August 08, 2020
U Thaung Tun, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and Development Assistance Coordination Unit (DACU) Vice-Chair yesterday chaired a meeting between the DACU, Cooperation Partners Group (CPG) representatives, and representatives from domestic and international civil society. The Union Minister noted that Myanmar’s development progress had continued notwithstanding COVID-19, citing recent analysis by the Oxford Business Group predicting Myanmar’s economy will recover faster than both global and regional averages, and the Purchasers Manufacturing Index (PMI)rising for a third successive month — a clear sign that the sector is starting to recover.
The Union Minister also cited further examples of progress including the government’s recent announcement of a new 100 billion MMK loan fund focused on the country’s agriculture and livestock sector, and the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) having approved over US$5 billion in foreign investment this fiscal year. Speaking on behalf of the CPG, Mr Rurik Marsden, Head of DFID Myanmar expressed appreciation for continued progress toward finalization of the revised Myanmar Development Assistance Policy (DAP), that the revised draft has incorporated many of the suggestions offered to date, and how this important piece of work would assist all Myanmar’s partners strengthen their engagement.
Ms Pancy Tun Thein, Director of the Local Resource Centre and Myanmar Civil Society Organizations Partnership for Aid and Development Effectiveness (MCPAD) Representative also expressed appreciation for the consultative revision process and the DAP’s recognition of the valuable role played by Myanmar’s vibrant and diverse CSOs. Ms Irene Fraser, INGO Forum Director echoed comments expressed by others while nothing the inclusion of additional cross-cutting Strategic Coordination Groups (SCG) covering gender equality, disability, and statistical quality development.
A broad-ranging discussing followed with Deputy Ministers for Planning, Finance and Industry U Sett Aung and U Min Ye Paing Hein, providing clarity on the rationale behind the identification of SCGs, while noting the need to ensure continued progress in moving from sector-level-planning to strategic-level planning, and how SCGs will be used to further this shift. In his concluding remarks, Union Minister U Thaung Tun encouraged all present to continue to push forward with the finalization of the DAP and to ensure that development assistance to Myanmar continues to deliver results in the coming months and years ahead, with the greatest possible transparency. — MNA
