Vice President U Myint Swe: ‘Made in Myanmar’ high-quality products should be promoted at prominent locations

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Work Committee (SMEDWC) held meeting No.(2/2018) at the meeting hall of the Ministry of Industry in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. Vice President U Myint Swe, SMEDWC Chairman, delivered a speech at the meeting.

Attending the meeting were SMEDWC Vice-Chairman Union Minister U Khin Maung Cho, SMEDWC members including Union Ministers Dr. Than Myint and U Soe Win, Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairperson Dr. Myo Aung, Chief Ministers from states and regions, Deputy Ministers, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar, Permanent Secretaries, other SMEDWC members, Chairman of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, experts, professionals, businesspeople and other officials.

In his speech, the Vice President said, in the first meeting of SMEDWC, held on 13 December 2017, the Fund Management Group, Report Writing Group and SME Agency were formed and that the three groups need to work in harmony with increased momentum. In the second meeting, held on 19 February 2018, a decision was made to form local branches of the SME Agency in the Nay Pyi Taw Council area and states and regions, said the Vice President.

The Vice President said he was delighted to see the Chief Ministers from states and regions and ministers working and cooperating with enthusiasm in the different agencies. He added that he believed if the difficulties of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are solved and their actual requirements were fulfilled, then their competitive advantage will be realistically elevated.

The Vice President requested for the relevant states and regions to provide support to the six self-administered zones so that branches of the SME Agency can be opened there, as they are the only areas left with no agency branch while the Nay Pyi Taw Council and remaining states and regions each have a branch of the agency.

The Vice President said that with the leading facilitation of the SMEDWC, four MSME exhibitions and competitions have been held in four different states and regions, with collaboration between Mandalay Region and Kachin State in Mandalay City, between Magway Region, Chin State and Rakhine State in Magway City, between Shan State and Kayah State in Taunggyi City, and of Ayeyawady Region in Pathein City. The Vice President requested the cooperation of everyone, so that more MSME exhibitions and competitions can be held in the remaining states and regions and with each successive exhibition and competition getting better in promoting MSMEs and forming business connections.

The Vice President said there are plans to invite private banks in the MSME regional product exhibition and competition to be held in Sagaing Region this month, so that they can observe the regional MSMEs and provide loans to those with a high chance for future success.

SMEDWC has the responsibility to support business start-ups and traditional SMEs in growing into strong SMEs and to set and implement strategic plans for MSMEs that win the regional competitions and those with good prospects to enter the global market, said the Vice President. He said he wished for products from struggling MSMEs to be displayed for sale in local supermarkets and regional exhibition halls so as to give them motivation. He added that conducting promotions in states and regions will encourage the proliferation of rural SMEs. He said counters for ‘Made in Myanmar’ high-quality products should be allowed to be set up in airports, express bus terminals, prominent and famous locations, hotels, restaurants and supermarkets, in accordance with the available basic infrastructure in the region. He added that he noticed ASEAN countries display their regional products at their conferences and special occasions.

The Vice President said 65 per cent of the MSMEs in Myanmar are focused on converting agricultural products into value-added food products. Local MSMEs do not have the necessary equipment to test its products nor FDA licenses and therefore have a difficult time in earning trust from potential clients.

If ministries allow these MSMEs access to their laboratory test centers, then it can aid in acquiring a certificate of analysis that verifies a regulated product meets its specification, licensing an SME logo then the international community will recognize Myanmar’s local MSMEs and earn the trust of consumers, said the Vice President.

In November 2018, Myanmar will host the 6th ASEAN Coordinating Committee on MSME (ACCMSME), the ASEAN+3 meeting, a Financial Symposium with Japan, a meeting with OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), and other related meetings.

Attending the meetings will not only be representatives from ASEAN countries, but also from Japan, South Korea, Germany, USAID, OECD, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the German development agency GIZ.

In the meeting with OECD, support provided to MSMEs from ASEAN member country governments between 2015 and 2018 will be measured using eight criteria and the results from them will be discussed, said the President.

He added that the ACCMSME will be organizing meetings and events to put high-quality ‘Made in Myanmar’ products on display, linking MSMEs that won the regional competitions and MSMEs with good future prospects to ASEAN and international businesses, participating in one-to-one business meetings and trade shows.

The Vice President said there needs to be effective support for MSMEs targeted at the action plans drawn for them in each state and region. He requested the attendants to openly discuss ongoing processes, future processes and suggestions concerning the development, market penetration, promoting trade and innovation for MSMEs; the backbone of the national economy.

Next, Union Ministers U Khin Maung Cho, Dr. Than Myint and U Soe Win explained about Small and Medium Enterprises Development Work Committee’s (SMEDWC) progress report, ongoing processes and considerations for compromising rules and regulations, and the Fund Management Group’s contribution for MSMEs’ developments, respectively.

This was followed by Deputy Minister U Aung Htoo explaining the SME Agency’s ongoing and future processes, and Report Writing Group Chairperson U Khin Maung Kyaw explaining his agency’s progress and processes.

Afterwards, SMEDC members, including the Nay Pyi Taw Council Chairperson, chief ministers from Kachin State, Kayah State, Chin State, Sagaing Region, Taninthayi Region, Bago Region, Magway Region, Mandalay Region, Yangon Region, Shan State, and Ayeyawady Region, the Kayin State minister for electricity and industry, Rakhine State minister for finance, taxation, planning and economics, Mon State minister for planning, finance, immigration and population, Chairman of the UMFCCI, discussed the current progress and future processes for MSME development, the technological support and loans needed, and the opportunities for regional MSME development. SMEDC Chairman Vice President U Myint Swe then provided feedback and suggestions to the discussions and ended the meeting.

After the meeting, the Vice President observed the regional MSME products from states and regions on display on the ground floor of the Ministry of Industry.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar