Workshop on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Regional Implementation Workshop on SDG held in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar
Deputy Union Minister U Maung Maung Win delivering a welcome speech.
HSF
As part of a series of capacity building events for policy makers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) jointly organized a workshop in co-operation with the Myanmar Government on the implementation of the Agenda 2030. The two–day workshop takes place on 14th and 15th February in Nay Pyi Taw gathering representatives from the relevant ministries in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam working in implementing SDGs.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Union Minister U Maung Maung Win underlined “the importance of the regional cooperation that will reveal urgent issues in Southeast Asia and turn challenges into opportunities.”
“The conference provides a platform for representatives from Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar and Vietnam to share their experiences in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” said Mr. Achim Munz, Country Representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Myanmar, who also delivered an opening speech.
In her opening remarks, Dr Geneviève Barré, Director of the Political and Economic Department of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) elaborated on ASEF’s mandate to “move Asian and European countries closer toward a more integrated Asia-Europe voice on common policy issues” and to “provide learning space and opportunity to share expertise among and within regions.”
The workshop builds on active participation and experts' input. The participants benefit from the expertise of regional and international experts, therefore fostering their understanding of current sustainable development challenges in Asia and Europe. They are strongly encouraged to interact with one another in order to test their ideas and develop a common dialogue. The discussions will contribute to national preparations for the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs. It will also support multi-stakeholder, regional and international dialogues and knowledge exchange on mainstreaming the SDGs into national development planning.
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
Dr. Wah Wah Maung, Director General of the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) of the Ministry of Planning and Finance (MOPF) mentioned that “…measuring the progress of the success in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals relies on the identification of suitable indicators not only for the right target but also according to each countries data accessibility.”
The workshop is the third regional event in a series of international and national workshops and seminars that have been jointly carried out by ASEF, HSF and the governments of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam since 2014.
Expert commentators included: H.E. Dr. Paris Chuop, Deputy Secretary-General, National Council for Sustainable Development, Ministry of Environment, Cambodia; Dr. Wah Wah Maung, Director General, Central Statistical Organization, Ministry of Planning and Finance, Myanmar; Mr. U Hla Maung Thein, Director General, Environmental Conservation Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Myanmar; Mrs. Nguyen Le Thuy, Deputy Director, Sustainable Development Office, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnam; Mrs. Bouphavanh Keomixay, Deputy Head of the Macroeconomic Division, Department of Planning, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Lao; Mr. Yasuhisa Ojima, Resident Representative in Myanmar, International Monetary Fund; H. E. Mr. Roland Kobia, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Myanmar; and others.