The Myanmar Narrative Think Tank and the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) jointly organized the Forum on Rebuilding Myanmar: Post-Earthquake Economic Recovery under the supervision of the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
Speaking at the event, Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn said the people are still suffering the huge impacts of the earthquake after two months, but courage, a positive mindset and mental strength are the hopes for the future. Although the quake survivors are suffering from grief, they participate in rescue operations actively.
He then highlighted the earthquake that occurred in Nepal on 15 April 2015, including their post-earthquake rehabilitation processes, public participation, promotion of social integration, resilience, manufacturing sector and socioeconomic status, and mentioned Japan for its experiences in war, nuclear bomb and tsunamis and their survivals.
Union Minister for Commerce U Tun Ohn said the ministry is actively participating in rescue operations and emergency assistance, support for rehabilitation and economic recovery measures under the guidance of the Prime Minister. The basic foodstuffs are also sold at fairer prices for the quake-hit staff and people in Nay Pyi Taw, Sagaing and Mandalay daily. Moreover, the construction materials are also allowed to be imported through the meeting of the Foreign Exchange Supervisory Committee.
The event to sell iron, steel, cement and construction materials was organized in Taboung ground from 12 to 18 May, and it earned K45,085 million. The country earned US$14.8 billion in the export sector, $12.47 billion in imports, and $ 27.27 billion in the trading sector in the 2024- 2025 financial year. The ministry also prioritizes the MSMEs and construction services to run as usual in Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay Region, Sagaing Region and Shan State as quickly as possible.
UMFCCI President U Aye Win said the “UMFCCI Earthquake Relief and Rehabilitation Task Force” was organized on 29 March to be able to provide the needed assistance in quake-stricken areas with the fund of K2,000 million and managed to link with international trader organizations. The statement of the World Bank issued on 18 April 2025 shows that the earthquake in Myanmar caused over $10 billion in damage, and the recovery needs could be doubled or even tripled to cover the damage and loss.
He mentioned the natural disasters that occurred in the neighbouring countries, their rehabilitation processes, and the positive outcomes of the forum through government-private cooperation to government-private-public cooperation for post-earthquake recovery projects.
Myanmar Narrative Think Tank Chairman U Ko Ko discussed the seven strategies for the post-earthquake economic recovery of Myanmar- to immediately reconstruct the damaged infrastructure, restore the disrupted social lives, stabilize the financial and economy, draft strategic economic plans, exercise the Build Back Better (BBB) principles, formulate new strategies and approaches that can enhance international cooperation, and support the economics that are least affected by natural disasters such as earthquakes.
Then, the forum continued under three main topics “ Economic Impacts of Mandalay Earthquake”, “Challenges and Opportunities for Economic Recovery” and “Collaborative Solutions for Economic Recovery”.
The relevant officials from different organizations participated in the discussion, and they explained the questions raised by the international observers, political parties’ representatives, MSMEs, local political analysts and attendees.
The talk show for the data collected from the forum will take place on 31 May, and the government-private cooperation plans will be explored through the two-day event.
MNA/KTZH
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