Information Sheet No.B-1028 (I)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON

Information Sheet
No.B-1028 (I)                     16th August, 1999

(1) A New Bridge for Kachin State

    A ceremony to inaugurate Maliyan Bridge (Kachin State) on
Myitkyina-Bhamo Road in Waingmaw Township, Kachin State, was held near
the bridge on 15 August 
    As the efforts for national reconsolidation have met with success and
peace and tranquillity prevails throughout the nation, systematic plans
for the development of border areas and improvement of living
conditions of the local people, which are the most basic prerequisite
for further strengthening national solidarity, have been laid down and
are being implemented. Specially, priority is being given to efforts
for establishment of transport, education and health infrastructure,
which plays a crucial role in striving for regional development and
improvement of economic and social conditions of the people. As efforts
have been made for the development of transport foundations, social
foundations for education and health and economic foundations for
agriculture, livestock breeding  and trade, regional development has
been achieved in so short a time and living conditions of the local
people have improved. With regard to the transport sector, over 233
miles of earth road, over 169 miles of gravel road and over 22 miles of
tarred road have been built, and eight big bridges, 242 small bridges
and six suspension bridges constructed.
    From the funds of works for the progress of border areas and  national
races, over K 15,330 million has been spent till the end of July, 1999;
from the funds of other ministries, over K 8,650 million has been spent
on works for the progress of border areas; out  of K 15,330 million
spent for the progress of border areas, over K 443 million has been
spent for Kachin Special Region No. 1 and 2 ; if that amount is added
with expenses of their ministries, the total amount will come to over K
1,390 million. Moreover, such roads linking Kachin State and other
states and divisions as Myitkyina-Shwebo Road,
Bhamo-Mansi-Moemeik-Mandalay Road, have been built;
Bhamo-Katha-Tagaung-Mandalay Road is being constructed. On these roads,
bridges, big and small, have been built; Bala Min Htin Bridge,
inaugurated recently, is on Bhamo-Moemauk-Waingmaw-Myitkyina-Sumprabum
Road and spans Ayeyawady River; that bridge,  2,688 feet long, was
built with steel truss and at a cost of US $ 5.9 million and K 1,077.3
million.
    On Bhamo-Myitkyina Road, four river-crossing bridges are being built;
Maliyan Bridge, 320 feet long, is a reinforced concrete bailey bridge,
and was built at a cost of US$ 0.15 million and K 70.3 million. On
108-mile long Bhamo-Myitkyina Road, three bridges including a 300-foot
long bailey-type Nanghsanyan Bridge; if all these bridges are
completed, there will be no need to cross the river by Z-craft, and
people can travel by car. As the transport sector is becoming smooth
and secure in Kachin State, there has been development in agriculture,
livestock breeding and trade and the border trade system is becoming
successful, commercial activities between Yunnan Province of China and
Myanmar are booming. 
    Furthermore, as tourists are permitted to visit the central part of
Myanmar through Bhamo, Lwejei-Bhamo-Myitkyina Road and Bhamo-Mandalay
Road are becoming important for the development of tourism industry.
The development of Kachin State is attributable to prevalence of peace
and tranquillity in Kachin State. With the stability and peace and
tran- quillity of the region, the Government can make more efforts for
the regional development and improvement of living conditions of the
people.
    The Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin
Nyunt and party, national race leader from Kachin State Special Region
No.1 U Za Khun Ting Ring and national race leader from Special Region
No .2 U Zaw Mai freed pigeons of peace to mark the inauguration of the
bridge.

(2) Agricultural Work in Kachin State Inspected

    Chairman of Work Committee for development of Border Areas and
National Races Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, 
accompanied by ministers, deputy ministers and responsible officials
toured to Kachin State on 14 August. The Secretary-1 and party together
with Commander of Northern Command arrived at the reclamation work site
of Golden Green Co Ltd in Dunbannaungmi Region in Phakant Township,
Kachin State. First, Commander reported on production of 18.3 million
baskets of paddy for food sufficiency of 1.17 million population in
Kachin State by cultivating 328,918 acres of monsoon paddy and 13,990
acres of summer paddy, totalling 342,908 cultivated acreage in 1998-99.
With the participation of national entrepreneurs in reclamation work in
1999-2000, it was targeted to cultivate 53,996 acres of monsoon paddy
totalling 382914. Monsoon paddy was put on 310,058 acres in Kachin
State up to 13 August 1999. Then, Managing Director of Golden Green Co
Ltd reported that out of 5,200 acres of virgin lands, 600 acres had
been reclaimed. Monsoon paddy was cultivated on 240 acres. It was
targeted to cultivate oil-mustard on 1000 acres. Secretary-1 and party
went to the worksite of Wa Wa Win Agriculture Group in Mongpoat Region
in Mohnyin Township. Managing Director of Wa Wa Win Agriculture Group
reported on reclaiming of 14,000 permitted acres with the machinery,
collection and cultivation of the paddy strain, sown acreage, storage
and million and arrangements for research work. Later, Chairman of
Township Peace and Development Council reported on target to cultivate
94,534 acres of monsoon paddy and 82,733 cultivated acres in Mohnyin
Township, reclaiming work in fallow and virgin lands for extension of
cultivated acres in the township and kinds of cold season crops.
  
(3) Myanmar Delegation Leaves for Thailand

    At the invitation of the Minister of Education of Thailand, a
three-member Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Culture left for
Thailand by air on 15 August. Members of the delegation are
Director-General of Department of Cultural Institute and
Director-General of the Department of Archaeology.

(4) 3.2 Million Acres of Monsoon Paddy Cultivated in Ayeyawady Division

    A total of 3,227,806 acres of monsoon paddy was cultivated in
Ayeyawady Division during the rainy season up to 15 August 1999 and the
rest continues to be cultivated in division.

(5) Spoken Japanese Special Course on 20 September

    The special spoken Japanese courses co-sponsored by Human Resources
Development Department (University of Foreign Languages, Yangon) and
Tokyo Profession Acadamy (TOPA) 21st Century Language School of Tokyo,
Japan, will be opened on 20 September 1999 at Yangon UFL.

(6) Myanmar Photo Competition to Be Held

    The Myanmar Photo Competition to mark Golden Jubilee Anniversary of
Myanmar Photographic Society (MPS) will be held soon. The competition
includes Black & White / Monochrome Pictorial, Colour Pictorial, Colour
Portrait and Colour Slides Pictorial. Contestants may send six photos
for each category. The photos must be between 8" x 10" and 12" x 18".
The entries must be sent to the secretary of the Leading Committee for
Golden Jubilee Celebration, MPS at No 27/29, first floor, 15th Street
(Lower Block), Kyauktada Township, not later than 31 December.
Contestants may contact the Myanmar Photographic Society (phone 273167)
for details.

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