Myanmar ceramic production and trade during the Middle Ages: THESE are exciting times in the scientific study of Southeast Asian ceramic history. The scholarly world of Southeast Asian ceramic research is in a state of intellectual ferment because until recently, Myanmar was regarded as having no tradition of ceramic production... Bio-organic fertiliser plant to open in ?04: A DIVISION of the Supreme Group of Companies began work early this month on a factory west of Yangon which is expected to eventually produce up to 4500 tons of bio-organic fertiliser a month... Milestone for luxury boat: AN American couple received a pleasant surprise when they arrived in Yangon earlier this month and learned they would be the 20,000th and 20,001st passengers on the luxury river boat, Road to Mandalay... Regional FTA looming: A FREE trade agreement involving the five member countries of the BIMST-Economic Cooperation grouping is expected to be launched in 2006, a leading economist said last week. Dr Khin Ohn Thant, an advisor to the Office of the Prime Minister, said work was nearly completed on drafting a framework agreement for the FTA involving Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand... INSIDE THIS WEEK - STYLE 2003: I read fashion magazines like ‘Her World? and ‘Vogue?. But I choose clothes which I think... I do not have any modern clothing except corporate suits. I wear a suit and tie everyday. When traditional, I go with longyi and tighpone. I love them... You cannot make models. You need to be born with the bone structure, the X-factor... I like the style of some movie stars, such as Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt... Asia should work towards a common market, says ADB: TOKYO ? Asian countries should move towards creating their version of the European Union, with fast-growing China serving as an export market for poor countries along the Mekong River, according to a senior Asian Development Bank director... Thai energy giant signs deal for gas exploration contract: A THAI company has signed a contract with the government to explore for natural gas in the Gulf of Moattama, a senior government official said... Federation official urges more action on SMEs: CLOSER cooperation and coordination between the public and private sectors are essential to foster the growth of small and medium enterprises, a senior official with the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry said last week... Government dismisses ‘speculative? report: THE government has dismissed as ?speculative” a media report suggesting that North Korea is supplying or planning to supply Myanmar with missiles and equipment to build a nuclear reactor... Myanmar needs new business strategies: THE LOCAL battery industry plays an important role in Myanmar?s developing economy with cars, small businesses and remote villages, relying on the power that batteries supply... Thai Airways gains profit of 12b baht: Thai Airways International Public Company Ltd, a major player in Myanmar?s tourism industry, has announced that it made a profit of nearly 12,500 million baht for the fiscal year which ended September 30, an increase by 22.3 per cent on last fiscal year... Mandalay real estate market remains stagnant - developers: DESPITE price drops for new Mandalay condominiums over last three months, property sales remain stagnant, according to Mandalay property market sources. U Soe Kyaw Oo, manager of Aung Htike Min Construction Company on 78th Street admitted prices for property, were falling.