The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Work Committee (MSMEDWC) Chairman Vice President U Myint Swe addressed the opening ceremony of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Product Exhibition & Competition in Myeik, Taninthayi Region at the Myeik Public Corporation Ltd. Hall in Myeik Town yesterday morning.
In his address the Vice President said under the leadership of MSMEDWC MSMEs Product Exhibitions & Competitions were conducted in states and regions starting from February 2018. They have been held in Mandalay, Magway, Pathein, Taunggyi, Monywa, Bago, Yangon and Mawlamyine. This MSMEs Product Exhibition & Competition in Taninthayi Region Myeik Town is the ninth such event. The final one, a national level product exhibition and competition with the participation of all states and regions would be held in the Union territory Nay Pyi Taw where National Awards will be presented.
The remarkable thing about this ninth MSMEs Product Exhibitions & Competitions was that in addition to businesses from states and regions in Myanmar MSME businesses from Thailand were also participating in it. So there would be an additional benefit of MSMEs from Myanmar and Thailand sharing and studying the product qualities and innovations of one another in order to cooperate. In this exhibition and competition not only MSMEs from Taninthayi Region but also from Yangon, Bago, Kayin and Mon region/state were seen to be exhibiting. It was becoming obvious to the MSME businesses that participating in these exhibitions and competitions was beneficial. MSME businesses had learnt first-hand that people from all levels come to visit these exhibitions enabling the MSMEs to hear the voices and feedback of the people, make timely improvements, advertise products and services and expand markets.
Another arrangement by MSMEDWC was granting permission to award winning products of MSME businesses in the MSME Product Exhibitions & Competitions to use MSME Logo recognized by MSMEDWC. In February 2019, the MSME Logo competition would be held where the best logo would be selected. By granting permission to award winning MSME businesses to use this logo, consumers would have more trust and confidence in the award winning products and would support market expansion of these products.
By holding exhibitions and competitions of regional products all over the country, the quality of the MSME products would be raised and there would be more import substitutions; contacts would be made between the local production sector and the trading sector; MSMEs would be transformed from traditional family business to world standard products and services providers with innovation and entrepreneurship; know the requirement of the consumers, expand markets and participate in the Global Value Chain.
According to the 2014 census, Taninthayi Region has a population of more than 1.4 million on a land area of 43,328 square kilometer. On the north there is Mon State. Thailand is on the east and south while on the west there is Andaman Sea. It had many opportunities for economic development. On the Myeik archipelago, white and old gold natural and cultured pearl could be produced. Elephant Foot Yam, Kan Zaw herbal oil, rubber and palm oil plantations, bird nest or swiftlet nest, aqua culture and fishery works were abundant in Taninthayi Region. In addition to this, Maungmagan Beach, pagodas like Dawei Ko Myo Shin, Taninthayi mountain range, the sea and the archipelago could attract local and international visitors and the expanding travel business would surely develop the economy of the region.
The Dawei Special Economic Zone project was a project that would support the development of the region. Basic infrastructure works during the preliminary stage include construction of a two-lane road, urban housing and jetty, electricity distribution and communications works and would create a lot of job opportunities for the local people. Emphasis must be placed towards enabling the entry of skilled workers into these new jobs and worksites. Prospective businesses in the region were to be systematically established and expanded. The Union Government, Region Government and the private sector were to cooperate and work towards obtaining technical assistance and investment, producing skilled workers and create new markets.
To raise capital for MSMEs, the Union Government was providing government loans, JICA Two Step Loan to Government arrangement with the Government of Japan and KfW Loan conducted with the Government of Germany for the MSMEs. In addition to this, loans under the Credit Guarantee Insurance (CGI) system were being provided.
On the human resources and technical support sector, entrepreneur courses, business capacity building courses, intellectual property and consumer protection courses, business plan preparation courses, business and financial management courses, production technology practical courses, consumer and agri-based products production and technology courses, upgrading and technology transfer courses on fish/prawn breeding and aqua culture and vocational training courses were being conducted under the arrangement of Ministry of Industry and regional MSMEs as well as in cooperation with international organizations and private entities.
Therefore MSMEs in the region would become responsible businesses that produce products required by the consumer in line with the changing and progressing situation in Myanmar and establish a sustainable socio-economic environment. They were to strive towards providing international level products and services by connecting with local and foreign businesses.
The Vice President urged the MSME specifically to develop their works and aim towards raising the socio-economic situation of the entire people of Myanmar.
Next, MSMEDWC member Taninthayi Region Chief Minister Dr. Daw Lei Lei Maw explained about the status of works conducted for the development of MSMEs in the Region.
Afterwards Union Minister U Khin Maung Cho, Taninthayi Region Chief Minister Dr. Daw Lei Lei Maw, Kayin State Chief Minister Daw Nang Khin Htwe Myint and Mon State Chief Minister Dr. Aye Zan accepted donations made by companies and businesses to conduct the exhibition and competition and presented certificates of honor to the donors in return.
Following this Vice President U Myint Swe attended a meeting with people who took loans from Myeik Public Corporation Ltd. micro-finance scheme.
At the event Myeik Public Corporation Ltd. Project Director U Thet Soe explained about micro-finance scheme and socio-economic development service works while a representative of the people who took a loan explained about the loan taken.
The Vice President in return remarked on using the loan systematically to expand capital and investment and the requirement to conduct vocational training courses that were appropriate for the region.
Deputy Minister U Maung Maung Win then explained about loans provided by the ministry.
After this event, Vice President U Myint Swe and party went to attend the opening ceremony of MSMEs Product Exhibition & Competition (Taninthayi Region, Myeik Town) at the Myeik Shopping Center in Myeik Town.
At this ceremony Vice President U Myint Swe, Union Minister U Khin Maung Cho, Taninthayi Region Chief Minister Dr. Daw Lei Lei Maw, Kayin State Chief Minister Daw Nan Khin Htwe Myint, Mon State Chief Minister Dr. Aye Zan, Deputy Ministers Dr. Ye Myint Swe, U Aung Htoo and U Maung Maung Win and Prachuap Khiri Khan Province Deputy Governor cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the exhibition and competition and then took commemorative group photos with ceremony attendees.
Vice President U Myint Swe and party then inspected the exhibits displayed in the 9th MSMEs Exhibition & Competition. Later, the Vice President and party went by helicopter to Pearl Island, pearl breeding camp and inspected the pearl breeding works and displayed pearls where Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Permanent Secretary U Min Min Oo provided explanations while Deputy Minister Dr. Ye Myint Swe provided additional explanations.
The Vice President urged the responsible officials to increase exports of pearls to the international market.
The event was attended by MSMEDWC Vice Chairman Union Minister for Industry U Khin Maung Cho, committee members Taninthayi Region Chief Minister Dr. Daw Lei Lei Maw, Kayin State Chief Minister Daw Nan Khin Htwe Myint, Mon State Chief Minister Dr. Aye Zan, Taninthayi Region Hluttaw Speaker U Khin Maung Aye, Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation Dr. Ye Myint Swe, Deputy Minister for Commerce U Aung Htoo, Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance U Maung Maung Win, state/region ministers from Kayin and Mon State and Taninthayi Region, Taninthayi Region Advocate General, Taninthayi Region Auditor General and Hluttaw representatives, high ranking Tatmadaw officers, heads of departments, Thailand Prachuap Khiri Khan Province Deputy Governor and representatives, organizations, experts and technicians, donors, MSME business owners and officials. (Translated by Zaw Min)
