Development Works: MSME development and airport upgrading works

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing held a meeting with departmental personnel, community elders, and MSME businessmen in Shan State (North) on Saturday.

During the meeting, officials presented updates on various development works, including agriculture, production, livestock breeding, road and bridge upgrades, water supply, border trade, power supply, healthcare, sports, and education.

They also discussed training programs to support production, loan disbursement for boosting production, the establishment of industrial zones, export conditions, and the organization of MSME Expos. MSME businessmen also reported on the production of value-added products, the facilitation of border trade, efforts in tourism development, coffee cultivation, distribution to local and foreign markets, and regional economic development initiatives.

In response to the reports, Union Ministers and the Chief Minister provided sector-wise explanations.

Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing acknowledged that due to historical challenges, the country has lagged in economic development, with a lower GDP compared to neighboring countries. He emphasized the importance of promoting local products based on agriculture and the livestock sector to boost the country's GDP.

The Prime Minister also stressed the need to balance consumer demand and production to prevent high commodity prices. He emphasized the importance of nurturing a skilled workforce for producing value-added products, ensuring efficient transportation for the flow of goods, and maintaining regional peace for tourism development.

He called for the cooperation of all stakeholders in achieving regional and national development in a peaceful environment. Following the discussions, the Prime Minister visited a product exhibition showcasing a wide range of items, including minerals, food products, commodities, industrial goods, traditional handicrafts, textiles, and traditional medicines.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inspected the upgrading of the Lashio Airport runway. He emphasized the importance of close supervision to ensure the quality of the upgrade work meets the specified standards, with the goal of advancing the tourism industry and improving the socio-economic status of the local population in Shan State (North).