Myanmar Development Institute

About

Myanmar Development Institute is a public economic think tank established by the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar in February 2017 through Cabinet Notification No. 9/2017.

The primary objective of MDI is to support the government of Myanmar in the formulation of economic policies through robust and reliable policy research, In addition, the cabinet notification proffers a mandate to MDI for training and capacity building in economic policy making.

At present, MDI has been conducting research projects over a wide range of issues, such as budget and tax analysis, financial sector reform, macroeconomic policies, project evaluation, trade, labor, infrastructure and investment planning. Research agenda of MDI is intimately linked to reform agenda of the government of Myanmar. MDI is also providing direct policy inputs to the government in State-Owned Enterprise Reform, Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan, National Development Assistance Policy, Contract and Loan Negotiations, Macroeconomic Forecasting Unit, Public Investment Program (PIP) and the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures in the Ministry of Planning and Finance.

Another role of the MDI is to articulate and communicate important policy reform initiatives of the government to the public and relevant stakeholders through knowledge products that include Myanmar Economic Bulletin, working papers, policy briefs and infographics.

The Myanmar Development Institute is operating under the aegis of a Central Committee, which provides strategic guidance to the operations of MDI. The Committee is comprised of Union Minister of Planning and Finance, Union Minister of Commerce, and permanent secretaries from the Ministries of Agriculture, Livestock, and Irrigation; Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation; Electricity and Energy; Industry; Commerce; Education. The Central Committee also has representatives from the Peace Commission, the Renaissance Institute, the Myanmar Statistical Association.

For strengthening public participation in policy-making and democratic public institutions in Myanmar, the MDI looks forward to playing a central role in contributing to a vibrant public sphere and encouraging inclusive dialogue among multiple stakeholders in realizing the vision of prosperous, peaceful and pluralistic democratic Myanmar.