INFORMATION SHEET NO.A-0312(I)

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                          INFORMATION  SHEET

              NO.A-0312(I)	              8th  February   1998

(1)		Inland Water Transport Launches 100-ton Landing Craft ?Yebawe-5?
		A ceremony to launch 100-ton landing craft ?Yebawe-5? built for Inland
Water Transport by Myanma Shipyards was held on 7 February.  This is the tenth
craft built by Myanma Shipyards and will be used as Nyaungdon-Sekkot Ferry
which will ply in Ayeyawady Division.  The craft with a draught of 1 metre,
34.60 metre long, 7.32 metre width and 1.8 metre depth.  The body of the craft
was built by Myanma Shipyards, and an old engine and control equipment from
Inland Water Transport were repaired and installed at the craft.  Myanma
Shipyards could build three passenger ships, ten landing craft and nine barges
for Inland Water Transport beginning 1988-89 fiscal year and could repair
three passenger and cargo ships and five barges.  Myanma Shipyards is building
six 500-ton barges and one 500-ton cargo vessel for private entrepreneurs this
year. Myanma Shipyards is building  craft in compliance with internationally-
accepted conditions not only for Inland Water Transport but also for such
foreign countries as Singapore and Indonesia.  At present, Myanma Shipyards is
building two offshore supply vessels for Java Marine Lines Pte Ltd of
Singapore.  Myanma Shipyards has built 127 vessels, powered or otherwise, for
inland and overseas water transport from 1988-89 fiscal year to date.

(2)		Breitling Orbiter-(2) Balloonists Happy with Warm Reception on Landing in
Myanmar
		Three Balloonists who set out from Chateau d?Oex in Switzerland in the hope
of making a two-month globe-girdling trip aboard the Breitling Orbiter-2
landed in a field in Myanmar on 7 February cutting short their adventure.  ?We
are very happy with the warm welcome we received.  We met hundreds of smiling
Myanmar people when we landed.  They were all smiling,?  said one of them at
the news conference at the Ramada hotel close to Yangon International Airport
where they arrived by Myanma Air Force helicopter around noon. Their landing
was given the greenlight after a request through the Myanmar diplomatic
mission in Geneva and was prepared by Mr Philip Dunnington of the back-up
party and Project Manager Mrs Monika Anna Pieren who flew in a 
support plane to coordinate with officials of the Directorate of Civil
Aviation.

		The Balloon entered Myanmar Air space Friday night and they were guided to a
safe landing.  They Touched down at 9.16 am local time Saturday near the
Yangon-Pyay Highway five miles south of Minhla, Thayawady District, Bago
Division.  Hundreds of villagers were on hand, spontaneously smiling and
waving, welcoming the trio when they alighted, guide ropes handled by Military
men, police, executives and members of the Union Solidarity and Development
Association, the Red Cross and locals who had arrived in advance to help.
After a short chopper ride they arrived at Yangon International  Airport from
where they went to the nearly Ramada hotel and met the Press.  All three
expressed delight at the warmth and hospitality accorded them and thanked all
concerned for the help.  They will leave for home early Sunday, it is learnt.

(3)		Dagon Myothit (South) Economic Development Zone Opens
		The Economic Development Zone of Revenue Department of Yangon City
Development Committee opened in Dagon Myothit (South) Township on 7 February.
Dagon  Myothit (South) Economic Development Zone was established to remove and
resettle businesses, which were not in accordance with the characteristics of
a city, including ironware dealers? shops from Pazundaung Township and similar
businesses from five other townships.  After opening the Dagon Myothit (South)
Economic Development Zone, entrepreneurs in Dagon Myothit (South) Industrial
Zone can easily trade ironwares and others at one place.

(4)		University of Distance Education Holds 12th Convocation
		The 12th Convocation of the University of Distance Education was held at
Convocation Hall of Yangon University on 7 February.  Rector U Mehm Than
Thaung conferred arts degree on 1,126 graduates, law degree on 81 graduates
and science degree on 464 graduates in the morning and evening sections.  Arts
and science degree will be conferred on 1,479 graduates tomorrow.  

(5)		Opium Seized in Aungban
		A combined team of members of Defence Services Intelligence, Taunggyi
special anti-drug squad and members of Aungban Police Station waiting at
Pinlaung junction searched vehicles on Aungban-Kalaw Road on 31 January.  They
seized 15 packets of opium weighing 26.589 kilos on light truck  of Shanmyelat
transport service from Taunggyi to Meiktila.  Legal action is being taken
against driver U Khin Maung, U Nyunt Hsaung of Taunggyi and head of Aungban-
Meiktila transport Line U Hla Maung of Aungban.

                         OFFICE CALLS IN YANGON ON 7 FEBRUARY

		Minister for Energy received Mr M Seguin, President of Far East Region of
Total Exploration and Production  of France, at his office.

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