MBF's first meeting scheduled for July

 

Local businesses and government officials will convene at the meeting, Zaw Min Win, vice-chairperson of the UMFCCI (Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry), said yesterday.

“The president gave the permission for the establishment of the MBF when he met with the businessmen. Our country’s private sector needs a big improvement. We’re planning to hold the forum in the last week of July, where the Myanmar 2014 business proposals will be presented,” said Zaw Min Win, vice-chairperson of the UMFCCI (Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry).

President Thein Sein will be chairman of the MBF, which was conceived by the president himself. He announced the plan during a meeting with local businessmen in February. 

This forum will be the venue for the private sector to present business obstacles and their activities, while government agencies will consider how to facilitate their activities.

Both sides will help draft laws, bylaws and strengthen the cooperation, to boost the economy. It also plans to convene face-to-face meetings twice a year.

At present, the MBF Secretariat is being formed and working groups will soon be activated.

The International Finance Cooperation (IFC) would provide technical support to the chambers of commerce in forming the MBF. It has been successful in supporting the similar forums in 13 countries, including those in ASEAN such as Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.