Development Effectiveness Roundtable held

 February 26, 2018

State Counsellor stresses greater need for exploring diverse ways of surmounting country’s daunting challenges

“Our country is facing a plethora of daunting challenges. The more daunting these challenges are, the greater the need for us to explore diverse ways of surmounting them and we look to our friends across the world to join us in our ventures and adventures,” said State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in her capacity as the chairperson of the Development Assistance Coordination Unit-DACU.

She made the comment in her opening address at the Development Effectiveness Roundtable at the Myanmar International Convention Centre II in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

The participants of the roundtable first met in late 2016 shortly after the Development Assistance Coordination Unit was established.

The roundtable would provide the Union Government with an opportunity to greet 2018 with a common vision for the development of Myanmar and to discuss how development assistance could bring the Union Government closer to the realisation of this vision, said the State Counsellor.

“The support of the international community can play an important and encouraging role, inspiring reformers to press on when obstacles loom large, and invigorating our institutions, some of which had ossified over a number of decades,” said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar has always appreciated such support from the international community.

She also expressed her hope that the various presentations and dialogues at the roundtable will enable Myanmar to work together to overcome the obstacles that developing countries inevitably have to meet.

The State Counsellor also expressed her delight to see, in addition to partners in development, representatives of private sector, both domestic and international, and of the many local and international non-governmental organisations that make up the rich social and economic tapestry of contemporary Myanmar.

“This is a place for open and frank discussions concerning the development challenges we face and it provides us with an opportunity to share constructive, forward looking and innovative approaches to invigorating and supporting Myanmar’s long term sustainable socio-economic development,” said the State Counsellor.

“This is one of the most challenging periods in our nation’s post-transition process. These challenges present us with opportunities to strengthen our commitment to peace and national reconciliation as a foundation for democratic consolidation in Myanmar,” she added.

Regarding the Rakhine issue, she said as part of the Union Government’s commitment to finding lasting stability and harmony, and supporting broad-based, inclusive socio-economic development in Rakhine State, and indeed, throughout the nation, the government has established the Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development in Rakhine State, the Rakhine Advisory Commission Implementation Committee and the Rakhine Advisory Board.

“Although peace and national reconciliation are essential to the sustainable development of our nation, the purpose of holding this Roundtable is not to focus unduly on one sector, issue or location, but rather to establish a broad ranging, deep and strategic dialogue on the major developmental challenges and opportunities that must be tackled in the year ahead, and in the longer-term, without prejudice to any particular source of financing,” said the State

Counsellor.

DACU is keenly aware of this new global reality, and are actively looking at how best the government can position Myanmar to take advantage of this brave new world, she added.

“We are also keenly aware of our latecomer’s advantage, and wish to make use of the lessons available to us to avoid or possibly leapfrog over challenges and obstacles that had been faced by others,” said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

(Full text of the speech of State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is covered separately.)

Following the opening ceremony, the State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and attendees of the opening ceremony had the documentary photos taken.

In Session-1 of the roundtable, Union Minister for Planning and Finance U Kyaw Win, Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr. Win Myat Aye, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Dorothee Janetzke-Wenzel and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator a.i. in Myanmar Mr. Knut Ostby discussed Myanmar Socio-Economic issue. In Session-2, U Set Aung, Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance and Ms. Ellen Goldstein, Country Director for Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao PDR, World Bank, discussed Myanmar’s Sustainable Development Plan and Development Assistance Policy.

In Session-3, Daw Pansy Tun Thein, Director, Local Resource Centre-LRC, Dr. Sidney Naing, Country Director, Marie Stopes International-MSI, Daw Khine Khine Nwe, Joint Secretary General of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry-UMFCCI and Ms. Jodi Weedon, Chief Executive Officer, Aust Cham Myanmar, discussed the role of NGO and INGOs in providing assistance for development.

Afterwards, governmental officials from ministries discussed the matters related to their respective ministries.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar