Dr Pwint San was speaking at an event marking the 12th anniversary of the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association held at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Online applications would eliminate the need for businesses to apply for the licences at government offices in Nay Pyi Taw or Yangon, he said.

"The online licensing system has been under development for three years but has not been fully implemented yet because of inadequate infrastructure ," Dr Pwint San told Mizzima on the sidelines of the event.
 
"The ministry is preparing for the system to operate fully early next year," he said.

MGMA central executive committee member Ko Aung Myo Hein told Mizzima at the event that the association has been testing the system for about a year and was ready for the launch of online applications.

Ko Aung Myo Hein, a director of the Best Maker garment company, said it took a minimum of one-and-a-half days and a maximum of three days for a licence to be issued under the current manual application process.

MGMA secretary general and chief executive officer of the Best Industrial company, Daw Khine Khine Nwe, said online applications would save a lot of time "if internet access works properly".