Over the past two years, Yangon Regional Government has carried out its efforts for both local and foreign investors to start their operation at the industrial zone in Yangon in order to create job opportunities and achieve all- round development in all socio-economic sectors

Yangon Region Government has carried out the works for both local and foreign investors to be able to start their operation at the industrial zones in Yangon with a view to increase the job opportunities. In order to achieve all-round development in all socio-economic sectors in accordance with economic policy set by the State, the Yangon Region Government is undertaking the works to support and encourage the small and medium scale enterprises, the development of health and education sectors, and conservation of natural environment.

Yangon’s Urban Planning
The Yangon Region Government is now striving to put the budget spending system up to the international norms and to bring about the collective effort of government and community for the development of health and education sectors in Yangon.
As for the Yangon Region Government, efforts are being made to promote the socio-economic status of the people in the city.
Compared to Yangon City, some townships which are outside of Yangon have lagged behind in living standard.
Arrangements have been made to set up the Yangon City development plan focusing on the following four issues: Urban flooding, Drought, Pollution and Water scarcity.
The development of this plan will make Yangon City more resilient for natural disasters, climate change and potential sea level rising.
Moreover the regional parliament had already approved Ks 32 billion for the construction of bridges in Yangon.
The Yangon Region Government is trying to revise Yangon’s urban planning and make into a more livable city by conserving heritage building and green spaces.

Industrial Sector
As Yangon’s industrial sector has expanded the land available for the agricultural sector has become less and less and added there is also less labour available for agriculture. Thus there is a need for a master plan that can help ensure the best yields with the labour and land available.
With the aim of educating the people who are leading Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) in terms of business and to put at their disposal the required resources to successfully develop and grow their companies. Along with education, access to financial resources and credit is the priority for economic development.
The Yangon Region Government has made an effort to support SMEs and facilitate their relationships with investors for them to take advantage of more business opportunities.
Plans are under way to provide local businessmen with financial resources and to facilitate their access to credit, which is probably the main handicap today that is slowing the growth of SMEs.
This is the first priority for the immediate future and it is important to grant access to credit as well as to create a new division in the administration to work with companies and assist them whenever they require guidance. The second point is education; it is important to lead these companies in terms of business development and show them how to put in practice a viable business plan. For this reason, we have decided to create an education plan for the SMEs sector.
Addressing squatter issues
The Yangon Region Government is making an efforts to address the resettlement issue for the squatters and is compiling a list of squatters that will aid them in choosing an area of land for the resettlement programme.
The number of squatters trespassing in development committee lands was initially thought to be around 300,000 people however a survey revealed there are over 400,000 squatters.

Electricity
Yangon will get an around-the-clock supply of electricity in the Yangon Region with the help of over 430 megawatts which will be produced by three power plants next year. It is estimated that Yangon is consuming some 1,190 megawatts of electric power a year, which is about half of the total consumption of the whole country. Its electricity demand has increased yearly by 15 per cent.
The commercial city of Yangon has 29 industrial zones and more than 6,200 small-and-medium-sized enterprises, all of which hike up electricity demands compared to other regions and states.

Investment Sector in Yangon
Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein said that 100 per cent Yangon Region Government-owned New Yangon Development Company Limited was under way to implement the projects.
As a first stage it is conducting infrastructure and industry work as a priority. Yangon Region Government had invited local and international businesses to participate in these projects. The Yangon Region Government had invited local and international businesses to participate in the projects in Yangon. The Yangon City needs to be in the form of a green economy which can be prevented from becoming a dumping ground for businesses that damages the environment.
Thus investments are coming in and interested investors from ASEAN region countries, South Korea, Japan and China are currently discussing and negotiating with the regional government for investing in road construction works, power, housing construction and factories. Moreover western entities such as the United States and the EU are interested in technology service industry.
That is why, qualified local and international businesses that can provide quality work will be given priority, while incentives will be provided for businesses that create more job opportunities.
In Yangon Region from 1994-1995 to the end of January 2018, Myanmar Investment Commission has permitted the investment of 582 Myanmar-owned and 846 foreign-owned businesses. As of February 2018, Myanmar-owned businesses invested more than Ks708 billion, while foreign investment totalled US$2.84 billion according to the data.

Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ)
The Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) being located on the outskirts of Yangon is the first Special Economic Zone (SEZ) built in Myanmar. It is also a monumental project strongly supported by the governments of Myanmar and Japan. As for the government, arrangements are being made to carry out 2400 hectares in the Thilawa SEZ and the opening ceremony of this project has been held on September 23, 2015.
As a successful project, investments were made at the amount of US$ 1.2 billion in the Zone A (Phase A), and 96 per cent of plots of land had been leased, and the remaining 4 per cent is under negotiation. Many giant companies come here and we have granted 90 kinds of business to 16 countries. Many factories and workshops including 40 kinds of business are being operated currently. Among them, some four factories export goods at the moment.

(Global New Light of Myanmar: http://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/two-year-performance-yangon-region-government/ )

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