Basic infrastructure benefits most from international aid

Le Le Thein, deputy minister for National Planning and Business Development, said that 18 per cent of overseas aid is allocated for construction projects; 15 per cent to education projects and 12 per cent to healthcare projects. 

Other sectors benefiting from the international aid are: agricultural and livelihood sectors (9 per cent each); social sector (8 per cent); telecommunication sector (6 per cent); transport sector (5 per cent); electricity, natural disaster and statistics sectors (5 per cent each); livestock, finance and sports (2 per cent each);  energy and clean water (1 per cent each).

The information was shared in a parliamentary session, in response to a question by MP Thura Aung Ko, from Kanpanlet Constituency. He pressed for the detail of the spending, to see if the government is wasting the aid money.

The minister said that twenty donor countries, five international organisations, 18 organisations under United Nations, and 148 non-government organisations are committed to aid worth over $3.8 billion to Myanmar, she said.

“It takes time to negotiate on details as rules and regulations from both sides are involved. As such, the aid approved for the previous government may be granted during the era of the current administration," she said.

According to the minister, donors have been committed to $3.8 billion in aid. Of total, $1.4 billion has been approved for 562 projects. 

Of the approved sum, $250 million was spent on 160 projects which were implemented during 2011-2014. The projects belonged to 30 ministries, two central government organisations and Mandalay City Development Committee. 

The Thein Sein government has reimbursed another $150 million for 26 ongoing projects. Many of the remaining projects are still underway, mostly requiring technical rather than financial assistance.

MP Thura Aung Ko said that transparency is necessary for government projects financed by international aid.