Meeting with Ministry’s Staff: MOIMSME UM extended New Year’s greeting

Union Minister for Industry and Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Development Dr. Charlie Than delivered a New Year’s greeting at the Ministry on Tuesday, urging staff to support national development through stronger productivity and service.

The Union Minister extended wishes for health and success in 2026, stressing that civil servants are key to the functioning of the state as the government transitions toward an elected system. He called for public-centered service with efficiency and respect.

Referring to the President’s April 10 address, the Union Minister urged all to translate guidance into actionable policies and effective implementation. He emphasized that daily duties of civil servants contribute to political, security and social sectors. Highlighting the role of MSMEs, he called for increased output, improved quality for export markets, and a shift from raw material exports to value-added products. He noted that boosting production capacity would raise exports, GDP and living standards.

The Union Minister also underscored the need to develop agro-based industries, and to support entrepreneurs in overcoming challenges such as electricity, finance, technology and procedures. He encouraged the use of renewable energy and environmentally sustainable practices, urging a balance between industrial growth and environmental protection, and called for coordinated reforms based on responsibility and accountability to advance the MSME sector.

Later in the afternoon, Union Minister Dr. Charlie Than, Union Minister for Science and Technology Dr. Myo Thein Kyaw, and Union Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation U San Oo attended a workshop on the bamboo-based finished cotton production, along with other concerned officials.

Union Minister Dr. Charlie Than said the workshop was held in line with the Head of State’s guidance to develop a document on bamboo-based finished cotton production. He noted that inter-ministerial cooperation could successfully promote the industry and support the national economy.

He said the ministry has already begun industrial testing of a paper mill (Yeni) and stressed the need for practical trials, research, and pre-commercial testing before large-scale production. He added that workshops and forums are essential to identify effective methods and outcomes.

He highlighted that the bamboo-based cotton industry could benefit MSMEs and large industries alike, promote bamboo farming, and support agro-based industrial development. He urged experts to actively participate and contribute according to their respective fields.

This was followed by sector-wise discussions on improving outcomes, including the status of bamboo resource extraction by state and region, technology support for bamboo-based production, sustainable bamboo harvesting methods, establishment and maintenance of bamboo plantations, dissemination of cultivation procedures, research and development activities, selection of bamboo raw materials and sources of bamboo fiber production. The Union Ministers and officials then took documentary photo, following the workshop.