressed the importance of systematically repaying the capital loans provided by the State within the stipulated timeframe.
He also stated that they support regional economic development, emphasizing that just as agricultural work needs to be carried out systematically, livestock breeding must also be conducted systematically. He mentioned that they have made arrangements to ensure that agricultural products fetch fair prices, and noted that if production costs decrease, domestic commodity prices will also fall. He stressed the need to systematically carry out pro-duction by calculating the supply and demand necessary for the region, which would then allow surplus products to be exported to other regions and foreign countries, thereby contributing to increased regional income.
He stated that if they can increase the paddy yield per acre, it will greatly support food self-sufficiency in the region. He noted that the country is currently losing approximately US$-8 billion annually because it fails to achieve the targeted yields per acre for both paddy and other key crops. Therefore, he urged efforts to increase the yields per acre. He emphasized that achieving the full paddy yield per acre requires systematic cultivation and ensuring correct and sufficient spacing between plants and rows. He concluded that by systemati-cally utilizing Seed, Soil, Water, and Method, the yields per acre would improve.
Industrial, agriculture and livestock basic education high schools are being operated in districts of Mon State. However, the number of students attending these schools remains low. By operating these industrial, agriculture and livestock education basic education high schools, the region can secure essential human resources needed for local production industries. Livestock farming is particularly important for increasing the production of key food items such as meat, fish, and eggs, ensuring food security and affordable prices. If the region can produce sufficient meat, fish, and eggs, market prices for these products will stabilize. Therefore, livestock operations need to be systematically expanded, and cultivation of kitchen-use crops should also be increased. By producing high-value products such as frozen meat and fish for export to foreign markets with demand, these efforts can significantly contribute to national economic development.
To ensure the successful operation of such production industries, it is essential to have well-educated and skilled human resources. Therefore, education is being given special emphasis and promoted. In Mon State, although the matriculation pass rate is high, the rate of increasing the learning grades remains low, and support is needed to improve it. Efforts must also focus on raising transition rates compared to previous years and ensuring that all school-age children have access to education. Students who have taken matriculation exams but were unsuccessful, as well as those who only completed basic or middle education, should also be given employment opportunities and a chance to contribute to national development. Accordingly, Polytechnic schools are being opened and operated to provide training in relevant fields, enabling students to enter the workforce and participate in development efforts.
In the field of education, efforts are being made to develop sports programs at universities, colleges, and basic education schools to a high standard. Not only academic learning but also physical exercise and sports are necessary to produce healthy, strong, and capable human resources. Teachers are expected to ensure that their students achieve genuine literacy and are provided with solid foundations in knowledge, enabling them to navigate their future paths without unnecessary struggles.
Due to declining stability in the border areas, some border gates have been closed. It has been found that certain service personnel, as well as ethnic armed organizations that have signed peace agreements with the government, have been involved in illegal trade for their own benefit, without maintaining loyalty to the State. Such illegal trade not only prolongs the presence of armed groups in the border areas but also causes losses to the State, as the government does not receive the taxes and revenue it is entitled to. Similarly, efforts are being given priority to prevent online scams and online gambling in the border areas. Basic infrastructure used to support these illegal activities is being dismantled, and further decisive action will continue to eliminate them completely.
If successful cultivation of high-quality crops can be achieved in Mon State, it will contribute to greater economic development for both the region and the country. Regarding coffee, highland coffee is already being cultivated successfully in the country, and lowland varieties (Robusta) are also being grown. If lowland coffee is planted among long-term crops such as rubber, mango, and durian in Mon State, it could generate significant additional income. To support agricultural activities, river water projects are being implemented to ensure the necessary water supply for cultivation.
The government has provided appropriate methods, suggestions, and guidance to promote development across the country according to regional needs and has also implemented the necessary measures to support these efforts. The true beneficiaries of these initiatives are the local residents living in each region. The socio-economic development of individuals and the growth of each region con-tribute to strengthening the national economy. Therefore, Mon State is urged to place emphasis on and actively work together to promote the development and progress of its own regions.
The Senior General interestingly viewed round display of the products of MSME businesses in Mon State at relevant booths and gave necessary guidance to officials.
On his inspection tour of the Yamanya Stadium of the Department of Sports and Physical Education under the Mon State Government, the Senior General heard reports on construction of the Yamanya Stadium and the sports ground for student at the state level, opening of the youth centre and construction of the Mon State sports park.
After asking about something he wanted to know, the Senior General guided that when reviewing and implementing planned projects, potential future conditions should also be considered to ensure actions yield long-term benefits. Sports fields should be developed to a high standard, allowing athletes to compete at appropriate levels, while spectators should be able to watch and support events in a manner consistent with state-level standards.
The Senior General inspected the Yamanya Stadium and gave necessary guidance to officials.
The Senior General and party viewed round the Mawlamyine Education Degree College in a motorcade.
