Information Sheet No. A. 0722(I)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

                         MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
                                                YANGON

                                       Information Sheet

                    No. A. 0722(I)                       Date 9-12-98

(1)		Thanlwin Bridge (Tarsan) Project  Underway for Completion

		Thanlwin Bridge (Tarsan) Project, linking Mong-pan and Mong-ton of Eastern
Shan State,  will be a steel truss suspension
 bailey bridge with concrete structure. It will be 900 feet long and 16 feet
five inches wide. The clearance is 16 feet. It  will be able to bear 60-ton
loads. The project began on 1 April 1997 and work is under way for completion
according to schedule.

(2)		Grant Contract Signed for Project "Environmentally Sustainable Agro-
Forestry Training Centre in Inle Lake Region"

		The Government of Japan has decided to provide a grant aid of under the
scheme of the Grass Roots Grant Assistance to "Karamosia International" for
the project "Environmentally Sustainable Agro-Forestry Training Centre in Inle
Lake Region". A grant contract to this effect was signed between Ambassador of
Japan to the Union of Myanmar and Mr. Kenichi Kato, President of Karamosia
International, at the residence of the Ambassador of Japan on 8 December.
After signing the grant contract, the Ambassador and Mr. Kenichi Kato replied
to queries raised by the correspondents. Karamosia International, a non-
governmental organization in Japan, established in 1981, with an international
network, aims to help rural development in developing countries. It
emphasizes the development of human resources, environmentally friendly
communities and cross-cultural understanding as well as promotion of friendly
relations between the people of respective countries and Japan. Karamosia's
project, "Environmentally Sustainable Agro-Forestry Training Centre in Inle
Lake Region/" to be implemented in cooperation with the Forest Department of
the Ministry of Forestry, features the establishment of a training centre,
which will provide an integrated environmental education program for the
community, as well as offering agro-forestry seminars and workshops. Karamosia
International later plans to offer scholarships for  on-the-job training in
Japan, mainly in the field of agriculture, forestry and industry. A
demonstration of sustainable and organic agricultural system at a pilot farm
is also planned. Inle Lake Region, one of the most beautiful places in
Myanmar, is threatened with loss of topsoil and other natural environment
degradation which adversely affects the human life both environmentally and
economically. The training centre is expected to provide local people with
relevant education, general knowledge, as well as technical know-how. It is
hoped that the trained local people will disseminate their knowledge to
others, thus contributing further towards the development of the region. It is
intended that the Grass Roots Grant Assistance of the Government of Japan will
contribute to the development in the area and strengthening the friendly ties
existing between the people of Myanmar and Japan.

(3)		MIC Secretary Receives Financial Counsellor for Southeast Asia

		Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission  received Financial Counsellor
for South-east Asia Mr. Michel Planque and party of French Embassy-Financial
Agency based in Singapore who called at the commission office on 8 December.

(4)		Two Vocalist to Attend Hanoi-ASEAN Golden Vocalist Festival

		Vocalists U Thein Myint Than and U Thant Zin  left Yangon to attend the
Hanoi-ASEAN Golden Vocalist Festival to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from 10-13
December.

(5)		Workshop  on  Commercialization  of Renewable Energy Technologies for
Sustainable Development Held

		Workshop on Commercialization of Renewable Energy Technologies for
Sustainable Development co-sponsored by Ministry of Science and Technology and
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) was held at
Yangon Institute of Technology on 7 December. Present were Deputy Minister for
Science and Technology, Deputy Minister for Forestry , Ambassador of India,
delegates of UNDP, the directors general of departments, rectors, professors
and lecturers. Rector of YIT delivered an opening speech. Economic in-Charge
of Energy Applied Branch of ESCAP Mr. S C Bhattacharya read the message of the
Secretary of ESCAP and took part in discussions on works for energy
production. Participants discussed production of solar energy, wind power and
biomass.

(6)		Symposium on Trends in Computing Concludes

		A Symposium on Trends in Computing jointly conducted by Higher Education
Department (Lower Myanmar) of the Ministry of Education and Canberra
University of Australia concluded in the Diamond Jubilee Hall of Yangon
University on 8 December. Rector of the Institute of Economics presided over
the symposium. Before the concluding ceremony, Associate Professor of Canberra
University Dr. Van Le submitted a paper on Trends in Artificial Intelligence,
Professor Dr. M Wagner, Associate Professor Dr. J Newmarch and Associate
Professor Dr. Van Le presented a paper on Trends of Internet Usage in
Organization, Professor Dr. Sein Htoon of Physics Department of Yangon
University and Lecturer Dr. Pho Kaung presented a paper on Trends in
Computing; Quantum Computation, Lecturer Dr. Pho Kaung and Demonstrator Daw
Shwe Zin Aung presented a paper on Trends in Computing; An Interface for Low
Cost Application and Assistant Lecturer Dr. Myo Thein Gyi of Mathematics
Department of Yangon University presented a paper on Trends in Computing;
Quantum Hydrodynamic Model for Semiconductor Equations. Then a general round
of discussions focusing on results obtained at the symposium were followed.
The symposium came to a close in the evening.

(7)		Swe Swe Win Bags 2 Bronze Medals in Women's Weight Lifting

		Swe Swe Win of Myanmar won Bronze Medals in 53-Kilo Division of women's
weight lifting contest in the 13th Asian Games. She was third with 110.0 kilos
clean and jerk. The PRC won first with 120.0 kilos (world record) and Taiwan
second with 112.5 kilos. She also stood third with 197.5 kilos, and the PRC
first with 212.5 kilos (world record) and Taiwan  second with 202.5 kilos in
total lift.

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