Overseas, domestic demand sees sales rise for wooden carvings: THE growing popularity of Myanmar wood carvings among foreign buyers has led to a sharp rise in export orders in recent months, market sources said last week.They said increasing demand among consumers at the high-end of the domestic market was also contributing to buoyant sales. The products on the market include statues depicting Myanmar historical figures, intricately carved panels featuring scenes from Buddhist mythology, and even household utensils... Thinking Aloud talks to Dr Helen James, an academic and specialist on Myanmar... Golden export outlook for natural gas: MYANMAR has the potential to become a major supplier of natural gas to the region within the next five years, the director general of the Energy Ministry?s Energy Planning Department, U Soe Myint, said earlier this month... Road map shows potential, says UN Secretary General: THE government?s road map for a transition to democracy has the potential to be a positive step towards achieving national reconciliation in Myanmar, the United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, said last week... Myanmar art wins praise at HK exhibition: The exhibition, organised by a New Zealand resident of Hong Kong, Ms Philippa Rooke, featured works by the 32 finalists in the Myanmar Times Myanmar Contemporary Art Awards 2004 held in Yangon last month and oils by well-known artist, U Soe Moe... Women in the workplace: Part II... World Food Program launches pilot aid project: ?This is the first intervention for HIV-AIDS and other chronically ill patients by the World Food Program in the country,” said Daw Swe Swe Win, an official at the WFP?s office in Yangon. .. Japanese government gives funds for school, health centre projects: THE Japanese government last week provided US$355,778 under its Grassroots Grant Assistance Scheme to fund new buildings at four schools and to improve facilities at a health care project... Planning begins for awareness campaign on diabetes, blindness link: PLANNING has begun for a media campaign in Yangon aimed at creating greater awareness among general practitioners and the public about the link between diabetes and blindness... Trial planned for teacher?s guides to promote child-centred learning: TRIALS will begin next month of a teacher?s guide that promotes a child-centred approach to learning, the deputy director of the Department of Educational Planning and Training, U Tin Tun, said last week... Private sector to import diesel: THE private sector will be allowed to import up to 20,000 tonnes of diesel, the first exports of which are expected at the beginning of April, a spokesman for the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry said last week... Golf estate construction hampered by financing difficulties, says developer: Situated in Zaykabar Company?s Mingalardon Garden City, the 275-acre project has been under construction since February 1998. It had been scheduled for completion within three years, said Dr Khin Shwe, chairman of Zaykabar. But ?crises and a number of other matters have caused delays”, he said... Myanmar gem industry has great potential, says expert: MYANMAR gems have the potential to further penetrate the world gem market, a leading international gemmologist and gemstone trader said in an interview with Myanmar Times last week.