Myanmar eGovernment system gears up for an upgrade. The just-concluded meeting of the e-Government Steering Committee of Myanmar, held by the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Nay Pyi Taw, marks a new beginning and is a major stake in the ongoing digital reforms in the country. Led by its chair, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the committee crucially moved into action towards leading improvements in citizen-centric-based egovernment service delivery to leverage the full potential of digital opportunities.
E-Government for Economic Growth
In his speech, General Min Aung Hlaing said that e-government initiatives are crucial drivers for the digital economy, which will determine Myanmar’s economic growth. The series of strategic planning over the years proves the continuous commitment of the government to systematic development of the technology. A few among those are the Myanmar ICT Development Master Plan of 2005; its 2010 update and the Myanmar eGovernance Master Plan 2016-2020.
The Government updated the e-Governance Master Plan (2016-2020) to create the Myanmar eGovernance Master Plan 2030, considering the rapid evolution of digital technologies and the changes in policies over the last few years. Towards the new policy of the state, the aim of the new plan is to better service the government and to disseminate information through the Myanmar National Portal and the Myanmar National Trade Portal.
Progress of ICT Infrastructure and E-Government Services
Myanmar has taken big steps to develop its ICT infrastructure as the key reform process in the communication sector. The development is signified through increased availability of government services via mobile communications. Myanmar has improved its position in the EGDI and EPI UN rankings. Between 2016 and 2022, Myanmar moved up from 169th to 134th in the EGDI ranking and from 170th to 117th in the EPI ranking.
These improvements represent the update that is happening in the government’s digital ability and information security. Large initiatives that include Government Data Center, One Map Myanmar Geo Portal, Government Cloud, Government eMail, and e-IDs are part and deliverables of these large projects. These initiatives have increased the speed and security of government activities and significantly improved the delivery of public services.
Though enormous improvement has taken place, still the digital economy and egovernment process pose challenges for the administrative and economic sectors of Myanmar. General Min Aung Hlaing echoed that the reform process of the departments should be harmonized to reach the vision that was laid by the government. He also highlighted the technological expertise and ensured the connectivity of the e-government system without any rifts for the integrated functioning of the ministries, regions, and states.
Further, one of the important focus areas is the credibility and ability of digital payment systems, which include electronic banking services. Information concerning the security and verification of monetary information must be given precedence. Therefore, the government has to plan for strong backup systems and for emergency recovery in case of disastrous occurrences that may lead to the loss of critical data.
Myanmar eGovernment: Strategic Initiatives and Future Directions
Finally, Minister for Transport and Communications General Mya Tun Oo elaborated more on the development of egovernment in Myanmar with internet service expansion, linking EDMS among ministries, and more enhanced use of mobile phones. The implementation of the Myanmar eGovernment Master Plan 2030, the launching of the Myanmar Unicode system, and the enactment of the Cyber Security Law will be critical steps in this initiative.
These projects are geared towards full, complete, and effective public usage and a corresponding enhancement of the administrative, social, and economic situation in the country.
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