Nay Pyi Taw 11 June 2018,– Myanmar’s Union Construction Minister Mr. U Han Zaw opened a national workshop and consultation on the National Urban Policy (NUP) Framework for the country. The workshop validated the priority areas in the framework, i.e. municipal governance and finance, urban and regional legislation, land governance, housing and environmental and climate change issues.

The workshop was hosted by the Ministry’s Department of Urban and Housing Development (DUHD) and attended by high representatives of Nay Pyi Taw Council and from the fourteen States and Regions as well as specialists of the ADB, OECD, SKL (Sweden) and UN-Habitat. The Regional and Metropolitan Planning Unit of UN-Habitat leads the programme, with support of the Republic of Korea.

At the start of the meeting, Mr. Zaw set out his expectations, stating that “as Myanmar transits towards democracy and a better future for all of its citizens the Government is sparing no effort to bring its standards and norms up to international standard. Myanmar aspires to an international model for forward planning of sustainable urban development.”

Mr. Bijay Karmacharya, Country Programme Manager of UN-Habitat in Myanmar, concurred by saying that a solid NUP Framework will pave the way for more systematic growth and sustainable urban development within the country, for a brighter, resilient and sustainable future of Myanmar.

The Deputy Director General of DUHD, Mrs. Daw Aye Aye Myint, spelled out the workshop objectives and provided an overview of the NUP Framework. Dr. Ulrich Graute, representing the Regional and Metropolitan Planning Unit in UN-Habitat’s Headquarters, discussed the ways NUP Frameworks should support sustainable urbanization. Mr. Bijay Karmacharya localized the messages, in relation to Myanmar’s development challenges and priorities. Active group discussions validating of priority areas of the NUP Framework.