Myanmar’s new government will be much slimmer than the previous administration, with 21 ministries as opposed to 36, and 18 ministers, down from 96, according to a proposal submitted this morning by president-elect Htin Kyaw.
His plan, submitted to parliament, is to cut four ministries (Cooperatives, Rail Transport, Sports and Science) and create two. One of the new ministries will handle ethnic affairs and the other deal with natural resources and the environment.
Several ministries have been merged, including Labor, Immigration and Population, now covered by one body, and Culture and Religious Affairs.
“We mainly want to reduce expenses of the government,” National League for Democracy spokesperson Zaw Myint Maung told the Myanmar Times yesterday.
“To do that the number of ministries must be reduced. By cutting expenses we will help reduce the budget deficit.”
The ministers are expected to be identified later today, BBC correspondent Jonah Fisher wrote on Twitter.
The big question is what position Aung San Suu Kyi, who was barred from the presidency on account of her foreign children, will take.
Htin Kyaw, her 69-year-old senior aide, was this week elected president.
