SAC Vice Chairman Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win meets MSME entrepreneurs and departmental officials in Kayah State; pays respects to Sayadaw of Yadanathiri Monastery in Loikaw
NAY PYI TAW March 15
Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior GeneralSoe Win met MSME entrepreneurs and departmental officials of Kayah State this morning at Kayah State government office.
Present together with the Vice-Senior General were SAC members Poe Rei Aung Thein and U Khun San Lwin, Kayah State Chief Minister U Zaw Myo Tin, senior military officers from Office of the Commanderin-Chief, Eastern Command Commander Maj-Gen Hla Moe, deputy ministers, members of local government.
The chief minister explained points of MSME businesses in the state.
Chairman of Rice Millers Association U Tun Naing Soe, oil miller U Hla Thaung, corndryer and natural fertilizer producer Daw Than Than Nu, Loikaw Industrial Management Committee Chairman U Zaw Win Tun, Kayah State Chamber of Commerce Secretary U Thein Lwin, agro-entrepreneur Daw May Thuzaw, and poultry entrepreneur U Khun Kyaw Soe Moe Naing reported on business activities and difficulties. In their sector-wise clarifications, deputy ministers dealt with matters relating to business-wise implementations, laws, rules and procedures to get business loans, regional development and socioeconomic improvement, provision of capital through the establishment of cooperative societies for income generation, inputs arranged by the local branches of the relevant ministries, ministry-wise and region/state-wise support for MSME development.
The Vice-Senior General looked into the requirements after asking for more information.
He said the Prime Minister is paying serious attention to and making necessary arrangements for peace, stability and progress of Kayah State. As regards the regional situation and development, the Prime Minister is making continuous contacts with local government members. The formation of agencies alone is not enough for MSME development as actual functioning of MSME businesses is of vital importance. Member cards should be issued not only for MSMEs, but also for all other entrepreneurs. The cards willprovide a lot of opportunities including training, marketing, involvement in international exhibitions and competitions.
As regards human resources, the related ministries have install Websites and conducting courses. Sixty-two businesses are running in the industrial zone and they should serve Kayah State’s interest. They should manufacture export quality goods based on local raw materials.
Production of value-added goods based on the many main products of the state, which are, corn, sweet rice, chili, cardamom, will accelerate the development pace. The state should improve the quality and extend market of sausage and textile products of its One Region – One Product program through by applying a standard packaging system.
Regarding the livestock industry, it is necessary to systematically estimate capital, animal feed, place to run the business, and number of employees.
For instance, Kakikin duck farming can be run in large quantities at a small place with a small number of employees.
Necessary technology will be provided. Production quality is important regarding the quality of rice. As the quality of the products is different depending on good manufacturing practices and good agricultural practices and the price in the market too much, GMP/GAP courses are to be conducted. FDA certificate is also important for guarantee of quality in export markets.
The State Administration Council has provided Kayah State with a capital of Ks-10 billion from the State economic development fund in order that the Kayah State and its people will be harmonious with the development of other states.
It is important to repay the loan. Doing so will help disburse loans to more entrepreneurs who need capital. The main requirement for MSME is capital, and it is seen that there are more applications to acquire loans.
Regarding human resources, it is important to have skilled workers for the production process.
Skill workers are needed at different levels in the process of manufacturing products. It is necessary for MSME working committees to submit the need for training courses through their websites.
As our nation had weakness in education, it is necessary to pass KG+9 Grade to operate machines, and only after passing KG+9 Grade, will there be further access to higher education and work places through vocational training.
Regarding the import inputs, there are a variety of inputs such as electricity, fuel oil, fertilizer,etc. For electricity, the State provides electricity nation-wide and solar and hydro-electrical power can be generated on a manageable scale. Regarding fuel oil, the Prime Minister has given guidance to save consumption of fuel oil as foreign exchange earnings are spent very much yearly for fuel oil import.
MSME’s main goal is to manufacture products based on regional raw materials to ensure that the products can be exported. For this, quality is necessarily important. Doing so will be helpful to the interests of raw material producers, finished product producers and traders as well as to the tax income of the State. Therefore, the MSME sector plays a key role in the development of the nation. Making efforts to become an exporter from importer will be helpful to regional development as well as development of the nation.
Then, the Vice-Senior General presented a cash bonus to departmental personnel through Chief Minister of Kayah State U Zaw Myo Tin.
Afterwards, the Vice-Senior General and party took a tour of exhibits on regional products such as foodstuff, personal goods, Industrial products, traditional handicraft products.
Then, the Vice-Senior General and party proceeded to Ottarayon Monastery in Loikaw and paid obeisance to members of the Sangha led by Sayadaw Agga Maha Gantha Vasaka Pandita Bhaddanta Pandita of Yadanathiri Monastery before taking five precepts from and offering rice, oil and alms to members of the Sangha. Afterwards, the Vice-Senior General and party shared merits and reported religious affairs to the Sayadaw before seeking sermons from the Sayadaws.