IT is necessary to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 and ensure political stability for improvement of the State economy, said Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at the Meeting No 2/2021 of the Provisional Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar at the Office of the State Administration Council Chairman in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
In his opening address, the Senior
General said the government has been discharging the duty for seven months amid
internal and external difficulties. The responsibility of the government is to
undertake the prosperity of the country.
In its tenure, the government is
striving for ensuring political stability while overcoming the challenges in
the third wave of COVID-19 happening across the world. The third wave of the
pandemic started in Myanmar in June and July. Thanks to the diligence and
perseverance of the leaders and the cooperation of the people amid the
difficulties, success has been achieved to some extent.
The infection rate of the COVID-19
pandemic is still high. Indonesia among ASEAN countries faces the highest
infection rate, followed by the Philippines. Myanmar stands the sixth position
among ASEAN countries, having more than 417,000 infected persons and 15,985
dead persons till 6 September. In early July, the infection rate reached 40 per
cent. So, the government strived for a half down of infection, and now, the
infection rate hits just 10 per cent. Despite the declining infection rate, it
should not be careless as the pandemic does not totally disappear now. As the
boat race example given by late General Aung San, as unacceptable proud may
derail from the achievement, Union ministers and region/state chief ministers
should place special emphasis on supervising the tasks.
The main drive of a country is
political, economic and defence might. The powerful countries across the world
have political might, military might and economic might. It is necessary to
strive for having the political might. Some countries are powerful in their
military and economy. The institutions need to strive for the political and
defence of the countries. The economic drive is actually beneficial to the
State economy. It is necessary to overcome the challenges of COVID-19 and
ensure political stability for the improvement of the State economy.
Only when people are healthy can they
work and learn. The existence of COVID-19 will affect the health of the people.
Schools were closed for about two months. When the schools open, students will
have learning opportunities. Continuous learning will have an improvement in
the education sector, so emphasis must be placed on academic matters for the
students. Management has been made not to delay the import of vaccines and
medicines for COVID-19 and other necessary drugs.
Myanmar’s main products come out from
agricultural and livestock farms. Production of natural resources is under
limitation. So, all need to systematically carry out agriculture and livestock
farms. Many agrobased countries are striving for ensuring smooth food supplies
and earning incomes. Myanmar needs to operate agriculture and livestock tasks
to earn foreign exchange via the global market. The country grows some 15
million acres of monsoon and two million acres of summer paddy which would be
sufficient for a 55 million population with much surplus of paddy to be
exported to foreign countries. As per-acre yield does not reach 100 baskets of
paddy, the export volume of rice does not meet the expectation. Chief ministers
of regions and states need to supervise the cultivation of paddy in their
respective areas.
Moreover, it is necessary to ensure
edible oil sufficiency. Oil palm plants are grown in Taninthayi Region whereas
edible oil crops are grown in Mandalay, Sagaing, Magway and Ayeyawady regions
and Shan State. Efforts must be made for increasing the per-acre yield of
cotton to be able to cut the import volume of cotton. The Senior General said
he has stressed the need to narrow the development gap between urban and rural
areas with the wish to ensure equal development of all areas. All ministries
need to comprehensively consider the measures of all over the country for fulfilling
the requirements.
The Union ministers sought the approvals
for their reports.
In his response to the reports, the
Senior General said the suspension of State-owned factories causes loss for the
country. As such, it is necessary to consider the availability of raw materials
and inputs and market share in order to resume the State-owned factories
suspended for various reasons and produce quality products. Officials need to
urge all personnel to consciously use the State-owned equipment in order to
avoid waste and loss. Staff housings must be built to complete on the
schedules.
In his concluding speech, the Senior
General noted that more than 2.1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have
been injected for the first time and over 2.6 million for the second time. A
total of 10 million units of anti-COVID-19 vaccines will arrive in Myanmar in
the coming October and four more million in November. Arrangements are being
made to purchase more vaccines.
The government spent US$169 million on
the purchase of anti-COVID-19 vaccine and other medical equipment and K566
billion on repairing hospitals and clinics, COVID centres and social
organizations. Moreover, more than 500,000 USD was spent on general measures.
The government is ready to spend the fund on the prevention of COVID-19 and
officials need to efficiently use them.
Although some ethnic armed organizations
broke the agreement of NCA for various reasons, the government arranges
vaccination for these organizations under the rights of the citizen. Anyone
should not be left in COVID-19 vaccination. Arrangements are being made to
vaccinate the people from ethnic armed organization areas in addition to those
from Rakhine State. Such a move does not depend on political trends but the
national cause without ism and personal cult. It is an effort to enable all the
people to participate in the endeavours of State prosperity.
Myanmar is a sovereign nation. Some
persons and organizations turn a blind eye to the country for its international
relations in line with the State prestige. Officials from regions and states
sharing borders with foreign countries need to do anything in line with the
international charters and agreements in border relations with the prestige and
integrity of the State. It is necessary to avoid the acts of discredit the
State prestige and integrity. All officials need to improve the respective
sectors for the uplift of the State integrity. The State budget must be spent
on actually beneficial projects but reduced on unnecessary measures through
thrifty ways.
MNA
#The_Global_New_Light_of_Myanmar
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