Most government ministers who attend conferences usually make a keynote speech, do a media conference, then leave. Not Myanmar’s Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mr U Ye Htut.

The minister stayed for the whole first day of Radio Asia 2015 in Yangon, listening to speakers and chatting to local and international visitors, to get an informed perspective on broadcasting from delegates.

Speaking to AsiaRadioToday, he said he always tries to attend conferences relevant to his portfolio because he wants to learn.

“In our country we closed the doors for many years, so when we make reforms and policy I want to learn, so I spend a lot of time listening and participating.”

One of many new developments in Myanmar’s evolving media environment is the introduction of new commercial and community stations. Already six new FM stations have begun in alliance with the public broadcaster, and more are expected to open this year when the Minister changes the laws to allow private companies to own broadcasting stations.

“There will be many new stations coming up once the law is passed,” the Minister told AsiaRadioToday.

Mr U Ye Htut told the conference:

“Previously Myanmar was isolated and media was censored. We had very little outside contact. Now, for the past few years we have had open government and Myanmar is changing, moving towards a democratic society… We clearly understand that we have to transform the media. After the new broadcasting laws are passed this year, we will have three types of broadcasters, public, private and commuity stations.”

Now that radio programming is opening up, listenership is slowly growing. The Minister also acknowledged the challenge that smart phones and the internet will bring to broadcasters, so he is keen to learn more to help broadcasters “cope with the social media age.”

Mr U Ye Htut welcomed delegates to Myanmar for the “landmark event,” and invited them to continue the conversation with him during the conference.