2nd Pyidaungsu Hluttaw 6th regular session holds its 8th day meeting

November 16, 2017

Concerning the report of the national planning performances of the first 6 months of FY 2017-2018 U Hset Aung, Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance said, “FY 2017-2018 National Planning’s value of GDP has been targeted to be increased 7 per cent more than that of the previous year according to the regular prices, with 6.3 per cent increased up to the first six months period and 33.8 per cent of the target implemented. From April to August of FY 2017-2018, 24 countries had been granted to invest US$3696.442 million for 120 enterprises in nine economic sectors. From April to August of FY 2016-2017, it was granted to invest US$1253.707 million. As US$2.79 billion entered the country up to the end of August 2017, it reached 75.4 per cent of the granted amount.”

Deputy Minister added, “Till the end of the first six months, FY 2017-2018 national products had been exported, achieving the implementation of 47.3 per cent of the target — US$14 billion. In the first half of the FY 2017-2018 commodities worth of US$9.11 billion had been imported, managing to have implemented 60.8 per cent of US$15 billion—the target. The trade value of the first six months of FY 2017-2018 is US $ 15739.3 million implementing 54.3 per cent of the target US $ 29000 million. Trade deficit is US $ 2489.8 million till the end of the first six months. In implementing the targets of the national planning, FY 2017-2018, it has been being implemented in the national economic, social and development points of views.”

After that, matters of borrowing loans from the Myanmar Central Bank for fulfilling the deficit of Union Government Budget Account for FY 2016-2017 sent by the President were discussed by parliamentarians.

Dr. Thet Thet Khaing of Dagon constituency discussed, “Economically beneficial construction of infrastructure for the acquisition of transport and electricity in the country should be implemented by local and international investors in the means of responsibility and accountability by regarding the private sector to be a development partner. Performing the tasks in the form of cooperation between the Government and Private Sector is building the national infrastructures with the investment of the private sector. So, it is like encouraging the national economic development as it can reduce the budget deficit without needing to include expenditures for construction of infrastructures in the government’s budget. Budget deficits should be reduced by spending government budget only in building economically unbeneficial construction of infrastructures. Now is the time for the incumbent government to promptly implement Public Procurement Reform, in an effective and well-qualified way with a view to effective implementation of making the private sector perform the public service enterprises and making bribery and corruption lesser and lesser. It is time to carry out Public Procurement Reform so that budget deficit can be reduced in the long run, without disturbing the momentum of national economy and development of infrastructure, and to invest the national finance more in the social infrastructures such as education, health and social welfare.”

As regards the matter, Speaker of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw announced that clarification from respective Union-level organization members and acquisition of Hluttaw’s decision will continue to be made at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw meeting to be held on November 21.

U Wai Sein Aung of constituency 1 in Rakhine State discussed, “According to 2017 March statistics, there were actually appointed 41,493 SATs, 101,955 JATs and 227,292 PATs across the nation. Budget allotment for education was increased five times as of 2012. After 2020 a large amount of teachers will be appointed, and for acquisition of teachers with high capacities, policy on teachers is required to be laid down. Educational universities must be opened more. In a democratic nation, private school law must be promulgated. It is necessary to systematically implement the emergence of internationally standardized private schools and universities. In the higher education sector, it needs to promote distance university education’s quality. If higher education learning is available without flinching an inch from one’s home and region, human resources will increase for the nation. In previous years, 80 percents of candidates passed exams from distance education universities, but there were presently only 30 per cent of candidates who completed the higher education due to lack of qualification, that is, there will be 26,000 graduates annually. For emergence of well-qualified graduates, the commission must give suggestions.”

Concerning the matter, the Speaker of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw announced that replies from union-level committee members and getting the approval of Hluttaw will be made at Hluttaw meeting to be held on November 21.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar