Dawei Airport Upgrade to Speed Exports

Collaborative efforts should be exerted to boost agricultural and livestock production to increase Taninthayi Region’s GDP.

Taninthayi Region Government should take the lead in implementing initiatives in producing animal feed and raising livestock using agricultural products to bring considerable benefits to the region, said President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Min Aung Hlaing at the meeting with local authorities, town elders and micro, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs at Pearl Ekari Hall in Dawei yesterday morning.
At the meeting, Taninthayi Region Chief Minister U Zaw Naing Oo reported to the President on the efforts to grow oil palm, produce crude palm oil and build a palm oil refinery, earning income from oil palm cultivation, production of rubber, coffee and cocoa, seafood production and export, production of pearl and edible bird nests, generating electricity from solar energy, and rehabilitation for the people who suffered impacts of floods.
In his speech, the President underlined that the development of a country or region is measured by its GDP. Therefore, collective efforts should be made to increase agricultural and livestock production in order to boost the GDP of Taninthayi Region.
He stated that upgrading Dawei Airport and its runway is underway to promote business activities and tourism in Taninthayi Region. The upgrades are being carried out in anticipation of increased passenger traffic and aircraft arrivals and departures alongside the implementation of the Dawei Deep-Sea Port projects.
The President said that the Government is making efforts to implement the Dawei Deep-Sea Port projects, which are expected to create more job opportunities in the region. In addition, work is underway to construct a new Ye-Dawei railway section with a double-track route along the coastal area. Once completed, the railway line is expected to further increase passenger travel and freight transport.
In the tourism sector, the President urged all local communities to work together to preserve and enhance the region’s naturally beautiful beaches, archipelagos, tourism resources and tourist destinations to promote the development of the tourism industry, while also maintaining the area’s beauty, orderliness and cleanliness.
At present, the Hluttaw and the Government that emerged from a free and fair general election are assuming their respective responsibilities in the country. The Government has set and is implementing two priority objectives: ensuring stability and peace in the country and promoting national development.
The President explained that although Taninthayi Region possesses abundant natural resources and favourable geographical conditions, security weaknesses and instability have emerged in some areas due to politically motivated incitement, creating constraints on development activities. The President criticized that the inability to critically assess and distinguish right from wrong, as well as cause and effect, and the tendency to be misled by the statements of anti-national media outlets, individuals and organizations that exploit political issues for their own interests and oppose the development of the region and the country, as consequences of weaknesses in education.
The President underscored that, in some countries around the world, protests and unrest also occur due to political differences. However, such countries generally do not engage in acts that damage education, healthcare, the economy and other interests, as well as essential resources, in ways that could undermine the country’s future.
He outlined that only by developing an educated population can a capable human resource base be built, enabling people to critically distinguish right from wrong and assess causes and consequences. This will also help promote the interests of the region and the country more effectively. Therefore, educational reforms must be undertaken without fail, he added.
At the meeting, as town elders and MSME entrepreneurs requested to reduce domestic flight ticket prices, Union ministers replied that arrangements are being made to set the appropriate price rate of domestic flight tickets depending on the costs. Moreover, town elders reported their plans to export high-value marine products to foreign markets upon completion of upgrading Dawei Airport. They also demanded that the State create linkages for sales of naturally edible bird nests to the micro enterprise market on a wider scale and to disburse loans for construction of the factory to produce value-added rubber products including rubber gloves using domestic raw rubber. Furthermore, town elders submitted their plans to borrow loans to purchase machines for the production of necessary consumer goods locally and invest in the businesses. They revealed they are trying hard to create jobs for locals and support the livelihoods of people from the fishery sector.
In response, Union ministers pledged to coordinate with relevant ministries to disburse loans to businesspeople under the policies with the aim of systematically producing edible bird nests in Taninthayi Region. They urged businesspeople and town elders to efficiently utilize land plots in the region under the directives and produce oil and natural gas from existing energy resources for development of the region and the nation. The Union ministers also explained that arrangements are being made to support construction of the rubber product factory under the rules and regulations.
The President viewed the booths of MSME products displayed by Taninthayi Region and asked about the products.
Also present at the meeting were the Taninthayi Region Hluttaw Speaker, the commander of the Coastal Region Command, officials from the Taninthayi Region cabinet and residents.
In the morning, the President comforted Tatmadaw and Myanmar Police Force members receiving medical treatment for their injuries sustained in serving State defence and security duties at the local Tatmadaw hospital and presented cash awards and foodstuffs.
Moreover, the President fulfilled the needs of the hospital and presented cash awards to hospital staff. — MNA/TTA

Key points from the speech delivered by the President at the meeting with residents in Dawei

1. Implementation of the Dawei Deep-Sea Port projects is expected to create more job opportunities in Taninthayi Region.

2. Protests and unrest in some countries around the world with political differences do not engage in acts that damage education, healthcare, the economy and other interests.

3. Educational reforms must be undertaken without fail to help promote the interests of the region and the country more effectively.