Britain invites Myanmar to join Open Government Partnership

Britain has invited Myanmar to join the Open Government Partnership, a group of countries that promote transparency, participation and responsiveness in budgetary matters.

The invitation was delivered by Mr Francis Maude, UK Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, who spoke to reporters on February 21 at the British Embassy in Yangon.


During his two-day visit, Mr Maude met President U Thein Sein, Aung San Suu Kyi, senior officials, other politicians and civil society representatives in Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay.

His discussions in Nay Pyi Taw with Thein Sein concerned Myanmar’s participation in the Open Government Partnership. Maude said Britain would support Myanmar on its path to join the OGP in 2016, following further reforms.

Maude said: “We have offered Myanmar the support it needs in cultivating good governance and public financial management, promoting responsible investment, improving transparency, strengthening the work of parliament, and helping the process of political dialogue and ethnic reconciliation.”

In the run-up to membership, Myanmar would be expected to improve budget transparency, the accountability of senior government officials, and freedom of expression, including the enactment of a media law.

On the benefits of membership, Maude said: “Transparency is the enemy of corruption. You will get huge benefits through membership of OGP.”

Britain will host the annual summit of the Open Government Partnership later this year, and has invited Myanmar to observe.

“Myanmar has seen dramatic change in the past two years, but there is still a long reform process ahead,” Maude told journalists.

source: The Myanmar Times
http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/national-news/4177-britain-invites-myanmar-to-join-open-government-body.html