Final Report Chapter 2 Background of the Project cooperation policy in April 2012, however, on the grounds that the Myanmar government has taken measures, since 2011, such as release of political prisoners, direct talks between President Thein Sein and Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, and suspension of hostilities with minority armed groups, and realization of political participation by a broad range of interested persons including Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi as a result of congressional by-election on April 1, 2012. Under the new economic cooperation policy, Japan intends to implement assistance with a focus on the following fields, in order to support efforts in rapidly progressing reform in the broad range of fields in Myanmar toward democratization, national reconciliation and sustained development, so that a wide range of people in Myanmar can realize democratization, national reconciliation, and dividend of economic reform, while continuing to keep an eye on progress of reform efforts. Assistance for developing the infrastructure, institution, etc. necessary for the sustained economic growth; Assistance for improving living standard of the people (including support for minority and the poor, agriculture development, and community development); and Assistance for human resources development and institution development supporting socio-economy (including support for promotion of democratization). (1) (2) (3) This project is to implement improvement of the communication network, which is a basic infrastructure, according to the “(1) Assistance for developing the infrastructure, institution, etc. necessary for the sustained economic growth” among the above policies. 2.2.2 Related Assistance Plan of Japan Past assistance to the communication sector similar to the project includes several projects more than 25 years ago, but recently only one project which is “Software and network engineer training project (Technical assistance project)”, while the assistance from India, Korea and China become noticeable recently. Table 2.2-1 Past record of technical cooperation, loan assistance and grant aid by Japan Cooperation type Dispatch of Expert (ODA Loan Expert) Technical assistance project (ICT sector) Implementation year Subject Amount Dispatched on Nov. 2013 Advisor for improvement of ICT infrastructures Dec. 2006Nov. 2011 Software and network engineer training project 2-5 - 730 mil yen Description Requested from MCIT for support by Japanese expert for promotion on ICT infrastructure improvement plan and its implementation. Supported starting up training courses with a purpose for Information and Communication Technology Training Center subordinate to Ministry of Science and Technology to be able to implement ICT technology training mainly targeting graduates from ICT related universities.