A 19-member Mon Entrepreneurs Association Organizing Committee was established with Mon entrepreneurs from Mon and Kayin states, Tanintharyi Region, and Mon people living in Thailand and overseas at the Ramanya Hotel in Mawlamyine, Mon State on May 15.
“We wish to do this for a long time now. We saw this issue while we were working in the private sector. There will be benefits if ethnic Mon people can establish an association in the business sector and set down and implement a national economic strategy,” said Nai Tun Lwin, a Mon entrepreneur from the Ethnic Entrepreneurs Association.
The Mon Entrepreneurs Association Organizing Committee will connect with entrepreneurs and establish the Mon Entrepreneurs Association within 18 months, he added.
The Mon Entrepreneurs Association will first establish two groups – the first group will be based in the Mon and Kayin states and Tanintharyi Region and the second group will be based in Yangon, Bago, and Mandalay regions. A central-level Mon Entrepreneurs Association will also be established, according to Myanmar Ethnic Entrepreneurs Association’s secretary Min Banyar Sann.
“Our association is based on our ethnicity. There aren’t many associations like us in Myanmar. It’s based on the region and businesses. This association is different from other associations,” said Min Banyar Sann.
The Mon Entrepreneurs Association will be established with the aims to join hands with other Mon forces from respective areas for the development of Mon economy, connect with other ethnic entrepreneurs besides Mon entrepreneurs, and play a role in assisting in Mon national issues, he continued.
The Myanmar Ethnic Entrepreneurs Association has been established under the guidance of the Union Ethnic Affairs Ministry and respective ethnic people have been trying to establish sub-associations.
