Myanmar taps Singapore's expertise in development

By eGov Innovation Editors | Feb 5, 2012

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Singapore and Myanmar recently signed a technical cooperation program that will allow Singapore to share its development expertise in at least three areas -- economic development, human resource development and public administration.

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Myanmar President Thein Sein witnessed the signing of the memorandum of agreement between Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam and Myanmar Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin.

The Myanmar President was in Singapore for a state visit end of January and took the opportunity to brief Singapore leaders on the political and economic situation in the country as well as outline his developmental priorities.

Myanmar will assume the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2014 and ASEAN Foreign Ministers have called on Western countries to lift sanctions on Myanmar. The country has started releasing political prisoners to earn international goodwill. Many countries, including Australia, have welcomed the move and are eager to see the democratic process continue when the country holds its first democratic elections in April.

The Singapore government website reported that Singapore President Tony Tan and Prime Minister Lee welcomed the positive developments taking place in Myanmar and affirmed Singapore's commitment to work with the Myanmar government in various areas such as capacity building and human resource development.