ASEAN Policy Index: MOI UM gave opening remarks at discussion session

Vice-Chairman of the Committee for the Development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Union Minister for Industry, Dr. Charlie Than, attended and delivered the opening remarks at a discussion session on strengthening development of domestic MSME production by implementing under the ASEAN Policy Index held at the temporary command office near the Uppatasanti Pagoda in Tabaung Ground, Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday.

In his opening remarks, the Union Minister emphasized that MSMEs serve as the backbone of the country's economic development by creating job opportunities for citizens, contributing to national economic growth, and enhancing the prosperity of the people.

He highlighted that the ASEAN Policy Index is a crucial policy framework tool for shaping the country's MSME development policies. The ASEAN MSME Policy Index is designed to effectively address challenges and serves as a comprehensive monitoring tool to evaluate the frameworks supporting MSMEs in ASEAN member states.

The Union Minister expressed hope that, through close monitoring and implementation of the policy index, Myanmar would achieve positive results and record accurate and reliable data alongside other ASEAN countries. Following this, Deputy Minister for Planning and Finance Daw Than Than Lin, Deputy Minister U Min Htut, and the Director-General of the Department of Industrial Supervision and Inspection presented updates on the ongoing efforts in their respective sectors.

Subsequently, the chairpersons of the State and Regional MSME Agencies discussed the implementation of the ASEAN SME Policy Index (2024) and shared their experiences in promoting MSME development at the regional level.

The Union Minister delivered closing remarks, and the meeting was concluded. In the afternoon, a meeting was held with MSME entrepreneurs from various states and regions to discuss the relaxation of procedures for providing loans.

The meeting focused on streamlining processes to expedite loan disbursements to entrepreneurs, clarifying the steps required to obtain loans, and outlining the responsibilities of loan recipients. After the questions and concerns raised by the entrepreneurs were addressed, the meeting was concluded, it’s learnt.