Information Sheet NO.A-0116(I)

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                       Information Sheet
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NO.A-0116(I)                                  Date.5-9-97


Northern Shan State Has Potentials for Development of Agriculture 
Sector

		A workshop on endeavours for development of the agriculture sector
contributing to national economic progress was held in Lashio, northern Shan
State on 4 September, with an address by Secretary-2 of the State Law and
Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo. He said the workshop is beneficial
to the Government and contributive to regional development. The northern Shan
State is rich in resources, and there are 900,000 acres of arable land and
400,000 acres of fallow land. Despite these potentials for regional
development, agriculture services could not be expanded due to various
insurgencies, and regional 
nationals faced all sorts of trouble. Regional people in some border areas
solved their livelihood problems by cultivating poppy plants. Today, peace
and tranquillity is prevailing in northern Shan State as insurgencies came to
an end. Efforts can now be directed toward development of the region and
progress of the 
agriculture sector. Effective implementation of the project for cultivation
of poppy substitute crops will also contribute to eradication of narcotic
drugs. While the Government is providing all-out support for cultivation of
marketable crops 
suitable to the region?s conditions, farmers need to work hard and local 
entrepreneurs should boldly invest in the region?s establishments. He spoke
of the private sector?s importance and development in market economy and
noted that 75 per cent of the nation?s overall production and services belong
to the private sector. The private sector, he pointed out, should invest not
only in the trade sector but also in the promising services of agriculture,
livestock and fishery and industrial sectors. He stated that it is still
essential to establish industries to produce value-added wood products and
that there are a lot of sectors in which the private sector should invest. He
then expressed belief that the workshop would be able to attract local
entrepreneurs to invest in the agriculture sector in northern Shan State.
		
		OFFICE CALL IN YANGON ON 4 SEPTEMBER

		Secretary-1 of the State Law and Order Restoration Council Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt received Chairman of Daewoo Corporation Mr Woo Choong Kim and party at
Dagon Yeiktha of the Ministry of Defence.

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