JICA-RI Holds a Public Seminar on Economy in Myanmar and the Role of JICA

Panel discussion followed the keynote speech. Senior Research Fellow Toshihiro Kudo of the Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO), gave a presentation entitled “Myanmar’s Growth Strategy in a New International Environment.”
Mr. Kudo stated that the two-year reform since the birth of the current regime in March 2011 could be divided into three stages: 1) reforms related to politics and international relations; 2) economic reforms; and 3) administrative reforms. He explained key developments of each stage; during the first-stage, a dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi and the release of political prisoners took place, along with the improvement of Myanmar’s ties with the international community, particularly with the U.S, as demonstrated by former US Secretary of State Clinton’s visit in 2011 and President Obama’s visit in November 2012; at the second stage, the government implemented policies on the development of all industries with an emphasis on agriculture; and now entered the third stage, where the government especially has sought to end corruption.

The seminar also brought together those who had been involved in the writing of the book. Haruyuki Shimada, Advisor in JICA’s South Asia Department, is one of them. Having been in charge of Myanmar from 2000 to 2006, he contributed to the chapter on social capital development in Myanmar. Recalling those times when researchers were not allowed even to enter the Central Bank, he realized the time has changed, contrasting the current situation that JICA is cooperating in many ways with Myanmar’s Central Bank as a counterpart organization in support of modernizing the financial system.