Opening Statement by H.E.

U Tin Naing Thein Union Minister Ministry of National Planning & Economic Development at the th 17 GMS Ministerial Meeting 4 August 2011 Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Excellency Senior Minister Mr. Cham Prasidh, Honorable Vice President of the Asian Development Bank, Excellencies the GMS Ministers, Deputy Ministers Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, First of all, May I express my deep appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia for graciously hosting the 17th GMS Ministerial Meeting at this beautiful city of Phnom Penh and its excellent arrangements. We have been accorded a most warm welcome and hospitality since our arrival in Cambodia. It is indeed an honor and privilege for me to extend my opening statement at this Meeting. The GMS Economic Cooperation Program which started in 1992 is entering into its third decade of cooperation. Over the past period of economic cooperation, our sub-region has gained steady economic growth, improved livelihood, poverty reduction, enhanced physical infrastructure, environmental sustainability and private sector enhancement. It is well noted that recent achievements include the establishment of the Economic Corridors Forum, expansion of

transport connectivity to include railway, development of the Information Superhighway Network Phase 3, the Core Environment Program Biodiversity Conservation Program and GMS Tourism Sector Strategy and Road Map. I am very much delighted to note that some of these achievements will be endorsed by our Leaders at the Fourth GMS Summit which is to be held in Myanmar in December this year. Moreover, I would like to emphasize that Leaders endorsement on the new GMS Strategic Framework for 2012 2022 at this Fourth GMS Summit is very important. As the term of the present Strategic Framework is concluding in December this year and the new Strategic Framework starting in 2012, the avenue of Fourth GMS Summit is the right venue for our Leaders witness. In this context, we should jointly re-double our efforts towards having a meaningful action plan to guide us for the effective implementation for the next ten years under the new Strategic Framework. Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Taking this opportunity, I would like to extend my warm invitation to my colleagues, the GMS Ministers and the ADB to the 4th GMS Summit to be held in Myanmar in December 2011. The Republic of the Union of Myanmar is very much honored and glad to host this big event. We are making our best efforts in our preparatory works for the successful accomplishment of our mission. The Vice President 1, who is the patron of the Central Coordinating Committee for the 4th GMS Summit, chairs the monthly meetings. The respective Sub-Committees led by the related Deputy Ministers have to report their progress update to the Central Committee regularly. The GMS Minister is chairing the Central Working Committee. We pay special attention to what we have committed in the international community.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to mention here the recent updates of our commitment in the GMS economic cooperation program. You may be aware that we have enacted the Myanmar Special Economic Zone Law and the Dawei Special Economic Zone Law early this year. The Dawei Special Economic Zone is aimed at developing businesses and infrastructure in the Dawei region, which will be emerged as a pivotal place for trade and transportation of South East Asia region. The deep sea port project will be the gateway from east to the west. In rail transport, the feasibility study for Lashio-Muse rail link is completed under the financial assistance of the government of the Peoples Republic of China. We are now working towards linking Lashio to Kyaukphyu in the western part of Myanmar by rail road. This is also one mode of transport linking China in the east to India in the west. Under the Regional Power Trade Development program, we are implementing the Shweli 1 Hydropower Project on joint venture basis with PRC. The commercial operation has started since November 2008. We fully support accelerating the implementation of the Core Agriculture Support Program and expansion of sub-regional cooperation in agriculture. One of the national priorities is to promote agriculture development and at the same time, we will pay serious attention for environmental conservation. In the area of human resource development, it is much pleasing to note that we have benefited in terms of capacity building for our officials under the GMS Phnom Penh Plan for Development Management Program. We look forward to having more contribution from our development partners for the 6 GMS countries.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The theme of this 17th Ministerial Meeting Building on Success: Expanding GMS Cooperation for New Opportunities is very clear. The GMS Countries have been cooperating since 1992 where we started this Program. We also call for expanding and strengthening our existing cooperation through bilateral and regional relations. I believe that the outcomes of the Development Partners Meeting yesterday will bring about ways and means of opportunities for resource mobilization from the Development Partners. Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, Myanmar has opened a new chapter of building a peaceful, modern and developed nation. The new administration is working towards good governance and clean government under the constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Substantive changes include updating and amending the existing rules and regulations to be in line with the new system and introducing new laws and regulations where necessary. We have taken up a giant step to transform ourselves into an industrialized country. We will closely cooperate with international community including the UN, INGOs and NGOs. I wish this meeting a success. Thank you.