17 July
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw held its second-day meeting of 17th regular session yesterday. Officials from Union-level organizations presented the proposed US$180 million loan plan from the Asia Development Bank for implementation of Yangon city water supply project and $171.27 million for electrification programme in rural areas. Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung explained the President’s proposed plan to sign the Intergovernmental Agreement on the Trans-Asian Railway Network. And the motion will be discussed on 22 July. Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin reported to the Hluttaw on the establishment of diplomatic relations with Nicaragua. And the issue will be discussed on 24 July. Union Minister U Thant Sin Maung reported to the Hluttaw about the President’s proposed plan to sign Intergovernmental Agreement on Dry Ports. And the motion will be discussed on 22 July.
Loan for development project in Hlegu Township
Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry U Maung Maung Win explained the President’s proposed loan US$180 million from the ADB for development project in Hlegu Township to be implemented in 5 years, and agreements have been made with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation for water supply, with the Ministry of Construction for installation of water pipelines and with the Ministry of Electricity and Energy for electrification in the project area. The loan will be 8-years grace period and 24 years of settlement, with 1.0 per cent annual interest for the grace period and 1.5 per cent for the settlement period, and that the grant element of the loan would be 48 per cent. The Speaker of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw invited the list of MPs who want to discuss the motion scheduled for 22 July.
Loan for electrification programme in rural areas.
Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy U Khin Maung Win and Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry U Maung Maung Win explained the President’s proposed loan $171.27 million for electrification programme in rural areas.
Deputy Minister U Khin Maung Win said that the loan will be used for rural electrification in Ayeyawady, Bago (eastern), Magway regions and Kayin state, and the power lines will be controlled by the Distribution Automation System (DAS) from the five cities of Nay Pyi Taw, Pathein, Bago, Magway and Hpa-an. The project is expected to complete in seven years, and the annual interests of loan will be 1 per cent in 8-years grace period and 1.5 per cent in 24-years settlement period. The project will help in supply of electricity to 8.3 per cent of households in Kayin State, 8.77 per cent in Bago (eastern), 6.31 per cent in Magway Region and 17.52 per cent in Ayeyawady Region, to a total of 400,300 households in 2,815 villages.
Deputy Minister U Maung Maung Win is a fundamental infrastructural project for the country, and it is in line with the Union Budget Law for 2019-2020 Financial Year, the Public Debt Management Law, the Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy and development assistance policies, as well as the MSDP Action Plan.
The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker invited the list of names who want to discuss the motion scheduled for 24 July.
Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe discussed the President’s motion for elimination of violence and harassment in workplaces. The motion is scheduled for discussion on 24 July. Union Minister U Maung Maung Win discussed the government’s report on revenue of Union ministries and Union-level organizations in 2019-2020 fiscal year, sent by the Union Government. Joint Public Accounts Committee member U Myo Win presented the finding and recommendation report 7/2020 on the revenues.
The five MPs of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw discussed the Executive Order 1/2020 of the President and the Union Tax Law. The MPs also discussed the National Planning for 2018-2019FY and the findings and recommendations of the JPAC on this report, and the annual report on Union Budget and the findings and recommendations of the JPAC on this report. The third-day meeting of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw will convene on 17 July.
Aung Ye Thwin, Aye Aye Thant (Translated by Aung Khin)
