February
26, 2018
The
following is an interview with Ms. Ellen Goldstein, Director for Myanmar,
Cambodia and Lao PDR, World Bank Group at Myanmar Development Effectiveness
Roundtable at Myanmar International Convention Center-2 in Nay Pyi Taw
yesterday.
Q:
How important do you think this event is for our country?
A:
I think this is an important step forward for your country and for your
government. Because it is very important and it has a clear vision where you
see the country two years, three years and five years on the road. It is very
difficult to move to a particular goal you don’t have a clear vision. So you
will have to try to reach your goal. A sustainable development plan is a very
important plan and the government is now engaged in the process of consultation
with the participation of international partners and stakeholders in the
country in order to help achieve a very clear goal and targets so that when the
time comes you can actually assess how Myanmar will achieve its goals.
Q:
What do you think are the biggest challenges for our country in the democratic
transition?
A:
Well. The World Bank is focusing on Myanmar’s economic transition and what we
see is that since the country began its transition in 2011, we see quite a bit
of progress with liberalization in many different kinds of market. This is the
last country having 7 percent GDP each year with doubling of trade and foreign
direct investment. There has also a significant increase in per capita income
and a marked reduction in poverty and this is a very important indicator for
human capital development. So we see quite a bit of progress today, and in the
transition, we see there are many challenges ahead.
I
think one of the biggest challenges I would like to highlight today include the
need to remain vigilant and maintain macroeconomic and physical stability.
Because there is a visible stability and the most important area is the reform
related to private sector growth in order to create an environment in which
everyone from small farmers to make investments in Myanmar.
Another
area that needs to address is with respect to basic services delivery where
infrastructural building, bigger electricity grid and building motor road are
you do need. There is no question about it. There are a lot of policy reforms
that need to happen to think about health, education and electricity supply.
One
of the most challenging areas for Myanmar has always been how to create a
peaceful nation across the different states and regions. Development is very
important but the situation is very complicated. And different areas, different
states, and different regions needed solutions which have customized in the
communities there. So having a consultation process, developing plans there is
customized towards community is really needed. I think that includes focusing
on Rakhine State, where travelling is curbed there.
I
think through Myanmar sustainable development, this is an opportunity for the
government to articulate how they intend to address the situation in Rakhine
State and how they intend to implement the recommendations of Kofi Annan
Commission on Rakhine State. And it is really clear about what is an ambitious
and reasonable step for progress can be made for the next six months or twelve
months or two years for repatriation or resettlement process in Rakhine State.
This is some of the most important issues.
Q
: What recommendations would you like to make for achieving economic success?
A:
Well. It is important to implement Myanmar sustainable economic plan. The plan
is very ambitious and it has 28 different strategies and five goals along with
hundred of action plans. And it will be a very important task for the
government to monitor a very manageable sense of goal. You have five big goals
and 28 strategies. It will be very good for the country to have a clear vision
of the one outcome they want to achieve each strategy and to monitor one
indicator each of this strategy. So the entire government, the entire country,
and different stakeholders will know what the definition of success in each
area is. Everyone can together solve problems about how it implemented to
achieve this goal.
Q
: Some local economists criticize that Myanmar’s economic development is
stagnant in the time of incumbent government. So I would like to know your
opinion about the economic reform processes being initiated by the government?
A:
I think the country is growing quite rapidly and the country is going about 7
percent GDP each year. We don’t see some particular areas slow down against
some concern about tourism and investment which may be linked to the perception
of the peace in the country. But now it is good prospect for economic
development and the progress in poverty reduction and social welfare is
continuing. At the same time, what I think so nice about Myanmar sustainable
development plan is that it is very important to accelerate the pace of
economic reform in the country.
The
country was able to manage many things very quickly because some of the reforms
tended to be the easier than legal reforms. One of the finished reforms is
called first generation reform and it is easy to do. The left reform which we
have to implement is much more difficult. This is becoming challenges and
Myanmar government now really needs to look at many structural issues.
Q:
Do you believe Myanmar can become a fastest growing economy in the region?
A:
I think it could be possible. Because we know Myanmar is coming from behind. We
never come from behind.
The
key to achieving ambitious tasks is very deep to implement structural reforms.
So it is too early to say about it but I think the country is growing well and
the intention to this kind of reform especially structural reform will
accelerate private sector development and create economic opportunities for all
communities.
Interviewer:
Kyaw
Htike Soe, Aye Hnin Nyo, Su Yi Mon, Thiri Min Tun, Moe Ma Ma
Ref;
The Global New Light of Myanmar
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