Myanmar Asset Press Release

27 February 2019, Yangon, Myanmar – PTTEP Myanmar Asset announced to continue investment for development of Myanmar’s technical workforce with budget of US$80,000 for year 2019 for the Technical Capability Building and Development Program. The 2018 certificate awarding ceremony held at the Myanmar Engineering Society Building in Yangon today. The 2019 program will fund more than 600 candidates with financial support for training courses and accessment fees.

Launched in 2015, the program is collaborated with the Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population and the National Skills Training Centre and Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE). Addressing the lack of skilled technical manpower within Myanmar, the program aims to increase skilled local manpower to support Myanmar’s development and improve the employability of local labor through infrastructure development and technical training.

The 2018 Certificate Awarding Ceremony honoured 464 candidates who benefited from a total of 16 Welding, Air-Conditioner Installation and Repair, Electrical training courses, and NSSA Assessments. In year 2019 program, a total of 618 participants will be supported with 21 training courses including two new Advanced Electrical training course and assessments. Since 2015-2018, there were total 1,227 Myanmar locals benefited from a total of 41 Welding, Air-Conditioner Installation and Repair, Electrical training courses, and assessments. In total, PTTEP Myanmar Asset has contributed US$223,638 over the last four years (2015 – 2018). This funding was used to renovate and provided new equipment for the National Skills Training Centre’s welding and air-conditioner workshops, as well as provided trainee financial support on the training courses and NSSA assessment fees.

According to the Ministry of Labor’s record, it is proven that significant number of trainees have increased and appreciable employment rates over the past 4 years. During 2015 to 2018, the annual trainee numbers increased from 105 to 1,227 including those who took NSSA Assessment. Moreover, the employment rate also increased over 80% after training.

PTTEP Myanmar Asset’s General Manager, Mr. Piya Sukhumpanument said “As a long-term, trusted investor, this is the 30th year of our PTTEP operating in Myanmar and we are proud to be part of Myanmar’s sustainable economic, social, environmental and human capital development. Since 2008, PTTEP Myanmar Asset has implemented a variety of Corporate Social Responsibility Programs, focused on Basic Needs, Education, Culture and Environment in our operational areas. The Technical Capability Building and Development Program is one of our CSR programs designated on addressing the lack of skilled labours in Myanmar as per our belief in “Empowering Opportunities”.

“From starting of the project in 2015 to 2018, total of 929 students were trained with more than 130,000 hours training provided. Total 298 students were assessed under National Skills Standards Authority (NSSA) Assessments and has benefited from the program. In this year (2019), there will be total of 618 students to be trained and assessed,” annouced during the awarding ceremony.

U Lin, Vice Chairman of the Myanmar Engineering Society (MES) said “Skilled labor is critical for our country’s sustainable development, as we embark on more development and infrastructure projects. The collaborated capacity building program with PTTEP Myanmar Asset is designated on addressing this need. Currently, around 80% of trainees have gained employment upon completion of the program. PTTEP Myanmar Asset’s support helps in producing the technical skilled manpower for the country and also leads to the implementation of Free Flow Labour, a vision of 2018 AEC (ASEAN Economic Community). We look forward to help more workers improve their skills and gain better employment in the next year to come of the project.”

One of the benefited students, Mg Thant Zin Oo who attended the household electrical skills course batch (4) said “We, students received the valued vocational training with qualified modernized materials during the training. I am very thankful for having the Certificate Awarding Ceremony for us. I will also share the technology I’ve learned from this training with other people in my workspace.”