Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi stresses development of transportation, electricity

Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has stressed the development of transportation and electricity sectors to improve the living standard of the people and increase attraction of foreign investment in the country, Myanmar News Agency reported Wednesday.

Speaking at a coordination meeting on national energy policy in Nay Pyi Taw Tuesday, Suu Kyi said, "Only if transport and electricity is better will foreign investors be interested in investing in the country."

According to the Energy Ministry, only 35 percent of the country has access to electricity.

Suu Kyi said improved transport and electricity would create jobs and improve lives, assuring of the government's assistance to have the acquisition of better transport and electricity and the parallel creation of jobs.

Myanmar is seeking to amend the national energy policy which targets to support the national economic development and to sustainably supply the internal energy demand.

Aimed at using energy resources in the long run, the country is also trying to lay down a framework for sharing the energy use rightly and fairly between regions and states.

According to official statistics, foreign investment in the power sector reached 20.594 billion U.S. dollars as of March this year since late 1988 when the country opened to such investment.

Meanwhile, foreign investment in the transport and communication sector hit 8.154 billion dollars up to the same period 29 years ago. Endit