On 31 October, 180 people gathered to discuss the importance of reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens (RURB) in Yangon. RURB is a key way to support businesses by reducing unproductive regulation. The event was co-hosted by the Ministry of Planning and Finance of the Union of Myanmar and ERIA and was timed to coincide with the final workshop for ERIA's nine country study on this subject.

The morning session of the National Policy Dialogue opened with presentations about RURB and the Malaysian experience of it, a case study of successful regulatory management from Viet Nam, and insights from ERIA studies on RURB and regulation management systems. In the afternoon, findings from the Myanmar study, which focus on the fisheries sector, were presented by Dr Thida Kyu, Head of the Department of Economics, Yangon University of Economics, U Thet Naing, Deputy Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Irrigation, and U Naing Win, Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Finance.

After their presentations, a perspective from the private sector was given by Dr Toe Nandar Tin of Anawa Devi Co. Ltd and Vice Chair of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation. Ms Cho Thet Mu, a Deputy Director from the Ministry of Commerce commented on the permitting process, and Prof. Dr Kan Zaw, President of the Myanmar Academy of Social Sciences, giving an historical overview of the role of government. Participants were then divided into two working groups to identify solutions around issues of the fishery sector and the import-export permitting process. These findings will be addressed in the on-going study.

U Tun Tun Naing, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Planning and Finance honoured participants at the National Policy Dialogue with his Key Note Speech while Prof. Dr Khin Naing Oo, Rector of the Yangon University of Economics and Prof. Yasuhiro Yamada, Special Advisor to the President of ERIA, made Welcome Speeches. Mr Nicholas Cumpston, Counsellor, Australian Embassy, made a Guest Speech and U Khin Maung Maw, Director General, Department of Fisheries, delivered the Closing Remarks.