Welcome to participate in the discussion on Myanmar\u2019s development challenges!<\/p>\n
Time:<\/strong> Tuesday 30.9.2014 (seminar 9 am-1:30 pm, workshop 2:30 pm-5 pm) Myanmar (previously Burma) has opened up rapidly from a closed military dictatorship to a country of investment, trade, tourism and aid opportunities. Despite rapid changes, most of the estimated 51 million people still live in rural areas with rather simple living conditions. Years of civil wars have left many border areas uninhabited and hundreds of thousands have escaped the country as refugees. Peace is not yet assured in all regions of Myanmar. The country can thus be considered as a fragile state.<\/p>\n The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) is now preparing the Myanmar country strategy for the Finnish development cooperation. Many other donor countries and the EU have already poured aid support in Myanmar. How to work in a fragile state, which now faces increasing and conflicting interests coming from different directions? Why Finland should get involved, and how Finland\u2019s official development assistance (ODA) plans relate to those of other EU countries? Is the prevalent development model needed or desirable in Myanmar? Are there possibilities for a good living without building another consumerist society?<\/p>\n Abilis Foundation, Siemenpuu Foundation, Finnish Disabled People\u2019s International Development Association (FIDIDA), Finn Church Aid, Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission (FELM), Finnish Refugee Council (FRC) and Kepa are together organizing the day on Myanmar\u2019s development challenges.<\/p>\n The day of consists of a 4.5-hr seminar and a 2.5-hr workshop. The seminar (9 am-1:30 pm) is open for all interested people, including NGOs, civil servants, academics, media and general public. Short presentations on different issues give food for thought for the panel discussion on the Finnish ODA\u2019s role and civil society actors\u2019 work in Myanmar.<\/p>\n The afternoon workshop (2:30-5 pm) is mostly for NGOs\/CSOs for sharing knowledge and experiences on Myanmar and discussing possible joint strategies for the Finnish civil society actors working in Myanmar.<\/p>\n 8:30 Registration, tea and coffee<\/p>\n 9:00-9:15 Welcome words<\/strong><\/em> by Ms Terhi Ylikoski<\/strong>, Kepa<\/p>\n Opening remarks: Fragile states and Finnish development cooperation; why Finland is increasing its ODA to Myanmar?<\/em><\/strong> 9:15-9:30 What should Finnish and European actors take into account in acting in a \u201cfragile state\u201d<\/strong><\/em> 9:30-9:45 How does it feel to follow Myanmar\u2019s development from Finland? Are refugees planning to return to Myanmar<\/em>?<\/em><\/strong> 9:45-10:00 Operating environment of local CSOs, especially environmental NGOs, in today\u2019s Myanmar<\/strong><\/em> 10:00-10:15 Flow of Chinese investments into Myanmar, emphasis on energy sector<\/strong><\/em> 10:15-10:30 Role of Asian Development Bank and other financial institutions in Myanmar<\/em><\/strong> 10:30-10:45 Questions and Answers \/ Discussion on the morning\u2019s topics<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n 10:45-11:15 Break: coffee\/tea and sandwich\/salty snacks<\/p>\n 11:15-11:30 Challenges faced by the INGOs working in Myanmar, especially on refugee and internally displaced persons issues<\/em><\/strong>
\nVenue:<\/strong> Eurooppasali, Voimatalo, Malminkatu 16, Helsinki
\nRegistration:<\/strong> Separately by email for both parts of the day, please see details under the programme<\/p>\nSeminar programme:<\/h2>\n
\nMr Pekka Haavisto<\/strong>, Minister for International Development<\/p>\n
\nMr Witoon Permpongsacharoen<\/strong>, Director of Mekong Energy and Ecology Network (MEE Net, Thailand)<\/p>\n
\nMr Aung Nyein Chan<\/strong>, Coordinator of Burmese people living in Finland<\/p>\n
\nMr Kyi Phyo<\/strong>, Myanmar coordinator of MEE Net<\/p>\n
\nMs Yu Yin<\/strong>, Independent researcher (Yunnan, China)<\/p>\n
\nMr Pieter Jansen<\/strong>, BothENDS (Netherlands)<\/p>\n
\nMr Massimo Lanciotti<\/strong>, FRC<\/p>\n