The groundbreaking ceremony of the Agricultural Marketing Centre was held in Pobbathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning. The ceremony was attended by the Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr Aung Thu, Deputy Minister U Hla Kyaw, Nay Pyi Taw Council member U Aye Maung Sein, Amyotha Hluttaw Representative U Maung Maung Swe, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Myanmar Mr Lee Sang-hwa, Chief Representative of KOICA Myanmar Ms Lee Youn Soo, the Permanent Secretary, Directors-General of the ministry and other relevant officials.
At the ceremony, Union Minister Dr Aung Thu said that the agricultural sector is a key factor in Myanmar’s economic development process. Establishing the Agricultural Marketing Centre and the Agricultural Products Processing Centre will benefit both agriculturalists and consumers, according to the Union Minister, who said that the cooperation among the government, private sector and agriculturalists is expected to greatly enhance the opportunities to compete in the international market.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Mr Lee Sang-hwa also delivered a congratulatory speech and KOICA Myanmar representative Ms Lee Youn Soo expressed thanks to all stakeholders.
The Agricultural Marketing Centre project, jointly carried out by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, was begun in 2018 with US$8.37 million in financial aid from Korea. The Agricultural Marketing Centre will be built in Pobbathiri Township in Nay Pyi Taw and the Agricultural Product Processing Centre will be built in Heho in Shan State. The objective of establishing the two centres is to improve the market for agricultural products in major agricultural production areas, said Director-General Dr Ye Tint Tun. The centres will be able to provide efficient agricultural market information, and another benefit is that the agriculturalists’ organizations will be strengthened. They will help strengthen agricultural infrastructures and will work for issuance of certification. So, the centres will help fulfil the Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS).
Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar