Set Aung (Burmese: ဒေါက်တာဆက်အောင်) who is also known as Winston Set Aung is former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry. He also had multiple roles as Chairperson of Thilawa Special Economic Zone's Management Committee of Myanmar, member of National Economic Coordination Committee (NECC) and Secretary of the Development Assistance Coordination Unit (DACU) that were chaired by the State Counsellor Aung San Su Kyi, until the Myanmar military launched the coup on 1 February 2021. Additionally, he was also Secretary of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Steering Committee chaired by the Vice President of Myanmar, Chairperson of the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone, Chairperson of the Myanmar National Airlines and member of the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC).

Winston Set Aung was held captive as a political prisoner in three prisons in Myanmar by the military as soon as the coup took place in February 2021 along with (i.e. in the same case with) the Nobel Peace Laureate and the State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, and her economic advisor, Sean Turnell, an Australian professor. The military regime arrested and imprisoned many ministers, deputy ministers, regional chief ministers, regional ministers who worked for the ousted civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, and many others who defined the military coup by participating in peaceful demonstrations, sharing and liking social media posts that denounced the military. Turnnel was released and deported in late 2022. Set Aung was released in June 2023 after serving his prison term to completion.

Before he held these positions, he served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar until July 2017, Deputy Minister for National Planning and Economic Development from June 2012 to July 2013 and Economics Advisor to President Thein Sein from April 2011 to June 2012. He previously served as Director of Myanmar Development Resource Institute from September 2011 to May 2012 and Secretary of National Economic and Social Advisory Council of Myanmar from January 2011 to April 2012.

Before his involvement in the public sector working for the government of Myanmar, he was involved in the private sector as a Founder and Director of Asia Development Research Co., Ltd., and Asia Language and Business Academy Co., Ltd. He also worked for several multinational organizations in the financial, oil and gas sectors including Lazard, Deutsche, Peregrine, and Shell.

Early life and education

Set Aung earned a BSc degree in Industrial Chemistry from University of Yangon in 1995, an MBA in General Business Administration and Management from Yangon Institute of Economics in 1997, MSc in Banking and Finance from Stirling Management School, University of Stirling, UK in 1998, and an MSc in Investment Management from City University Business School (the name of which was changed later to Bayes Business School), City University London in 2001. He also holds a PhD degree in Media and Governance from the Keio University, Japan.

He has been involved in international and regional research projects related to economics, social and policy development in various countries, and has completed over 40 international and regional economic and social research projects in more than 10 countries.

Publications

Set Aung has authored research papers in cooperation with international and regional academic and policy institutes, including the University of Tokyo, Japan, the Institute for Security and Development Policy in Stockholm, Sweden, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand, Mekong Institute in Khon Kaen, Thailand, Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI-Asia), and the Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia of France, Paris.^[1]

Personal life

Set Aung's father, Set Maung, was formerly a deputy minister during the Burma Socialist Programme Party era.^[2]