The high level national workshop was attended by Vice President His Excellency U Nyan Tun, Senior Union Ministers, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of Regions and States, Mayors, more than 300 senior government officials, representatives from development partners and the private sector organizations.
The one day workshop focused on two sub-themes: Urban Development Policy and Basic Infrastructure Development and Housing Policy and Development Work.
The workshop provided a high level platform for discussions on issues around urban planning and housing development. The workshop discussed key challenges emerging due to rapid urbanization as a result of country’s political and socio-economic transformation.
UN-Habitat was honored with the sole slot for the opening ceremony of the national workshop in presence of the President. Mr. Bijay Karmacharya, Country Programme Manager of United Nations Human Settlement Programme Myanmar made a presentation highlighting the importance handling rapid urbanization in timely manner and to capitalize the economic potential of urbanization for economic growth and social development. He emphasized the need of a National Urban Policy supported by a three pronged approach of 1. Urban Design 2. Urban Legislation and 3. Financing at the city/ local level.
It was noted that a well-coordinated approach between the Union and the local level through a National Urban Policy, systematic capacity enhancement and interventions at city level supported by proper planning, finances and legislation will lead to positive multiple outcomes of urbanization.