IPRD’s 35th anniversary marked with awards for excellence, innovation

THE ceremony marking the 35^th anniversary of the Information and Public Relations Depart­ment (IPRD) under the Ministry of Information was held yester­day morning at the ministry’s assembly hall.

The event was attended by Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn, Deputy Min­ister U Ye Tint, the permanent secretary, departmental officials, regional, state, district and town­ship heads of the Information and Public Relations Department, award recipients, officers and staff. Assistant Directors from district offices joined the cere­mony online.

At the outset, a video clip en­titled United in the Same Dream, Hand in Hand Towards Contin­ued Success – IPRD, highlighting the department’s achievements in 2025, was screened.

In his address, the Union minister said that the Informa­tion and Public Relations De­partment, as a key department of the ministry, has stood firmly and progressed steadily over the past 35 years. He noted that this strength and stability have been achieved through the unity and collective efforts of successive leaders and staff members who have conscientiously carried out their respective duties.

He added that the depart­ment operates as a major na­tionwide network with 435 offices at regional, state, district, town­ship and town levels. While im­plementing the ministry’s three principal tasks through modern and innovative programmes, the department had success­fully overcome the challenges and difficulties encountered in 2025 and achieved notable ac­complishments. Among these, he highlighted with pride the department’s effective perfor­mance of its responsibilities in the multi-party democratic gen­eral election.

The Union minister further urged all staff members to con­tinue working in unity to over­come future challenges and to strive to earn the trust, reliance and recognition of the public for both the ministry and the depart­ment.

The permanent secretary and departmental officials then presented awards to outstanding recipients.

Subsequently, the deputy minister presented the First Prize for District-Level Perfor­mance to the Taunggyi District Office, the Second Prize to the Kyaukse District Office, and the Third Prize to the Yangon (West) District Office. Awards of Distin­guished Service were also con­ferred in recognition of active and dedicated participation in timely information dissemination re­lating to operations to eradicate online fraud in Myawady and to repatriate foreign nationals who had entered the country illegally. In addition, awards were present­ed to those who had rendered dedicated service in maintaining departmental functions and sup­porting staff welfare and accom­modation when departmental buildings and operations were affected by the major Mandalay earthquake.

The Union minister also presented awards for outstand­ing innovation in enhancing the ministry’s image at state-level ceremonies and in effectively highlighting departmental ac­tivities. Awards for excellence in public awareness campaigns to ensure the successful holding of the 2025 multi-party democratic general election were presented to the Magway Region Office, Yangon Region Office, Shan State Office, Ayeyawady Region Office and Mandalay Region Office. The Magway Region Office also re­ceived an award for outstanding organizational performance.

On behalf of the award re­cipients, Director U Tin Ko Win from Magway Region delivered a vote of thanks. — MNA/MKKS