NEWS : Keidanren supprots Myanmar T

[mg_myanmar@xxxxxxxxx]

Subject: NEWS : Keidanren supprots Myanmar Trade

SOURCE: Myanmar Information - http://www.myanmar.com/

Keidanren supprots Myanmar Trade

YANGON (Kyodo) - The Fedration of Economic Organizations (Keidanren)
and the government of Myanmar on Tuesday reaffirmed that the Japanese
economic organization will promote Japan's direct investment and trade
between the two countries, officials of Keidanren said.

Keidanren will provide support for humanitarian projects and help
develop human resources in the country, the official said.

The two-day mission, which ended Tuesday, was in Myanmar to study
investment and business oppunities.

It is the third official visit by a Keidanren delegration since 1997.

The delegration, led by Marubeni Corp. Chairman and Keidanren vice
chairman Iwao Toriumi includes representatives of major companies.

In this meeting with Gen. Than Shwe, prime minister and chairman of
the Myanmar's State Peace and Developement Council, Toriumi urged
Yangon to promote a market economy and better facilitate the
investment environment.

Referring to examples in other Asian nations, the Japanese side also
called on Myanmar to reform the country's state-run companies.

The visit of 49-member delegration comes less than a week after former
Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto concluded a high-profile four day
mission to assess how Japan could assist Myanmar's ailing economy
without flouting the position of many Western nations, which seek to
isolate Myanmar's military regime.

Hashimoto's trip followed a suprise visit during an Association of
Southeast Asian Nations summit last month by Prime Minister Keizo
Obuchi.

Japan ranks ninth among 24 countries with major investments in
Myanmar. According to official statistics, Japanese companies have
invested about $300 million of the $7 billion total in Myanmar from
1988 - when the formerly closed economy was opened - to March 1999.
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Mg Myanmar
A Myanmar citizen who loves Myanmar

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