The APTERR Secretariat, led by General Manager (GM) Dr. Choomjet Karnjanakesorn, participated in the handover ceremonies of the Republic of Korea’s 3,000-MT rice contribution under APTERR Tier 3 to strengthen food security for those affected by the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar. The ceremonies were conducted in Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay on 10-11 June 2025.
During the events, Dr. Choomjet extended his heartfelt condolence to those affected and reaffirmed APTERR’s unwavering commitment to solidarity and timely support. He emphasised that APTERR, consisting of 10 ASEAN Member States together with the People’s Republic of China (P.R. China), Japan and the Republic of Korea, remains dedicated to strengthening regional food security and assisting Myanmar in its recovery efforts.
Minister-Counsellor Ms. Kim Weolsoon of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Myanmar, representing the donor country, also conveyed her deepest condolences to the people of Myanmar. The Republic of Korea has provided a total of USD 4 million in assistance to Myanmar following the massive earthquake, including USD 2 million in-kind support for the emergency response and another USD 2 Million for broaden humanitarian relief efforts through the international organisations, of which this APTERR rice assistance is a part. She reaffirmed Korea’s commitment to support the people of Myanmar in mitigating their pains and aiding in their recovery efforts.
Chairman of the Nay Pyi Taw Council, Mr. Than Htun Oo, expressed his sincere gratitude to the Republic of Korea and APTERR for generous support. Similarly, Mandalay Regional Minister for Social Affairs, Mr. Aung Kyaw Moe, appreciated the rice assistance, which has played a key role in enhancing food security for affected communities.
The two-day ceremonies were attended by the representatives from various governmental agencies, local media and beneficiaries. On the first day in Nay Pyi Taw, Deputy Minster Dr. Tin Htut from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation of Myanmar attended the event. Meanwhile, Deputy Director General Mr. Thura Soe of the Department of Agriculture (DOA) and the APTERR Council member was present on the second day in Mandalay. The handover of Korea’s 3,000-MT rice contribution was conducted alongside with the handover of P. R. China’s 500-MT rice assistance.
Following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake devastating Myanmar on 28 March 2025, the Republic of Korea’s 3,000-MT rice contribution, which had already been pre-positioned in DOA’s warehouse in Yangon, was promptly released to ensure a timely emergency food relief. The rice assistance has helped address the urgent needs of over 400,000 people across Nay Pyi Taw (1,360 MT), Mandalay (1,325), Sagaing (140 MT) and Shan (175 MT) respectively.
