Opening Ceremony of Workshop : MCRD UM delivered the opening address

The opening ceremony of the workshop on the development of crop-based value-added food businesses, implemented under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund (2024), was held on Wednesday morning at the Horizon Lake View Resort Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw. The ceremony was attended by Union Minister for Cooperatives and Rural Development U Myo Zaw Thein, who delivered the opening speech.

At the ceremony, Union Minister spoke about the ministry's ongoing efforts to promote the development of small-scale industries, the training programs being conducted to enhance capacities under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund (2024), and the various value-added food production training courses being offered in regions and states such as Nay Pyi Taw, Magwe, Mandalay, Yangon, Shan, and Ayeyawady, based on local crops.

Subsequently, Counselor Ouyang Daobing  from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Myanmar explained the status of support provided under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Special Fund (2024) and the plans for continued implementation.

Following that, a project implementation record video was shown. Afterward, the officials toured the products of the trainees who had completed courses organized by the Department of Small-Scale Industries under the project aimed at creating small-scale production enterprises and increasing rural family incomes.

Later, a responsible official from the Department of Food and Drug Administration under the Ministry of Health discussed safe food production, a responsible official from the Department of Consumer Affairs under the Ministry of Commerce discussed product labeling for food production and market access both domestically and internationally; and business owners discussed the operational status of their respective businesses.

Attendees then engaged in interactive discussions and questions. Afterward, responsible officials reviewed, discussed, and provided recommendations on the presentations made by each business sector. Director General U Thein Toe of the Department of Small-Scale Industries delivered the closing speech, and the ceremony was brought to a close.