Regional Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Asia-Europe ENVforum Workshop in Myanmar

Myanmar Government Representatives, including Deputy Union Minister U Maung Maung Win and Dr. Wah Wah Maung, Director General of the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) of the Ministry of Planning and Finance (MOPF), Dr. Genevieve Barre, Director of the Political and Economic Department of the Asia Europe Foundation (ASEF), Achim Munz and Dr. Axel Neubert, Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) Country Representatives and delegates from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

HSF

Since the SDGs were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015, countries have been encouraged to take ownership of the process of implementing the SDGs in light of their respective national realities, capacities, and priorities. ASEF and HSF jointly organised a workshop in cooperation with the Government of Myanmar on planning for implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This two-day workshop gathered 150 representatives from respective government agencies involved in implementing the SDGs. It is part of a series of capacity-building events for policy- makers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Viet Nam (CLMV).

In his opening remarks, Deputy Union Minister of Myanmar, Mr Maung Maung WIN, said, “The importance of such regional cooperation will reveal urgent issues in Southeast Asia and turn challenges into opportunities”. Dr Wah Wah MAUNG, Director General of the Central Statistical Organization (CSO), Ministry of Planning and Finance (MOPF), Myanmar mentioned: “Measuring progress of the success in achieving SDGs relies on the identification of suitable indicators, not only for the right target, but also according to each country’s data accessibility”.

“The workshop provided a platform for representatives from CLMVto share their experience in implementing SDGs”, highlighted Mr Achim MUNZ, Country Representative of HSF Myanmar.

Dr. Genevieve Barre, Director of the Political and Economic Department of the Asia Europe Foundation, giving welcome remarks.

HSF

Dr Geneviève BARRÉ, Director of the Political & Economic Department of ASEF, said, “ASEF’s mandate is to move Asian and European countries closer towards a more integrated Asia-Europe voice on common policy issues and to provide learning spaces and opportunities to share expertise among and within regions”.

Keynote remarks were delivered by a representative of the European Union Delegation to Myanmar, on behalf of Ambassador Roland KOBIA, as well as by experts from international organisations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Myanmar.

The attendees benefited from the expertise of regional specialists and leaders of country delegations: Dr Paris CHUOP, Ministry of Environment of Cambodia; Mrs Bouphavanh KEOMIXAY, Ministry of Planning and Investment of Lao PDR; and Mrs NGUYEN Le Thuy, Ministry of Planning and Investment of Viet Nam. The exchanges brought about the testing of ideas and developing a common dialogue on SDGs. The workshop also supported multi-stakeholder, regional and international dialogues and knowledge-sharing on mainstreaming SDGs into national development planning.

The CMLV workshop “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Delivery: Planning for Implementation”. It the third regional event on the implementation of SDGs that have been jointly carried out by ASEF, HSF and the governments of CLMV countries since 2014, under the Asia-Europe Environment Forum (ENVforum).

The full workshop report can be found under: https://view.publitas.com/hanns-seidel-foundation-myanmar/sustainable-development-goals-delivery-planning-for-implementation/page/1