Final Report CHAPTER 3 3.1 3.1.1 Chapter 3 Development Status and Problem in ICT Sector DEVELOPMENT STATUS AND PROBLEM IN ICT SECTOR Policy, Administration, Relevant Law for ICT Sector National Development Policy Myanmar broke away from Britain as a republican federal nation "Union of Burma" in 1948, changed its name to "Union of Myanmar" in 1989 and continues up to the present date. Political turmoil and confusion due to socialistic economic policies after independent delayed the economic development. In addition, import restriction and capital shortfall due to economic sanctions against the military government from international society did not allow an enough infrastructure to be built, and the implementation of its development policy was delayed among Asian countries. In 2008, the current constitution was approved by national referendum, and in 2010 general election was held first time in 20 years. The government selected by national legislature started in 2011, and Mr. Thein Sein assumed a post of President. In his presidential speech in June, he declared as a target an annual rate of 7.7 % economic growth in terms of GDP for 5 years from 2011/2012 to 2015/2016, and making per capita GDP by 2015 as large as three times. (1) However, it is expected to stay a 1.7-fold increase considering actual economic indicators in the past 5 years. In order to achieve the target, it is expected that the ratio of the agriculture sector to the whole industry should be lowered, and the ratios of the industrial sector and service sector should be upped. The serious problem in facilitating the economic growth is that the infrastructure is not developed. The government is opening a market to private businesses including the PPP (Public Private Partnership) and the like, and encouraging new entry in need of dramatic increase in investment into electric power, communication, deep water ports, railways, logistics, and financial services. ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ (1) IMF statistics in April 2012: IMF Country Report Myanmar 2011 3.2 Development Plan in ICT Sector Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and Myanmar Computer Science Society Development Committee (established in 1996) made a policy plan of the information and communication field. They drew up ICT Master Plan Framework (2000-2005) in the past, but the plan only described purposes to promote informatization and strategies, and lacked concrete action plans, and so drew up Myanmar ICT Development Master Plan and Action Plan in 2006-2010 in assistance of South Korea (KOICA). Then, they announced Myanmar ICT Master Plan (MCIT, KOICA) as its revised edition in July 2011. The Master Plan proposed action plans in 4 areas -- (1) ICT infrastructure, (2) ICT industry, (3) ICT human resources development, and (4) ICT education (e-education) -- by comparing them with examples in South Korea through SWOT analysis and Bench Marking Study. However, the Master plan was not officially approved by the Myanmar government and MPT has suggested referring it for only concept and vision. Main goals described in Myanmar ICT Master Plan 2011 are as follows: - To raise the telephone density to 50% by 2015 (the current value is changed to 80% in 2016); - To strengthen ICT society; - To build an ICT infrastructure actively; - To draw up policies to shift the communication carrier to private entities; and 3-1