"Burma was not a major world producer of any mineral commodity in 1982. At least 30 minerals, however, were exploited commercially during the year. Most of these were consumed domestically. The most important minerals or mineral-based commodities to the Burmese economy were crude oil, natural gas, tin, gem stones, tungsten, fertilizer, cement, lead, and silver. Approximately 71,000 persons were employed in the mining industry at the beginning of 1982. Only 2,000 were employed by the private or joint private-government sector; the remaining 69,000 were employed in state-owned mining operations. Mining personnel were 0.5% of the country?s active labor force. They accounted for 2.2% of the net output of goods and services, contributing to one of the most efficient sectors of the economy. The main objectives set by the Government for the mining sector during the third 4-year plan, fiscal year (FY) 1977 through FY 1980, were to exploit mineral resources to the optimum, extend mineral exploratory surveying, prepare to supply the primary raw materials required for establishing a mineral-based heavy industry, boost crude oil and industrial mineral production to save foreign exchange, and minimize losses and waste. The production of crude oil was given top priority. The public investment in the mining sector increased annually during the third 4-year plan from $45 million in the base year to $129 million in the final year. The aggregate investment for the third 4-year plan was $415 million, more than double the planned amount, and constituted 12.4% of the public investment during the period. The planned public investment in the mining sector for FY 1982 was $137 million or 11.5% of total investment. Only the processing-manufacturing sector surpassed that percentage in the Government?s plan. Between FY 1975 and FY 1981, Burma?s economy grew at an average annual rate of 7%, after over a decade of economic stagnation. Changes in Government policies since 1975 have been instrumental in that growth..."