Infrastructure, transparency vital to economic upturn : Gauck
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Myanmar needs to improve its infrastructure while more transparency is needed in State-run projects for the economic development of the nation, said German President Joachim Gauck in his historic speech at Yangon University on Tuesday.
“If you ask German business people what they are waiting to see before investing in Myanmar, then they will tell you: better infrastructure, a modern financial system, and above all, legal certainty and transparency,” said Gauck who brought a number of German business leaders to the Southeast Asian country.
“Your geographical location between the world’s two most populous countries [India and China] could hardly be better. It is good that you are improving the legal framework in order to boost foreign investments in your country,” Gauck said to the audience, most of whom are university students and young people.
The German President also mentioned that Myanmar is not only rich in raw materials but also in talent, while calling for an urgent need to create an education system that will generate a learning society.
“You need schools accessible to all in which all children can develop their talents and learn what they need to lead independent lives in their country and in the world. You need companies willing to shoulder their share of the responsibility for enabling young people to learn what they need later in their professions.”
President Gauck pointed out that Myanmar can learn from the successes and failures of others.
“In the transition, how can we preserve what has to be preserved -- from the country’s natural resources to its cultural treasures and social cohesion?”
He also emphasised the importance of freedom, the rule of law and democracy in the country’s economic upswing.
That view was echoed by Franz Xaver Augustin, director at the Gothe-Institut Myanmar.
“I am very sure that Myanmar has a lot chances to become one of the richest countries in the region. I didn’t say that before. But in 1960, it had double per capita income of Thailand. I am sure Myanmar will come back to that position. Maybe not double of Thailand, but at least meet Malaysia and Thailand in the not so far future,” Augustin said in an interview with Myanmar Eleven.
“Asean and European Union are something similar. And I think Myanmar wants to learn more how the European Community works. For instance, I’ve heard that President Thein Sein is interested in German federal structure. He wants to learn the federal system of Germany. So we will give information. In this regard, we are not the only one. But we’ll give our advice,” said Augustin.
When asked about the obstacles and challenges in improving bilateral ties, Augustin answered: “The greatest obstacle is that we don’t know much about each other. Myanmar people do not know much about Germany and Germans also don’t know much about Myanmar. So our main task is bring the two together.
“One important task is to give opportunities to Myanmar young students to learn more about Germany. Also ,we will train German tourist guides so that they can give more information to Germans visiting the country,” he said.
“Other obstacles are the distance between the two countries, but I don’t see many [other] obstacles. After the reforms here in Myanmar, I see a bright future,” Augustin added.
During his visit on Monday, President Gauck met with President Thein Sein, opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and Parliament Speaker Thura Shwe Mann in Nay Pyi Taw to discuss the ongoing reform process.
