Regional Capacity Workshop: Formulating

National Policies and Strategies in Preparation

for Graduation from the LDC Category:

Cing Lun HuaiDeputy Director

Central Statistical Organization, Myanmar.

• Since 1987, Myanmar has been designated as a LDC• Twenty‐six years after it was listed as a LDC Myanmar, it 

started to undertake the initiative to graduate from the UN’s LDC status

• As first step, “Myanmar’s LDC Graduation Process” was organized on 2nd May 2013

• To ensure alignment between the IPOA and National Comprehensive Development Plan

Criteria for inclusion and graduation 

GNI per capita, 2011‐2013 average 

Human Asset Index (HAI) Economic ValunerabilityIndex (EVI)

Myanmar – 1063 US $ 72.7 33.7

Inclusion threshold: >1035$Graduation threshold: >1242 $

Inclusion threshold: >60Graduation threshold: >66

Inclusion threshold:  <36Graduation threshold: <66

Inclusion: Thresholds used to attribute the LDC status to a country. Graduation: Thresholds used to take a country out of the LDC List.

Myanmar results at the past reviews2006 2009 2012 2015

GNI per capita (US $)

Graduation thresholdMyanmarGap (absolute)Gap (%)

900167.0‐733‐81%

1086306.3‐780‐72%

1190704.0‐486‐41%

12421063.0‐179‐14

Human Asset Index (HAI)

Graduation thresholdMyanmarGap (absolute)Gap (%)

6468.44.47%

6666.00.00%

6668.82.84%

6672.76.710%

Economic Vulnerability Index (EVI)

Graduation thresholdMyanmarGap (absolute)Gap (%)

3842.2‐4.2‐11%

3837.40.62%

3245.0‐13.0‐41%

3233.7‐1.7‐5%

LDC Status & Benifits1-Preferential Market Access-Passed legislation waiving or lessening import restrictions

and/or tariff

2-Concessions in the WTO-LDCs receive some special concessions as part of the WTO

agreements

3-Official Development Assistance(ODA)-According to international commitments, to provide

assistance which is earmarked for LDCs

4-UN Technical Cooperation Programmes-UN has various programmes like as Istanbul Plan of Action

which specifically target countries under LDCs

LDC Data AssessmentTwo main issue- 1-LDC indicators source data need to

be improved2-transmission of data need to be

regularised

Quality and completeness of data-GNI-Trade in services statistics-Trade in goods statistics-Household surveys

Transmission of data UN agencies-UN questionnaires-Revision policy-Household surveys

Organisation of LDC data compilation

Methods used to compile data by these international agencies

LDC Indicators Source data in Myanmar

Gross secondary enrolment rate  Education Management Information System (EMIS)

Adult literacy rate  Population census, IHLCA, MICS, EFA

Population size Population census

Remoteness International trade in goods statistics International trade in services statisitcs

Export concentration International trade in goods statistics

Share of agriculture, forestry, fisheries in GDP

Crop production ,Livestock and fisheries production, Forestry production 

Methods used to compile data by these international agenciesLDC Indicators Source data in Myanmar

Share of population in low elevated costal areas

Population census

Instability of exports International trade in goods statistics International trade in services statisitcs

Victims of natural disasters ‐

Instability of agricultural Crop production Livestock and fisheries production 

Evolution of Economic Vulnerability Index

2006 2009 2012 2015

Economic Vulnerability Index (EVI)

Population RemotenessShare of population in low elevated coastal zones Exports concentration Share of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in GDP Victims of natural disastersAgriculture instability Exports instability 

10.562.2‐

30.497.2‐

18.858.2

10.935.4‐

42.583.1‐

11.056.5

11.246.036.827.463.258.510.556.5

9.740.731.434.752.656.711.338.1

Contributions to Economic Vulnerability Index

Source  Weight Weighted score 

Economic Vulnerability Index (EVI)

PopulationRemoteness Share of population in low elevated Coastal zonesExports concentrationShare of agriculture, forestry and fisheries in GDPVictims of natural disastersAgriculture instabilityExports instability 

9.740.731.434.752.656.711.338.1

1/81/81/81/161/161/81/81/4

1.25.13.92.23.37.11.49.5

Total EVI 33.7

Duty‐free and quota‐free schemes for LDCs ,selected 

• Issues: Low utilization of schemes

»Most generous providers are not Myanmar’s major trading partners (Australia, NZ).

» Stringent Rules of Orgin» High administrative 

Duty‐free and quota‐free schemes for LDCs, selected  

Providers  Duty free coverage of tariff lines (major exclusions)

Australia 100%

EU 99.0% (arms and ammunition)

China 95% in 2013 ; 97% coverage by April 2016

Japan 97.9% (rice, sugar, fishery products, leather)

Rep. of Korea 90.4% (meat, fish, vegetables, other food products)

India 94.1% (dairy products, sugar, leather, textiles and apparels, footwear).

USA 82.6% (dairy products, sugar, leather, textiles and apparels, footwear).

Source : Heal and Palmioli (2015), UNDESA LDC information portalhttp://esango.un.org/ldcportal/ 

Trade preference implications of LDC gradution• Preferential treatment given to LDCs may end with graduation but transitional periods have been given (e.g. EU) and GSP is still given to a number developing countries as well.

• Despite preferential treatments given to LDCs, non‐tariff barriers (NTBs) remain as major obstacles for exporting.

• ‘Behind the border’ issues such as unnecessary regulations, lack of transparency, security and safety concerns, etc.

• LDCs can receive technical assistance to overcome supply‐side constraints and NTBs(e.g. EIF) and enhance capacities to trade.

Trade preference implications of LDC gradution

• Myanmar can improve the country’s trade competitiveness by:– Improving human resources and facilities relating to trade facilitation; removal of NTBs and behind the border issues; and enhanced value chains.

– Requires a long‐term vision such as an industrial policy and constant investment in human development and in various facilities and systems including ICTs, transportation and legal transparency.

• Can take advantage of opportunities already given in the area of technical assistance such as the EIF, and other differential treatment offered by the WTO.

• Government laid down 12 points of Economic Policy

• Expanding financial resources through transparent and effective public financial management

• Achieving financial stability through a financial system that can support the sustainable long-term development of households, farmers and businesses

• Establishing a fair and efficient tax system in order to increase government revenues

• Protecting individual rights and poverty rights through enacting laws and regulations

• Now, Myanmar is practicing as the below Macroeconomic Policies,

• Exchange Rate Stability• Controlling the Inflation• Controlling Budget Deficit decrease expenditure &

increase revenue• Controlling Trade Deficit increase export more

than import• To coverage over all policies the GOM practices in

implementing PFM and PER.To identify policy measures and strategy to prepare for smooth transition away from LDC statusWe need to improve SME, to promote productivity, to develop Private Sector, To inclusion all Economic Sector.

Implementation in Myanmar

Master Plan-5 Years plan-20 years plan(NCDP)-Special support measures-Technical assistance from IPoA-To implement LDC graduation and to take LDC’sopportunities (Aid for trade, Trade facilitation,Most favorable EBA and General and SpecialPreference System (GSP)

Sustainable Development Goals, 2015—2030: The 5Ps Areas 

• TechnicalWorkshopforComputingand UsingSDGIndicatorswithrespectiveministries(1-2-2017 to8-2-2017)

• Jointlyheld byCSO andUNDPTotal Four Sessions of the

SDGs Working Group Level Meeting with 41 departments was held

High Level Meeting on UNESCO for SDG 4

…THANK YOU…

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