[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

Information Sheet No.B-1041 (I)



MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON

Information  Sheet
No.B-1041 (I)                          26th August 1999


(1) Meeting of Privatization Commission Held

    Meeting No. 3/99 of the Privatization Commission took place at the
Ministry of Defence on 25 August. In his address, the Secretary-1 of
the State Peace and Development council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt emphasized
the fact that in the light of the economic policies of the State and in
accord with market-oriented economic system, the Privatization
Commission is fostering privately-owned production business by
gradually reducing the number of State-owned production businesses.
State-owned factories and plants and businesses are being transferred
to national entrepreneurs who can extend and upgrade them. The
Government is systematically fostering the businesses of national
private entrepreneurs. The guidance has already been laid down to
transfer the factories and plants, with the aim of achieving long-term
benefits for the State and promoting production work, to the private
entrepreneurs who can run business efficiently, on condition that
production work of the factories and plants develops and the quality of
products improves by transferring State-owned factories and plants and
businesses.

(2) Secretary-1 Receives Professor of Research Institute for Peace and
Security

    Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt received Professor Seki Tomoda of Research Institute for Peace
and Security (RIPS) and party who called at Dagon Yeiktha of the
Ministry of Defence on 25 August. They discussed matters related to
mutual cooperation.

(3) Deputy Prime Minister Chairman of MIC Receives Chairman of Japan-
Myanmar CCI Business Co-operation Committee
        
        Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission received Chairman of
Japan-Myanmar CCI (Chamber of Commerce and Industries) Business
Cooperation Committee
Mr. Tomoo Takahara and party who called at his office on 25 August.
They discussed matters related to development of infrastructure and
small and medium industries and promotion of trade.
 
(4) 10th ASEAN NTOs Meeting Opens
        
        The opening ceremony of the 10th ASEAN National Tourism
Organizations (NTO) meeting was held at the Traders Hotel, Yangon on 25
August. Present on the occasion were Minister for Hotels and Tourism,
Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Ambassadors of ASEAN member countries,
senior officials from Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei
Darussalam, Indonesia, Cambodia, the Philippines, Myanmar, Lao People's
Democratic Republic, officials of ASEAN Secretariat, departmental
officials, tour operators and guests.

    In his address the Minister for Hotels and Tourism said, "When the 9th
NTOs meeting was held in Singapore in January 1999, there were certain
issues which we had deliberated with general consensus. One of them is
to promote ASEAN region as a combined attractive tourist destination. I
would like to support this idea because we have many similarities, in
terms of culture, history, environment and ethnic diversity. In fact,
our region with combined efforts can promote tourism for further
development. However, focusing on the promotion and development of mass
tourism, we should pay attention to the protection of environment for
sustainable development, narcotics abuse control, combating AIDS and
the development of the border areas. Myanmar is very much concerned
about these important issues because we share common borders with many
countries."

    "Since the officials of the NTOs are responsible for the solving of
the problems in the tourism sector, I believe these issues will be
addressed at the NTOs meetings. When our leaders met at the 6th ASEAN
Summit, the "Hanoi Plan of Action" was adopted. This reminds us of the
concrete measures we will have to take in the tourism sector. One of
the measures is to encourage the establishment of ASEAN LANE. This will
facilitate intra ASEAN travel not only for the people within the region
but also for those outside the region. Myanmar is willing to share its
burden with the countries of ASEAN to implement these measures.
However, priority has to be given depending on the availability of
resources. Since services in the tourism industry are rendered by the
private sector, rules and regulations will be required for the
systematic and orderly development. National tourism officials will be
entrusted with more responsibilities to give guidelines and to
coordinate with the private sector. In this respect, I would like to
remind that, you as NTOs, will have a more important role in tourism
industry."  

    The meeting on ASEAN Task Force on Tourism Investment was also held at
Traders Hotel on 25 August. Present on the occasion were 23 delegates
from ASEAN nations. Participants took part in discussions on access to
data on hotels and tourism investment for investors in the region and
abroad and cooperation. In the afternoon, ASEAN Communications Team for
Tourism (ACTT) was held and 22 senior officials attended it.
Participants discussed effects on tourism due to haze in some Asian
countries and ATF 2000.

(5) Thai Foreign Minister and Party Tour Taunggyi,     Mandalay and
Conclude Visit

    Visiting Foreign Minister for Thailand Dr. Surin Pitsuwan and Mrs.
Alisa Pitsuwan and party, accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs
and wife, Myanmar Ambassador and Ambassador of Thailand and wife and
party left Yangon by special flight on 25 August  to Taunggyi and
visited Taunggyi Myoma Market and flew to Mandalay by air. At Mandalay
Airport, Deputy Commander of Central Command and wife, Mayor and wife
and officials welcomed them and hosted lunch at Nanmyo Guest House in
honour of the Thai Foreign Minister and party. In the evening, the Thai
minister and party left Mandalay by air.
     
        Minister for Foreign Affairs of Thailand Dr. Surin Pitsuwan and
visiting delegation left Yangon by air on 25 August evening.

(6) Pa-O Region Gets New School Building 

    A ceremony to open new school building of Kyatun Village Basic
Education Middle School was held at the school on 20 August. The school
building, 135 feet long and 27 feet wide, was built at a cost of K 2.5
million sponsored by Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National
Races and Development Affairs and Pa-O nationals of Kyatun Village in
Nyaungshwe Township, Shan State (South).

(7) 20 Armed Group Members Exchange Arms for Peace
        
         After realizing genuine goodwill and endeavours of the
Government, members of the remnant armed groups abandoned their
destructive acts which do not benefit the nation and exchanged arms for
peace. Pado Mehn Thein Hlaing, Pado Lin Kyi and Pado Kyaw Ei of No. 7
Brigade of KNU(Karen National Union) armed group and pvt. Phone Myint
(a) Phone Kywe, pvt. Pher Lay and pvt. Nyo Nyo of No.2  Battalion of
No. 1 Brigade of KNU armed group in South-East Command area, pvt. Saw
Bo Wah of KNU armed group in Coastal Region Command region, pvt. Jack
Moo of No.12 Battalion of No.4 Brigade of KNU armed group in Southern
Command area, section leader Aik Kywal, pvt. Ya Kyan and pvt. Kya Po of
the remnant MTA(Mong Tai Army) armed group in Triangle Region Command
area, deputy section leader Nandaw, pvt. Aik San, Zaw Ti Ka and Ya Kyin
of SURA (Shan United Revolutionary Army) armed group in Eastern Command
area, pvt. Soe Thein of No. 701 ABSDF(All Burma Student's Democratic
Front) Battalion of Northern Command area, pvt. Ma Maw Maw Lwin of No.
702 ABSDF Battalion in North-East Command area, former member of ABSDF
U Khin Maung Han in North-West Command area and sgt. Khaing Thein Aung
and pvt. Min Gyi of AA(Arakan Army) armed group in Western Command
area, totaling 20 exchanged arms for peace at the military camps in
July 1999. Officials of the respective military camps cordially
welcomed the persons who exchanged arms for peace and attended to their
needs. 


(8) 437 Drug-related Cases Exposed in July

    The Tatmadaw (Defence Services), the Myanmar Police Force and the
Customs Department exposed 437 drug-related cases in July. The
authorities seized 76.079 kilos of opium in 37 cases, 14.6245 kilos of
heroin in 137 cases, 4.8034 kilos of opium oil in five cases, 5.243
kilos of marijuana in 62 cases, 17.21 liters of Phensedyl in five
cases, 3.4726 kilos of low-grade opium in 16 cases, 2,073,599 stimulant
tablets in 49 cases, 2,277.8994 kilos of ephedrine in 17 cases, 0.7753
kilo of stimulant medicine power in one case, 210 rounds of
methaqualone in one case, 16.35 liters of cough syrup in five cases,
1,227.45 kilos of other chemical powder, 145.472 liters of alcohol in
one case, 21.0086 liters of other chemical liquid, 91 cases for failure
to register and 10 other cases. Action was taken against 577 persons--
483 men and 94 women-- involved in 437 cases. In 1998-99 opium
cultivation season, a total of 9, 824.667 acres or 3,978.99 hectares
illicit poppy plantation-- 745.38 acres in Shan State (North), 1,983.5
acres in Shan State (South), 160.8 acres in Shan State (East), 143.987
acres in Kachin State and 15.5 acres in Mandalay Division--have been
destroyed in July 1999. 

************