The New Mon State Party (NMSP) leader Vice Chair, U Naing Aung Min called for entrepreneurs to apply themselves in enterprises that benefit the national interests. U Naing Aung Min made the point while attending the Mon Economics Forum held in Mawlamyine, Mon State on the 14th and 15th of March.

According to the NMSP Vice Chair, Mon people should invest in public equity. Although many within the Mon community have skills and experience in private and family-owned businesses, there is still weakness in the public sector.

In his opening speech at the Economic Forum he said, “in the colonial era, Mon businessman Naing Auk competed with British government enterprises. However, in the long run, his business struggled to survive. That is why Mon entrepreneurs are encouraged to do their businesses

collectively. Our Mon people are powerful individually. We are weak in the cooperative sector, which does not seem to work. Therefore, I want to encourage [entrepreneurs] to focus on cooperation and invest in the public equity sector. There must be a sense of perseverance and long-term benefits,” said Nai Aung Min.

The Forum was attended by 150 people. Participants included leaders from the New Mon State Party (NMSP) and the Mon Unity Party (MUP) as well as entrepreneurs from the Yangon, Mandalay, and Pago regions, and from Mon State and Karen State.

The purpose for the event was to discuss the economic situation and the Mon National economic plans for the region. Outcomes from the Forum will feed into the upcoming Mon National Conference to be held in late May 2020.