Military announces Ks 2.2 trillion budget

Military announces Ks 2.2 trillion budget

Published on Wednesday, 15 January 2014 23:32

Minister of Defence Lt-Gen Wai Lwin seen during the Parliament session on January 14 (Photo – EMG)

The Myanmar military will spend Ks 2.2 trillion (US$2.3 billion) for its budget in the next fiscal year, the Defence Minister told parliament yesterday.

Defence Minister Lt-Gen Wai Lwin explained how the money would go towards covering military welfare, purchasing of vehicles and machinery, training at military academies and sending officers abroad to attend training.

"When building a military camp, we build from dirt roads, macadam roads, paved roads and tar roads depending on the budget," said Lt-Gen Wai Lwin.

"Similarly, we have also planned tasks to maintain the roads and bridges that are useful for both military operations and rural development in military operation areas. Maintenance of military attaché buildings abroad is also included in our project," added the minster. 

According to government statistics, Myanmar's total income is Ks 16.5 trillion and its total expenditure is Ks 19.3 trillion, between 3 and 5 percent of which will go to health and education respectively. 

According the minister, the proposed military budget of Ks 2.2 trillion (US$ 2.3 billion) for the next fiscal year is Ks 6 billion less than last year.

However, the military will also receive an additional Ks 83 billion from the Ministry of Finance and Revenue, totalling the annual military spending to Ks 2.36 trillion (US$2.4 billion).

While the military received 13 percent of the state budget last fiscal year, it only plans to use 12 percent of the state budget this year, according to Lt-Gen Wai Lwin.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/military-announces-ks-2-2-trillion-budget/