Secretary-1 addresses opening ceremony of 2nd Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology

Yangon, 17 January 2003

            Chairman of the ASEAN Steering Committee of the Union of Myanmar Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council General Khin Nyunt delivered an address at the opening ceremony of the 2nd Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology at the Sedona Hotel on 17 January 2003.

            In his address Secretary-1 General Khin Nyunt said that this is the first time that our country is hosting a Ministerial Level Meeting in the Science and Technology sector. It is therefore a great privilege and pleasure to have this opportunity to deliver the Opening Address at the 2nd Informal Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers for Science and Technology. I firmly believe that the deliberations in the course of the Meeting would surely contribute towards the development of Science and Technology in the region.

            ASEAN is generally recognized as one of the most successful regional organizations in the world with a combined population of more than 500 million people and the combined GDP of nearly 700 billion US dollars. Indeed, the economy of ASEAN region is one of the largest in the world and is regarded as a potential high growth area.

            However, we cannot be complacent. In this Age of Globalization and rapid technological progress, ASEAN must be able to meet this challenge and create new opportunities for further growth. In this regard, the importance of science and technology cannot be over-emphasized. As envisaged in ASEAN Vision 2020, we should all strive for ASEAN to have a competitive edge in strategic and enabling technologies.

            Moreover, the Hanoi Plan of Action (HPA) laid down in 1998 at the 6th ASEAN Summit focused on promoting Science and Technology Development, Development of Information Technology Infrastructure; and Promoting Human Resource Development. We are also pleased to learn that a Special Task Force (STF) was convened to study how it can best respond to the challenges of achieving Science and Technology goals and objectives as stated in the Hanoi Plan of Action.

            On the part of Myanmar, we welcome the adoption of ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology are the Implementation Framework for 2001-2004 at the 9th Meeting of ASEAN Ministers for Science and Technology held in Brunei Darussalam in September 2001. It is our belief that this Plan of Action world contribute towards the development of regional programmes and projects over the medium-term leading to the realization of ASEAN's long-term vision of technological competitiveness.

            In our endeavours to strengthen Science and Technology, we give due consideration to cooperation with our dialogue partners. It is heartening to note that cooperation with China, India and EU has been proceeding satisfactorily. We appreciate the financial as well as technical support we have received from our Dialogue Partners, Australia, China, EU, India, Japan, ROK, New Zealand and the ASEAN Foundation. I wish to acknowledge the important role of such external support in the successful implementation of Science and Technology projects and activities.        

            Moreover, in view of the closer and more intensified cooperation between ASEAN and +3 countries, it is our view that consideration should be given to the holding of an ASEAN+3 Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology +3 (AMMST+3) in the future when committee on Science and Technology COST has developed a substantive agenda in consultation with the "+3" countries.

             Since becoming a member of ASEAN in 1997, Myanmar has been actively participating in ASEAN activities. In the Science and Technology field, Myanmar is proud to have hosted the 37th Committee on Science and Technology COST Meeting in Yangon in May 1999. I wish to assure you of Myanmar's full cooperation in the S&T field. The national objective of Myanmar is to build a peaceful, prosperous, modern and developed State. In striving towards this goal, we pay special attention to the development of science and technology as well as human resource development.

             Even as we develop the various branches of technology, we are paying special attention to the ICT sector. Last year, we opened the Myanmar ICT Park which offers up-to-date ICT facilities as well as a site for development of software. Myanmar is also cooperating actively with computer-related companies from Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and others.

             In view of the need to promote human resource development, we have opened new institutes of higher learning. The number of universities and colleges in the country has increased from 32 in 1988 to 151 at the end of 2002. These include 2 computer universities and 23 computer colleges throughout the nation. Moreover, the country also has 4 Technology Universities and 26 Government Technical Colleges that are producing engineers and technicians. Recently, Aerospace Engineering University and University of Maritime Technology have been established, offering courses in aviation and maritime subjects. For the first time in Myanmar's education history, doctorate courses are now available to students in many disciplines.

             We are confident that the adoption of correct policies for the development of science and technology and the rapid progress in human resource development will contribute greatly in our modernization efforts. You have before you a full and varied agenda. However, I am confident that with the combined wisdom and experience of the participants, the deliberations will result in important contributions towards the development of Science and Technology in the ASEAN region.