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News and Views from Myanmar
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Vol.1          14 October 1999       No. 40
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CONTENTS                   

INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS  
1.  Development of  Border Areas and National Races               

FOREIGN RELATIONS
2.  17th Meeting of Health Ministers of  Countries of WHO SEA Region held       
            
ECONOMIC NEWS
3.  Promotion of trade between Myanmar and Bangladesh discussed     
4.  PRC company to build 12,000-ton capacity shipyard in Myanmar        
5.  Profit-sharing agreement on zinc metal production singed            

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INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT

Development of  Border Areas and National Races

    The Work Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races 
held its Meeting No. 2/99 of in the Ministry of Defence on 10 October. The 
Chairman of the Work Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development 
 Council  Lt.-Gen. Khin Nyunt spoke of the need for the respective 
departments to organize the national races for success of border areas 
development and propagation of national policy .

    During the ten years period since 1989, with the cessation of armed 
insurgency and rule of law and order, the Work Committee, in cooperation with 
regional work committees, sub-committee and ministries, has been working for 
harmonious development of all the border areas; and considerable success has 
been achieved. With the prevalence of peace and tranquility at the border 
areas, which lagged behind in development due to armed insurgency, 
development has been achieved considerably and it can be attributed to the 
work for development of border areas and national races. Roads and  bridges 
are being built in the border areas. With the improvement of transport, more 
and more regional development will be achieved. For regional food 
sufficiency, especially food sufficiency in border areas, regional 
authorities and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation will provide 
necessary assistance and technical assistance.

    With respect to the education sector, primary, middle and high schools 
have been opened at the border areas every year; 361 primary schools, 52 
middle schools and 20 high schools have been opened at the border areas; 
37,759 primary school students, 13,130 middle school students and 1,896 high 
school students are pursuing education in the border areas.

    In the border areas , it is necessary to effectively implement the 
objectives of the Ministry of Health - to enable every citizen to attain full 
life expectancy and enjoy longevity and to ensure that every citizen is free 
from disease: the objectives are to be implemented by disseminating health 
information and education to reach the rural areas, enhancing disease control 
activities and  providing effective treatment. Doctors and nurses working at 
border areas need to be trained for the treatment of drug addicts, and 
long-term plans are to be implemented to reduce the number of drug addicts: 
survey on birth rate, mortality rate and life expectancy need to be conducted.

    Arrangements have been made to cultivate buckwheat on 2,000 acres of 
lands at Kokang region and Tashwehtan this year with the assistance of Japan; 
respective regional work committees and agricultural subcommittees need to 
cooperate in cultivating buckwheat as poppy substitute crop. The Ministry for 
Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development affairs is 
distributing fertilizer and farm machinery received from Japan under  2 KRC 
Programme.

    A project is being implemented by the Central Committee for  Drug Abuse 
Control and UNDCP in the southern part of Wa region; the implementation of 
the project will take five  years  from 1998 to 2003; with the use of over US 
$ 15 million contributed by the UNDCP and over K.28 million by Myanmar, the 
project has been  initiated since August, 1998; a total of  $ 6.74 million 
including $ 5.7 million contributed $ 5.7 million contributed by the US and $ 
1.04 million by Japan was received for the project .

    Mitsui Marine and Fire Insurance Co Ltd of Japan has agreed to provide 
Yen 5 million per year for five years totalling Yen 25 million; altogether 
Yen 10 million has already been received, and with the use of that cash 
assistance, Research and Extension Centre for Horticultural Crops has been 
set up in Hpa-an .

    With the assistance of the UNDP, human efficiency promoting programme 
(extension) (HDI-E) is being implemented in Rakhine, Chin and Kachin States; 
a total $ 10.9 million will be used for the implementation of the programme.  
Out of ten HDI-E programmes, the programme for communication development for 
remote townships has been implemented in twelve townships in Chin, Rakhine 
and Kachin States; arrangements are being made to launch HDI-III programme in 
ten townships in Kachin, Rakhine  and Chin States; the programme will be 
implemented from September 1999 to December 2001 with the use of US $ 8.2 
million; plans are being made to implement that programme in another two 
townships of Kachin State.
    
    With respect to efforts for development of border areas and national 
races, a total of K.15,788.15 million has been used for the regional  
development works being carried out at various regions from 1989 to end of 
August 1999.


FOREIGN RELATIONS

17th Meeting of Health Ministers of  Countries of WHO SEA Region held

    The opening ceremony of the 17th meeting of Health ministers of countries 
of WHO South-East Asia Region was held at Traders Hotel on Sule Pagoda Road 
12 October 1999. Speaking on the occasion, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and 
Development Council Lt.-Gen. Khin Nyunt extended a cordial welcome to the 
Health Ministers, their advisors and other participants.
    Following are salient points of his speech:

-   As we approach the 21st century, we are faced with the double burden of 
communicable diseases. Approximately 1.4 billion people live in the WHO  
South East Asia Region. In other words, the  10 member States comprise nearly 
25 per cent of the world's population. Most of these countries face daunting 
health challenges and severe financial constraints. It is confident that 
these challenges can be overcome by demonstrating equity, solidarity and the 
sprit of partnership.

-   Regional solidarity and inter-country cooperation should aim at rolling 
back common communicable  disease. We are now on the verge of eliminating 
polio. Leprosy is being fast reduced to the extent that it would no longer be 
a public health problem. 

-   The Government of the Union of Myanmar has adopted systematic programme 
for the enhancement of health in the nation. In order to provide guidance for 
health  development  in the country, the National Health Committee was 
established in 1989. Subsequently, the National Health Policy was formulated 
and laid down, stressing the commitment to achieving the Health for all 
Goals, through the Primary Health Care approach while achieving considerable 
success in improving the coverage of primary health care and enhancing 
quality of life of the people. 

-   Malaria still remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in 
most countries in the Region. By adopting the global malaria control 
strategies and implementing the same through primary health care approach, we 
can achieve a reduction in malaria mortality and morbidity, and lessen its 
socio-economic impact. Myanmar is taking an active part in combating this 
disease both nationally and regionally. Myanmar has participated in many 
regional meetings on the subject and is cooperating actively with other 
neighbouring countries.

-   Tuberculosis is another infectious disease of concern to the region, 
which accounts for nearly 40%  of the global tuberculosis burden. Five 
countries in the South and South-East Asia Region: Bangladesh, India, 
Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand are among the 22 high burden countries. As 
far as Myanmar is concerned, effective steps are being taken to counter this 
disease.
-   Increasing use of tobacco is another important health issue affecting the 
region. Due to the timely alert sounded by the WHO and launching of the 
Tobacco Free Initiative as one of the Flagship projects, the anti-smoking 
activities have been carried out in Myanmar with the involvement of the NGOs 
and community participation. A national seminar on tobacco Free Initiative 
was held in September and plans are underway for launching tobacco free 
schools and hospitals throughout the country. Drafting of the Tobacco control 
Legislation is also in progress.

-   One of the challenges in the coming 21st century will be the spread of 
AIDS in the world. There is no rampaging AIDS epidemic in Myanmar. The number 
of patients tested as HIV positive remain relatively low numbering less than 
twenty-five thousand  in the last ten years. 


ECONOMIC NEWS

Promotion of trade between Myanmar and Bangladesh discussed

    A Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Commerce Maj.-Gen. Kyaw Than 
visited Bangladesh from 3 to 10 October for strengthening of friendly 
relationship and promotion of border trade between the two countries. During 
his visit, Minister Maj.-Gen. Kyaw Than called on Prime Minister Sheikh 
Hasina  of People's Republic of Bangladesh, and met with Minister of Commerce 
and Industries Mr. Tofail Ahmed, Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Abul Hasan 
Chowdhury and Deputy Minister of Shipping Transportation Mr. Mofazzal Hossain 
Chowdhury. 

    The minister also met with Bangladesh Federation of Chambers of Commerce 
and Industry, Bangladesh-Myanmar Economic Development Council,   Chittagong 
Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry and   industrialists and 
entrepreneurs of Dhaka and discussed promotion of trade between the two 
countries and removing difficulties in border trade.

    After holding the Bangladesh-Myanmar Ministerial Level Meeting, the two 
commerce ministers signed trade agreements on 4 October. At the meeting, they 
reviewed trade between the two countries, and discussed matters on export and 
import procedures, construction of roads and bridges, setting-up of joint 
ventures, and selecting new export items in border trade.

    The Myanmar delegation also visited advanced ceramics production, 
pharmaceutical production, Chittagong export processing zone and Chittagong 
Stock Exchange.


PRC company to build 12,000-ton capacity shipyard in Myanmar 

    Myanmar Shipyards of the Ministry of Transport and Shandong Agricultural 
Industry and Commerce Group Corporation of the People's Republic of China 
signed a contract at the Traders Hotel on 12 October 1999 to build a shipyard 
which will have the capacity to dock up to 12,000 -ton ships.

    Managing Director of Myanmar Shipyards U Percy Maung Maung and Chairman 
of Shandong Agricultural Industry and Commerce Group Corporation   Mr. Li 
Chan Yue signed the contract.

    The shipyard can repair 12,000-ton ships. It is 168 metres long and has a 
draught of nine metres. The project will cost  K.1.05 billion including US $ 
25.45 million, which will be granted by PRC. 


Profit-sharing agreement on zinc metal production singed

    The Ministry of Mines of the Union of Myanmar has successfully 
implemented many profit-sharing agreements in mining and gems sectors. In 
accord with the market economic system, a profit-sharing agreement on zinc 
metal production in Longh Keng in Shan State (south) was signed by No.1 
Mining Enterprise of the Ministry of Mines and Cornerstone Resources 
(Myanmar) Ltd. of Australia on 12 October. 

    Managing Director U Saw Lwin of No.1Mining Enterprise of the Ministry of 
Mines and Chairman Mr. Charles EE Devenish of the Cornerstone Resources 
(Myanmar) Ltd. explained works to be done, and signed the agreement. 


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