ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO BOOST DEVELOPMENT IN KAYIN STATE

All people in Kayin State will have access to electricity by 2020 in a move that would boost economic development in the State, U Kyaw Win, the Chairman of the Myanmar Investment Commission and Minister for Planning and Finance, said today.

Delivering the keynote speech at the Kayin State Investment Fair, U Kyaw Win said that a combination of the State’s natural resources and a reliable electricity supply would attract investment and development.

He said there was a need to build transmission lines to ensure access to electricity across Kayin State.

“By 2020 we hope the whole of Kayin State will have access to electricity,” U Kyaw Win told the 650 delegates attending the Fair in Hpa An.

“This is my guarantee – that all people in Kayin State will have access to electricity in one and a half years,” he said.

Power generation, transmission and distribution is one of the key areas that has been identified as having potential for investment and development in Kayin State – which is well located for cross-border trading and investment collaboration with Thailand.

Other areas for potential investment which have been identified include warehousing insurance, the establishment of industrial zones, transport infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture, and tourism.

The Myanmar Investment Commission recently announced that it would give priority to investment applications in these areas and “speed up” the application process.

U Kyaw Win said Kayin State’s abundance of rivers and streams provided opportunities for the fisheries industry, mechanised farming offering potential for the agricultural sector, and the beautiful natural environment would attract tourists.

“In a polluted world, we have blue skies and clean air and we can attract people from around the world,” he said.

The Minister said a growing tourism industry would also offer opportunities for young people to be trained as tour guides.

He said his “dream” of seeing development in Kayin State was starting to materialise and it was possible for that dream to become a reality.

“We need to have a common vision and see the future, so we can all work towards it. It is time for all of us to work together. With understanding and unity our dream will be realised soon,” U Kyaw Win said.

The Kayin State Investment Fair has attracted 650 business people, potential investors, and State and Union Government officials. Along with a series of presentations on potential investment opportunities, 90 people will also be involved in a ‘business matching’ event where interested business people will be matched with potential investment ideas.

The Fair is being co-hosted by the Kayin State Government, Myanmar Investment Commission and Japan International Cooperation Agency. It is the third in a series of investment fairs being held throughout Myanmar and follows similar events in Mandalay and Shan State.