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NEWS AND VIEWS FROM MYANMAR
- Subject: NEWS AND VIEWS FROM MYANMAR
- From: OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 18 Dec 1999 00:24:00
NEWS AND VIEWS FROM MYANMAR
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Vol.1 16 December 1999 No. 49
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CONTENTS
INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. Ramong Bridge in Rakhine State commissioned into service
2. Fifth Year National Immunization Days
FOREIGN RELATIONS
3. ASEAN cooperation on Immigration Matters
ECONOMIC CO-OPERATIONS
4. Agreement for implementation of hotel project signed
GENERAL NEWS
5. Opium substitute buckwheat project
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INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Ramong Bridge in Rakhine State commissioned into service
Included in the special projects of the State, Ramong Bridge on
Yangon-Sittway Highway in Rakhine State was commissioned into service on 15
December. It is another effort of the State to accelerate developing momentum
of Rakhine State. The Government has spent large sums of money in its efforts
in enhancing the transport in the entire nation including Rakhine State as
transport plays a vital role in developing the economy, social sectors,
living standard of the people as well as unity and amity among the national
people and strengthening the Union spirit.
The total length of roads in Rakhine State at the end of 1998-99 is over
810 miles. In 1988-89, the total length of roads was only 449 miles. A
network of roads and bridges is being built in the entire nation; and over
100 major bridges including bridges on Ayeyarwady, Thanlwin and Chindwin
rivers have been built for development of the Union.
Located on Yangon-Sittway Highway, Ramong Bridge with the length of 1,300
feet, was built at a cost of US$ 2.3 million and over Kyats 1.548 billion.
Road construction is much difficult task in Rakhine State, which is a coastal
area criss-crossed by rivers and streams. Over 10 major and 800 small bridges
were built on Yangon-Sittway Highway alone. The 2,513-foot long Kissapanadi
Bridge, the 2,003-foot long Minchaung Bridge and 940-foot long Maeichaung
Bridge will soon be commissioned into service.
Sea fishing, fish and prawn breeding and marine enterprises are
flourishing in Rakhine State which is a coastal region. Prospects are bright
to build a deep-sea port to extend foreign trade and to enhance tourism in
the region which has long beaches and many ancient pagodas. At the time the
state has a deep-sea port, the goods entering Myanmar from border trade will
be conveyed to the port through Mandalay, Yangon and Ayeyarwady Divisions.
Fifth Year National Immunization Programme
As the global polio eradication campaign is gaining momentum, Myanmar is
also taking part in the global polio eradication initiative together with
other nations of the world in the spirit of regional and global solidarity.
In Myanmar, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EIP) is one of the main
activities in the National Health Plan for the prevention of six major
childhood diseases since 1978.
Myanmar EIP is implementing routine immunization as well as National
Immunization Days. National Immunization Days were launched for the first
time in February and March 1996. Since that time, National Immunization Days
have been launched in December and January every year. The previous years'
NIDs were of great success. Continued efforts are to be exerted to make
sure that the fifth year NIDs are successful to make Myanmar Polio free and
to achieve ''Target 2000 A world without polio.''
On 12 December 1999, the first day of the Fifth Year National
Immunization Days was launched in each and every part of Myanmar. The task is
not an easy one since it covers 5.9 million children under five years, who
will be vaccinated for two rounds -- the first round on 12 December and the
second round on 16 January 2000.
With the Ministry of Health being responsible for all the immunization
activities, the National Immunization Days in Myanmar are being implemented
with assistance both technical and financial, from the UN agencies, Rotary
International, CDC (Atlanta), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),
Japan Committee "Vaccine for World's Children", the Government of the
Republic of Korea and the Premier Petroleum Myanmar Limited.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
ASEAN cooperation on Immigration Matters
The Third Meeting of ASEAN Director-General of Immigration Departments
and Heads of Consular Divisions was held at the Traders Hotel, Yangon on 13
and 14 December.
Minister for Immigration and Population U Saw Tun, in his welcoming
address, emphasized the need for easy communication and access to all ASEAN
member countries to strengthen regional unity and identity, enhance economic
cooperation and facilitate closer economic integration. He also stressed the
importance of modernization to spur regional development and to keep pace
with technological advances in the developed countries.
Participants discussed the framework for ASEAN cooperation on immigration
matters, matters arising from the previous meeting, visa free entry for ASEAN
nations, use of smart cards as travel document in ASEAN international
airports, harmonization of ASEAN Immigration Disembarkation Cards, common
ASEAN entry visa for tourists coming into ASEAN countries, facilitation of
yachts, leisure boats and private aircraft within ASEAN and training of
Immigration officials from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
The ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and the Heads of
Consular Division of the ASEAN Ministers of Foreign Affairs fully recognized
the urgent need for greater cooperation on immigration matters to support
ASEAN initiatives including efforts towards closer economic integration, the
move to facilitate greater intra-ASEAN tourism and the fight against
transnational crime. They agreed to meet on an annual basis to coordinate
regional cooperation on immigration matters so they could effectively
contribute to the achievement of ASEAN goals. In this regard, they welcomed
and supported the ASEAN Vision 2020 and the Hanoi Plan of Action adopted by
the ASEAN Heads of Government/ State, which would guide the future directions
of ASEAN .
They also agreed to establish an Ad-hoc High Level Experts Group on
Immigration Matters to develop an institutional framework for ASEAN
cooperation on immigration matters; to develop a plan of action on
immigration matters encompassing the objectives, scope, strategies,
mechanism, modalities and funding arrangements; and to establish a directory
of immigration focal points to establish a network among the immigration
authorities in ASEAN, especially in the area of law enforcement.
They also agreed to continue discussion on the use of smart cards to
facilitate travel within ASEAN. They also appreciated the need to harmonize
the disembarkation/ embarkation card to facilitate business, investment and
tourism, and to create an ASEAN identity. They agreed, as a first step, to
implement as soon as possible the use of the ASEAN logo on the front page of
disembarkation/ embarkation card beside the emblem of respective Member
Countries.
A joint press statement was issued at the end of the Meeting on 14
December. The meeting of the Ad-hoc High-level Experts Group on Immigration
Matters will be convened in 2000 in the Philippines.
ECONOMIC COOPERATIONS
Agreement for hotel project signed
An agreement on a hotel project to be implemented by Allure Group Co.
Ltd. of Thailand with cent-per-cent investment on the plot of Shan Yoma Guest
House leased for 30 years in Tachilek, in the eastern part of Shan State, was
signed at the Hotel Equatorial, Yangon, on 9 December.
The agreement was signed between the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism
under the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and the Allure Group Co Ltd.
According to the agreement, the company will invest US $ 12 million in
building a hotel of international standard with 81 rooms in 24 months' time
for the first phase of the project, and further investment will be made to
build 140 more rooms for the second phase.
GENERAL NEWS
Opium substitute buckwheat project
Ambassador of Japan Mr. Kazuo Asakai hosted a dinner at his residence on
9 December. The occasion marked the opium substitute buckwheat project which
has been implemented for three years through bilateral cooperation. In Kokang
region of the northern Shan State, buckwheat was cultivated on four acres of
land in 1997 and on 200 acres in 1998; this year, buckwheat was cultivated on
2,000 acres, and buckwheat on some acres have been harvested.
On 10 and 11 December, 1999, Altogether nineteen Japanese buckwheat
merchants led by Director-General of LDP Research Council of Japan Mr.
Tomomitsu Iwakura and Chairman of Japan Noodle Entrepreneurs Association Mr.
Chojiro Jinta, together with member of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse
Control Col. Kyaw Thein and officials visited Tarshwehtan village in Kokang
region and observed buckwheat fields. They also observed seed purifying
factory in Laukkai and had discussions with buckwheat growers and local
national race leaders.
Prior to their departure for Japan, they held a press briefing with
national and foreign journalists at Yangon International Airport.
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