Workshop held on role of entrepreneurs in peace process

Network Media Group.

A workshop on the role of Thai-Myanmar entrepreneurs in the peace process was held in Chiang Mai, northern city of Thailand.

It was hosted by the Institute of Religion Culture and Peace Department of the Payap University in Chiang Mai on May 19.

“The aim of this workshop is to hold a discussion between Thailand and Myanmar on how to strengthen the socioeconomic of the grassroots and refugees without forgetting them in peace-building,” said Daw Mon Mon Myat from the Institute of Religion Culture and Peace Department (IRCP).

Experts on socioeconomic entrepreneurship and peace-building and organizations that have thoroughly studied the ongoing peace process in Myanmar and refugee issue at the border area participated in the workshop.

“I will discuss about social entrepreneur. Then, I will talk about achieving the aims for sustainable development. The third section will focus on the ongoing peace and economic in Myanmar. When I talk about the peace process, I’m not going to talk about the signing of [the ceasefire agreement]. I will mostly talk about business for peace,” said Professor Dr Aung Tun Thet.

Amyotha Hluttaw MP Naw Susana Hla Hla Soe from Yangon Region Constituency (10) also participated in the workshop. “I will give an overview on peace-building and social entrepreneur,” she said.

The workshop coordinators said the workshop was only a discussion on how to carry out peace-building between Thailand and Myanmar and plans are underway to hold it on an international level in the coming years.

“From this workshop, we can observe how other countries are doing. For example, discussions can be held on how entrepreneurs from Nepal, the Philippines, and Indonesia take part in peace-building. I believe we can take lessons from them,” Daw Mon Mon Myat continued.

This was the first workshop hosted by the Institute of Religion Culture and Peace Department and the workshop coordinators said such kind of discussions can provide some form of assistance to the peace-building processes in Myanmar.