Chairman of State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing Delivers an Address at the 1/2022 Meeting of Union Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar

The 1/2022 meeting of the Union Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar was held at the meeting hall of the State Administration Council Chairman’s Office in Nay Pyi Taw on 2 February. The Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered an address at the meeting as follows:

• The current government is in office for eight months in the 2020- 2021 FY. The former government took office for four months. After the present government assumed the State responsibility, there was only some progress in the economic and security sectors because of a certain political situation.
• Regarding the economic sector, there is still weakness in fulfilling the requirements of transport business and inputs including raw material supply for production. Terrorists committed terror acts ranging from robbery and murdering cases to the destructive acts of blowing up mines and setting fire starting from political protests. So, security forces controlled these activities.
• With regard to the armed organizations, the Tatmadaw also effectively controlled them. During the process, innocent people, civil servants and members of the Myanmar Police Force and Tatmadaw, who were shouldering security duties, were killed or wounded. The Senior General expressed his sadness for theses casualties. Because of those incidents, the government could not exert all-out efforts for the economy.
• Provisional statements show a trade surplus of US$677 million during the period till October in the 2020-2021 FY due to the efforts of the Union Ministers with the public involvement amidst the criticisms, attacks and disturbances.
• The country needs a sharp rise in exports. It is necessary to encourage the export of agriculture and livestock products instead of natural resources.
• As the production industry needs manpower, it generates job opportunities for citizens. So, efforts should be made to further increase livestock and agriculture exports. 
• Regarding the export products, the country has the capacity to export a large volume of livestock and agriculture products to its neighbours, China, India and Bangladesh.
• Quality export products can generate income for the nation. Rice, bean, maize and livestock products are the main businesses of some 70 percent of the people.
• As regards the cotton which is included the export items, the cultivation of cotton plants is expected to exceed the production more than the demand according to the calculation of relevant ministries.
• But the country imported textile and related materials worth US$1,280.152 million in 2021.
• If the country produces quality threads made of Myanmar’s cotton, the import volume will decline and the domestic cotton production will meet the local demand and contribute much for local garment industries.
• Fulfilling the local textile and clothing needs is the top priority of the country. Continuously, the garment factories need to export their products to the foreign countries.
• In this regard, local and foreign investment must be invited to manufacture quality goods by upgrading the weaving industry.
• During the year 2021, the weather was fine and rainfall was good enough for storing water in dams across the country.
• But, water stored in dams is to be utilized to generate electricity. The water stored in dams is to be effectively utilized not only in the production of electricity but in agriculture.
• As there are many cultivated areas with pumped and irrigated water in our country, it is needed to take systematic educational tasks on water utility management.
• The river water pumping projects can be implemented through solar energy. If the river water pumping projects will be developed as soon as possible, the agricultural businesses in the upcountry regions will be thriving.
• A government has to carry out tasks for the development of its country. Only if there is a growth in the people’s sources of revenue, there will be the development of the country. Therefore, the relevant ministries will be required to carry out tasks they should, in order to enhance the agricultural businesses.
• Regarding the electricity supply, the government has been making all-out efforts to ensure adequate supply. It is necessary for all to boost the supply, on one hand, it is required to save electric power.
• The generation of power is a task given priority to ensure improvement of socio-economic life of the people. Moreover, the arrangements must be required for generating the sufficient electricity for improvement of socio-economic life of the people, operation of businesses, manufacturing and public transportation services.

Regarding the Economic Development of the State and Enhancement of Defence Capability

• The year 2022 becomes a challenging year for us. If we can revive the economy, we will win the trust of the people.
• We have three ambitions. For the first point, we have pledged to revive the State economy. The second point is that we will do all tasks related to multiparty democratization mentioned in the political future tasks.
• Our country does not practise the military conscription law yet because of happening the internal armed conflicts.  If we have comprehensively implemented the State economy and multiparty democratization that were mentioned in the first and second points, we have to enhance the Defence capability for the third point.
• At that time, citizens need to serve the military service under the law. They have to serve it for one and a half year, or two or three years in line with the prescription depending on the situation of the country.
• If we are weak in the economy, we will feel inferior. If we are weak in political power, other countries would make trouble for us. If we have weak Defence capability, we will face the assaults of others. Our fence will not be safe. These are three musts for us.

After the Chairman of the SAC Prime Minister heard the reports on the respective sectors presented by the Union Ministers, he made concluding remarks as follows:

• In spending the foreign exchange, trade deficit came out in the times of previous governments. So, it is necessary to calculate such prospects, ministries need to save spending on foreign exchange except for compulsory measures.
• Regarding the tax, the ministries must levy the tax which should be collected. Only when the private sector improves will the export volume be larger. Income from the exportation will generate tax for the State. Ministries need to strive for earning the deserved taxes rather than increase the rate of tax.
• The hiking prices are based on high production costs, larger transport charges and high prices of raw materials. As it depends on the high transport charge, it is necessary to improve the public transport system. If so, consumption of fuel bought in foreign currency can be cut effectively.
• Efforts must be made for providing adequate raw materials to the domestic industries and for increasing the production of goods to meet the demand.
• Only when the authorities encourage domestic production, the costs will decline and currency will firm. If doing so, it will contribute to the State economy and protect the national interests. Hence, all need to strive for implementing it.
• Therefore, Ministries should make efforts for the development of the nation in various ways and means during the rest period of the FY.

The Union Ministers General Mya Tun Oo, U Wunna Maung Lwin, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae, Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, U Win Shein, U Aung Naing Oo, U Ko Ko Hlaing, Dr Daw Thida Oo, U Maung Maung Ohn, U Ko Ko, U Tin Htut Oo, U Hla Moe, Admiral Tin Aung San, U Khin Maung Yi, U Aung Than Oo, Dr Charlie Than, U Khin Yi, U Myint Kyaing, Dr Pwint Hsan, Dr Nyunt Pe, Dr Myo Thein Kyaw, Dr Thet Khaing Win, U Min Thein Zan, U Shwe Lay, Dr Daw Thet Thet Khaing, Dr Htay Aung and U Saw Tun Aung Myint attended the meeting.

• The country needs a sharp rise in exports. It is necessary to encourage the export of agriculture and livestock products instead of natural resources.
• As the production industry needs manpower, it generates job opportunities for citizens. So, efforts should be made to further increase livestock and agriculture exports. 
• The country imported textile and related materials worth US$1,280.152 million in 2021.
• If the country produces quality threads made of Myanmar’s cotton, the import volume will decline and the domestic cotton production will meet the local demand and contribute much for local garment industries.
• Fulfilling the local textile and clothing needs is the top priority of the country. Continuously, the garment factories need to export their products to the foreign countries.
• In this regard, local and foreign investment must be invited to manufacture quality goods by upgrading the weaving industry.
• During the year 2021, the weather was fine and rainfall was good enough for storing water in dams across the country.
• As there are many cultivated areas with pumped and irrigated water in our country, it is needed to take systematic educational tasks on water utility management.
• A government has to carry out tasks for the development of its country. Only if there is a growth in the people’s sources of revenue, there will be the development of the country. Therefore, the relevant ministries will be required to carry out tasks that they should do, in order to enhance the agricultural businesses.
• Regarding the electricity supply, the government has been making all-out efforts to ensure adequate supply. It is necessary for all to boost the supply, on one hand, it is required to save electric power.
• The generation of power is a task given priority to ensure improvement of socio-economic life of the people. Moreover, the arrangements must be required for generating the sufficient electricity for improvement of socio-economic life of the people, operation of businesses, manufacturing and public transportation services.
• We have three ambitions. For the first point, we have pledged to revive the State economy. The second point is that we will do all tasks related to multiparty democratization mentioned in the political future tasks.
• Our country does not practise the military conscription law yet because of happening the internal armed conflicts.  If we have comprehensively implemented the State economy and multiparty democratization that were mentioned in the first and second points, we have to enhance the Defence capability for the third point.
• If we are weak in the economy, we will feel inferior. If we are weak in political power, other countries would make trouble for us. If we have weak Defence capability, we will face the assaults of others. Our fence will not be safe. These are three musts for us.
• Only when the authorities encourage domestic production, the costs will decline and currency will firm.