As part of a multi-year project on “Joint Development of Cross-Border Economic Zones in Lancang-Mekong Countries,” which is supported by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund and in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce, Royal Government of Thailand, several national workshops on “Investment Opportunities in Economic Zones” will be organized in Lancang-Mekong countries from September to December 2021 to provide status and types of investments, investment rules and policies, and post-COVID-19 strategies to promote investments in economic zones.  

Mekong Institute (MI) in cooperation with the Directorate of Industrial Supervision and Inspection, Ministry of Industry, conducted a national e-workshop on “Investment Opportunities for Industrial Zone (IZ) and Special Economic Zone (SEZ)” in Myanmar on September 12, 2021 to broaden public-private sector understanding of the merits of SEZs in increasing trade balance, employment, investment, job creation, and effective administration.

Chaired by Mr. Thein Swe, Director General, Directorate of Industrial Supervision and Inspection, Ministry of Industry, the workshop was attended by 45 participants from relevant government agencies, the Industrial Zone Supervision Committee, and the SEZ Management Committee.

The workshop presented sessions on “Importance of SEZs in Economic Development,” “Myanmar Special Economic Zones,” and “Implementation, Investment Opportunities in SEZs and IZs, Industrial Zones in Yangon Region.” Resource persons also shared information about the services provided by the Directorate of Industrial Supervision and Inspection and the provisions of Industrial Zone Law (2010) and the drafting situation of industrial zone by-laws in Myanmar.

The results of the implemented national workshop in Myanmar and other Lancang-Mekong countries will be presented at a regional online Synthesis and Evaluation Workshop in the second week of October 2021.