Ministries clarify performance

May 2, 2017

A press conference for the current government’s one-year performance was held yesterday at 1 pm at meeting hall of the Ministry of Information in Nay Pyi Taw.
Attending the press conference were Union Minister for Labour, Immigration & Population U Thein Swe, Deputy Minister for Ministry of Defence Rear-Admiral Myint Nwe, Central Bank of Myanmar Deputy Governor U Set Aung, Nay Pyi Taw Council secretary U Win Shein, departmental officials, local and foreign media personnel.

Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population

Union Minister for Labour, Immigration & Population U Thein Swe explained about immigration, national registration, acquiring skilled workers, data collection of workers, setting minimum wage, publishing of handbook on human resources development index, elimination of forced labour, education on Labour law and increasing job opportunities.

Ministry of Defence

Deputy Minister for Ministry of Defence Rear-Admiral Myint Nwe explained about environmental conservation, disaster relief and rehabilitation, re-opening of university training corps, health care in rural area and preventive work on military recruitment of underage children.

Central Bank of Myanmar

Central Bank of Myanmar Vice Governor U Set Aung explained about implementation of monetary policy, sale of government exchange certificate and government treasury bond on behalf of the government, permission to open foreign banks (branch), interbank money market and improving banking fundamentals.

Nay Pyi Taw Council

Nay Pyi Taw Council secretary U Win Shein explained about education, health, road, bridges, dam/reservoir, electricity, water and other development works implemented in the council area, land and security matters.

Questions and answers

Local and foreign media asked about works by Ministry of Labour, Immigration & Population on former nationals applying to re-register as Myanmar nationals, permitting on permanent residency, setting minimum wage, validating Myanmar population, number of people working abroad, unemployment data collection and issuance of religious identity cards to members of religions (monks, priests); works by Ministry of Defence on upgrading the Tatmadaw, attendance to National Defence and Security Council meetings, security of northern Rakhine State, activities of Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings and Myanmar Economic Corporation; works by Central Bank of Myanmar on foreign currency control, Kyat 50,000 banknote, changing of salary payment by card instead of cash and status of foreign banks (branch) opening; works by Nay Pyi Taw Council on regional development, issuing of farm and land titles, squatters, occurrence of major crimes and city development programs to which official from respective departments responded.

CBM clarifies measures for controlling inflation

Inflation, monetary policy, and the US dollar exchange rate were discussed at a press conference yesterday on the performance of the Central Bank.

“With a view to controlling inflation, a major factor in the stability of money, that is, acquisition of economic development with stable prices, implementations are being made by means of Reserve Money Targeting,” said, U Set Aung, Vice-Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar at the press conference held on May 2.

If the development of monetary volume exceeds the target, excess amount of monetary volume is to be withdrawn after inviting auction.

In the financial year 2016- 2017, 23 auctions were invited, with Ks343 billion of excess money at a time on the average withdrawn from the market,”

He added, “In implementing monetary policy, the Central Bank of Myanmar is making implementation of laying down the interest rate policy, designation of the least-needed special fund, laying down money exchange rate policy and accomplishments on free market. The Central Bank of Myanmar commenced to sell treasury notes in actions starting from 28th January 2015 to reduce filling national budget deficit which can cause money inflation, as for the Central Bank of Myanmar, and for the emergence of management on governmental debt. As of 20th September, 2016 system of selling treasury bonds in auction was started.

In the financial year 2016- 2017, Ks1201 billion worth of treasury bonds were sold out. Likewise, Ks3622 billion worth of treasury notes were sold. Up to 31st January 2017, 13 branches of overseas banks, 24 private banks, 1481 branches, 16 private foreign currency companies, 45 representative branches of overseas banks were opened. CBM-Net was introduced in January 2016.

Visa Card, Master Card, JCB Card, UPI Card had been granted at home and abroad. Moreover, local banks had been granted to issue Prepaid Cards. In January 2017, all the banks in Myanmar have been granted to issue International Card (Master/Visa/JCB/ UPI) as international credit card (clean card) that can be used in and out of the country.”

In response to a question about the performance of the Myanmar Central Bank, U Set Aung said help from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund would go toward improving the country’s monetary system, which would include informational classes to raise the knowledge of monetary policy of the public .

“Out of US$100 million from the World Bank, $25 million will be used for the Central Bank, with the remaining 75 million to be used by Ministry of Planning and Finance. Monetary System of Myanmar will be upgraded with the loan. By doing so, the monetary system of Myanmar will be better than the present payment system more than the present one. Moreover, a training center is to be established for the development of monetary knowledge. It is difficult to forecast the rise and fall of dollar currency exchange rate. Not only in Myanmar but also in the world, policy of respective country and international policy and situations have to be taken into consideration, hence difficulty to carry out the stability of dollar prices.

Especially, internal micro-economic development must be improved. For the stability of foreign currency market, arrangements are being made with the help of IMF. I did not hear matters on issues of 50,000 Kyat notes.

Firstly an arrangement of disbursing remuneration for staff has been being negotiated with the Ministry of Education. Servicemen’s salary has been arranged to be paid not only by card system but also by mobile payment”, he said.

Afterward, the Vice-Governor replied to the questions in regards to demand of news and information on monetary bank statements and on opening branches of foreign banks. Currently there are representative office branches of 13 branches of foreign banks opened, it has been learnt.

Tatmadaw reforms itself to become modern defence forces

The Tatmadaw is reforming itself to become a modern defence force, but the budget being used by the Tatmadaw is low compared with armed forces of neighboring countries.

“The aim is to become a modern Tatmadaw. In the past, emphasis was on handling internal insurgency but the present upgrades and modifications are geared towards defending against external threats. The country’s defence budget is, percentage-wise, less in comparison to those of neighboring countries,” said Deputy Minister for Defence Rear-Admiral Myint Nwe at the press conference on one-year performance of the ministry in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

Attempts are made to manufacture military equipment on our own. Furthermore, welfare of the troops is a priority for the infantry commanders.

If the national budget and economy development, our troops will be provided with equipment of the similar level to our neighboring countries, he added.

If the military’s strength is increased, expenditure in the national budget will also increase. Therefore, depending upon the situation, the Tatmadaw will be modified and upgraded accordingly, he said. Rear-Admiral Myint Nwe said the ministry is working for national development and to support the people’s chosen path towards a multi-party democracy.

The Tatmadaw, together with the government, is conducting environmental conservation, disaster relief and rehabilitation, re-opening of university training corps, health care in rural area and preventive work on military recruitment of underage children.

During 2016 in Sagaing, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Yangon, Ayeyawady regions, Chin, Rakhine and Shan states, the Tatmadaw renovated and rebuilt 944 pagodas, 58 monasteries, 4,687 houses, 64 schools and five hospitals effected by strong winds and provided relief aids worth more than Ks116 million. During the heavy rains of 2016 in the aforementioned regions and states and in the 2017 January flooding in Taninthayi Region a total of 7,777 households were evacuated by Tatmadaw aircrafts and helicopters flying 41 sorties, delivered 127 tons of cargoes and provided relief aid worth more than Ks119 million. The Tatmadaw also donated more than Ks798 million to repair and renovate pagodas, religious edifices and houses in Bagan damaged or destroyed by an earthquake in 2016 August.

In 2016, the Tatmadaw provided security, relief aid and helped evacuate 580 households affected by fires in Sagaing, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Yangon Regions, Rakhine and Shan States,.

From 2016 April to 2017 March, Tatmadaw specialists provided medical treatment to 1,785 locals, vaccinations to 15,053 locals and healthcare services to 86,326 locals of Htankhawlamma village, Lahe Township and Kesankarlan village, Nanyun Township, and Naga Self-Administered Zone affected by measles disease outbreak. Tatmadaw specialists and medical staff also participated in the education activities carried out in 22 townships of Naga Self-Administered Zone.

The Ministry of Defence under the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and United Nations Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting (UNCTFMR) signed an agreement on a plan of action for prevention of military recruitment of underage children on 27 June 2012.

The CTFMR members, accompanied by a senior military officer, conducted monitoring visits to 13 battalions and 66 underage children were released from the armed forces and returned to their parents.

Tatmadaw was adhering strictly to the signed UNCTFMR plan of action for prevention of military recruitment of underage children and cooperating fully with CTFMR to de-list the Tatmadaw from the military recruitment of underage children list.

Regarding the economic activities of Tatmadaw’s businesses, Rear Admiral Myint Nwe said the aim of Myanmar Economic Holdings is to provide social welfare to the Tatmadaw members and their families, and to support the welfare and relief of the people. It was formed in 1990 with an investment share of Ks40 million from Ministry of Defence and Ks16.098 million from Tatmadaw personnel and veterans totaling Ks56.098 million. Up to 24 March 2017, the military personnel, battalions, regiments and veterans put up Ks16,084.755 million in share.

From fiscal year 1990-1991 to 2016-2017, tax totaling Ks89,992.2 million was paid to the government.

The aims of Myanmar Economic Corporation is to support the country’s economic development, reduce the Tatmadaw expenditure, provide required products for the Tatmadaw, relief and support the Tatmadaw family members, produce and construct cost effective equipment and building materials for the Tatmadaw.

Nay Pyi Taw Council to construct housings for squatters

The government would inject 16 billion into construction of housings in Nay Pyi Taw to provide housings to squatters in the Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, said U Win Shein, Secretary of the Nay Pyi Taw Council.

According to the data, more than one thousand squatters have stayed on farm land, forest land, private owned land and department owned land in three townships in Nay Pyi Taw region.

Meanwhile, the Nay Pyi Taw Council is drawing an city plan with the Geographic Information System-GIS, taking the squatters issue in the Nay Pyi Taw Council Area into consideration.

The squatter is one of the issues related to crime in the police force’s plan to reduce the crime for 2017. In 2017 crime reduction, preventative actions, compiling lists of squatters and investigations were being carried out.

In regarding with the big criminal cases that have increased in Nay Pyi Taw council, Police Colonel Zaw Khin Aung said that they have analyzed the annul cases. There were 84 cases in 2016 and increase of 14 cases compared to 70 cases in 2015. In average for 84 cases, there were about seven cases a month. The first quarter has shown 23 cases that can be analyzed as having no obvious progress.

In security concerns, there had been 81 criminal cases, 10 were big cases, in Nay Pyi Taw council region, the number has increased by three more compared to last year. Most of the cases were robbery and rape. Compared with last year’s figure, 130 cases has increased, most were stealing of motor cycles and car accidents. As prevention, the government has acted on 4,860 cases and could prevent 3,784 cases more than last year.

He also said that the government has been legally organizing for the city project and also submitting policy for it. Currently, it has done data collecting work and has submitted to the heads of the state. We aim it to be finished for the project development in 2018 and propose the draft. After its approval we will implement section by section.

Moreover, the government has done a lot for the development of Nay Pyi Taw region during the one year period.

With the donations from Hluttaw, Union budget and Nay Pyi Taw council budget, the government has expensed Ks41632.247 million for total tasks in which education, health, bridges, electricity, water and other developmental tasks are included, said U Win Shein, the Secretary of Nay Pyi Taw Council at the press conference, held yesterday in Nay Pyi Taw.

The government has used Ks 5,414 million for educational works in eight townships in the 2016-2017 fiscal year and upgraded 70 high schools from primary schools and appointed an additional 885 teachers in the 2016-2017 fiscal year that totals 7,362 teachers in which 884 senior assistant teachers, 2,826 junior assistant teacher and 3,652 primary school teacher. The teacher and students ratio has become 1 to 26 in high standard level, 1 to 25 in middle class level and 1 to 31 in the primary level.

In the health sector, the government has also opened Child Hospital, Women Hospital, Eye, Ear and Throat (ENT) Hospital, and one rural health care sub centre. The ratio of doctor and patient is now one to 1,933 patients and nurse and patient ratio is one to 1,056. With regard to activities for land management, the government has approved 58.54 areas of lands to those who have applied to government for other purpose, in accordance with the law of Farm Land, its rule and regulation. The Land Scrutiny Committee has transferred 211. 46 acres of ministries confiscated lands to 65 farmers during its one year period.

The government has opened 10 departmental public service offices in eight townships in Nay Pyi Taw, the union region and has provided 32,721 services.

Regional rice reserve is 100.20, cooking oil is 162.16 and bean is 478.69 in 2016-2017 fiscal year.

The government has loaned 120 million to 11 villages under the budget of Mya Sein Yaung livestock system and villages can now breed cows, goats, pigs and chicken in Nay Pyi Taw region for 2016-2017 fiscal year.

In transportation sector in Nay Pyi Taw, 16 more mini buses were added to 280 vehicles in five bus lines in downtown and increased 26 more high way bus lines with 274 vehicles after 17 bus line associations were organized.

However, on the questions for construction of circular train and universities, Permanent Secretary U Myo Aung said that there have been no plans in Nay Pyi Taw council region at the moment.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar