Background History of the Ministry

Since Myanmar regained her independence, there emerged  armed  groups due to misunderstanding among the national races and difference in ideology. For this reason, the successive governments could not implement border areas development measures. Border areas development measures together with peace and stability measures could be implemented with added momentum by laying down systematic plans when some national armed groups came into the legal fold. Border areas development measures were able to be carried out with might and main in 1989 in accordance with the guidance of the Heads of the State fostering our three main national causes which are non-disintegration of  the Union, non-disintegration of the national solidarity and perpetuation of the sovereignty of the State and focusing on peace and tranquility in the region, national solidarity and regional development.

     To take responsibility and carry out the office works of the Work Committee for the Implementation of the Development of the Border Areas and National Races while implementing development measures for the border areas and national races, the office of the Work Committee for the Implementation of the Development of the Border Areas and National Races was established as a separate office under the State Law and Order Restoration Council with Order No (17/92) issued by the Office of the State Law and Order Restoration Council on 8th April, 1992 with total staff comprising 49 officers and 158 staff.

     As the border area development measures need to be undertaken in a wider scale and to continuously supervise, monitor and co-ordinate these measures, Ministry for the Development of Border Areas and National Races  was established with Notification No.(54/92) dated 14th September 1992 in the place of the Office of the Work Committee for the Implementation of the Development of the Border Areas and National Races. Then in accordance with the work need, the Ministry was reestablished as Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs with Notification No .(15/94) dated 30th January 1994.

     At present, Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development  Affairs  was abolished by Notification No.(4/2011) issued by the President Office of the President Office of the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar on 30th March 2011 and Ministry of Border Affairs was established.