"Burma?s mineral industry had another lackluster year in 1969. Production from the historically famous Bawdwin lead-silver-zinc enterprise near Lashio and the Chinese border remained at its lowest level within a decade. Tin and tungsten output also remained at low levels. Development of the Monywa district?s copper deposits, with estimated reserves of 14 million tons of 0.5 to 1.0 percent copper ore, progressed very slowly. Although crude oil production increased, the planned self-sufficiency goal was not reached, and crude oil as well as some refinery products were imported to meet domestic demand. Onshore oil exploration activities were to be increased in 1969-70 and, for the first time, offshore activities were planned. The Burmese approached the West Germans for help in exploring areas off the Arakan coast. This was the first sign that Burma might be considering opening its oil industry to foreign participation, closed since the nationalization of the oil industry in 1963. Under the current 4-year national economic plan ending in 1969-70, special attention was given to mineral development, which was to be financed entirely from domestic sources. The fiscal 1969-702 budget for national development showed the following anticipated capital expenditures: People?s Oil Industry (POI), $11.8 million; People?s Bawdwin Industry (PBI), $2.1 million; and Mineral Development Corporation (MDC), $1.7 million. Although Burma no longer produces any mineral in quantities of world consequence, significant resources possibly exist. Little progress has been made toward their development, however, due to the shortage of managerial and technical talent in the country, lack of capital funds to purchase the required equipment, and Government policy against foreign private investment in the mineral industry. As a result, the Government in recent years has concentrated much of its efforts on less capital consuming ventures such as geological surveys and exploration work."