The New Light of Myanmar (Thursday, 29 November, 2001)(1/2)

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The New Light of Myanmar (Thursday, 29 November, 2001)(1/2)
--------------------------------
1. - State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General
     Than Shwe sends felicitations to Republic of Albania
   - Senior General Than Shwe stresses quality improvement
     of industrial products to meet customer satisfaction
2. Secretary-1 hoists Htidaw of Gandakuti Kyaungdawgyi
3. - Secretary-1 attends Brand Launching Ceremony of
     LG (Gold Star) Elevator into Sigma Elevator
4. Formation of SPA Scholarship Foundation held
5. - Lawka Chantha Image Information & Documentation C
     ommittee meets
   - Mekong Subregion Ministers arrive to attend conference
   - Senior officials of Greater Mekong Sub-region tour Yangon
6. - Minister attends course opening ceremony
   - Oculists Conference opened
7. - Sigma elevator's sole agent assigned
   - Minister inspects booths at Thailand Exhibition 2001
8. - Iodine deficiency elimination activities week to
     be launched
   - Appointment of Ambassador of Spain agreed on
9. - Kyauktaw TV retransmission station begins operation
   - MRTV and Korea (ARIRANG TV) sign agreement

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( 1 ) State Peace and Development Council Chairman Senior General Than Shwe
sends felicitations to Republic of Albania

Yangon, 29 Nov - Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and
Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, has sent a message of
felicitations to His Excellency Mr Rexhep Mejdani, President of the Republic
of Albania, on the occasion of the Anniversary of Liberation Day of the
Republic of Albania which falls on 29 November 2001.

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Senior General Than Shwe stresses quality improvement of industrial products
to meet customer satisfaction

Yangon, 28 Nov - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe inspected
development undertakings and farm machinery in Kyaukse Township yesterday.
Accompanied by members of the State Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen
Thura Shwe Mann, Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Thein Sein, Quartermaster-General
Maj-Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, Maj-Gen Tin Aye, Chairman of Mandalay
Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Central Command Maj-Gen
Ye Myint, Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral Kyi Min, Commander-in-Chief
(Air) Maj-Gen Myint Swe, the ministers, the deputy ministers, the Mandalay
Mayor, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office and heads
of departments, the Senior General left Mandalay for Kyaukse by helicopter
yesterday morning.

 On arrival at the industrial zone of the Ministry of Industry-1, which is
being set up at a place nearly six miles east of Kyaukse, the Senior General
and party were welcomed by Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Win and officials.
At the briefing hall of Kyaukse Cement Plant Project of Myanma Ceramic
Industries, Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung explained building of the
plant, raw materials supply programmes and planting of trees in the project
area.

The minister also reported on implementing of Plastic Factory Project,
Asbestos Factory Project, Bicycle Factory Project, Sewing Machine Factory
Project, Shoe Factory Project, Vest Factory Project and Candy Factory Project
in Kyaukse Industrial Zone, progress in implementing the factory projects and
Blanket Factory Project which is under planning stage. In his guidance,
Senior General Than Shwe spoke of the need to pay attention to improving the
quality of the products and to meeting the customer satisfaction. Afterwards,
the Senior General inspected the samples of the raw materials for the cement
plant and machinery parts to be manufactured by the sewing machine factory.

The Senior General and party then inspected the factory projects of the
ministry in a motorcade. At the Hsinmin Cement Plant Project, which is being
implemented near Nwale-kauk Limestone Hill, eight miles east of Kyaukse, the
Senior General and party heard a report on points of the project presented by
Maj-Gen Tin Aye of the Ministry of Defence. Senior General Than Shwe gave
guidance, saying that cooperative efforts are required to complete the
projects according to sche-dule and to make arrangements to supply raw
materials to the factories.

 The Senior General and party inspected the project. During inspection of No
2 Farm Machinery Factory of Agricultural Mechanization Department near Inngon
village in the township, the Senior General and party heard a report on the
brief history of the factory, production capacity, implementation of Myanma
Farm Machinery Industry Project near the factory, repair of tractors and
parts at No 2 Main Workshop at the village and nurturing of skilled workers
presented by Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin.
Director-General of AMD U Win Maw reported on the work capacity of the
workshop and production of new machinery.

In giving guidance, the Senior General said the Myanma Farm Machinery
Industry Project is the agro-based industry of upper Myanmar. In addition to
the present products, the factories of the project will manufacture other
types of farm machinery. It is important for the innovated products to meet
the consumer requirement. The project should produce quality goods which meet
the international stan-dard. The aim should be set to develop the project
from an import-substitute industry at present to an export industry in the
future.


The Senior General and party inspected pumps used in tractors produced by the
workshop. They also inspected the parts of tractors and power-tillers such as
pistons, cylinders, pumps and shafts, and repair of tractors. They also
inspected winnowers, harvesting machines trailers, weeders, seeders,
power-tillers and other machinery produced by AMD and the area of the Myanma
Farm Machinery Industry Project and progress in implementing the project.

 In the evening, the Senior General and party paid obeisance to Maha
Shwe-theindaw Pagoda at Thin-daunggyi village in the township. Senior General
Than Shwe presented cash donations to the Pagoda Board of Trustees. In
Kyaukse, the Senior General and party paid homage to Hsedawnan Pagoda.

___________________________


( 2 ) Daw Kying kyaing attends ceremony to enshrine relics at Lawka Chanta
Labha Muni Image

Secretary-1 hoists Htidaw of Gandakuti Kyaungdawgyi

Yangon, 28 Nov- A ceremony to enshrine relics at Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha
Muni Image and to hoist Htidaw at Gandakuti Kyaungdawgyi was held at the
Gandakuti Kyaung-dawgyi on Mindhamma Hill in Insein Township this morning.

 Present on the occasion was Daw Kyaing Kyaing, wife of Chairman of the State
Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior
General Than Shwe. Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt placed the relics in the hair-knot of the image and hoisted
tiers of the Htidaw, Hngetmyatnardaw and Seinphudaw of Gandakuti
Kyaungdawgyi.


Also present were member Sayadaws and members of the Sangha led by Vice-
Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Maha Aungmye Bonsannkyaung
Sayadaw Abhdhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Panindabhivamsa, Secretary
Sayadaw Magway Maha Withokdayama Taikthit Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru
Abhdhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Bhaddanta Kumara, Daw Mya Mya San, wife of
Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General
Maung Aye, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe, wife of the Secretary-1, Daw Khin Than Nwe,
wife of Lt-Gen Tin Oo, State Peace and Development Council members and their
wives, the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and
their wives, ministers and their wives, the Yangon City Mayor and wife,
deputy ministers, Sri Lankan Ambassador to Myanmar Mr U Mapa and wife and
embassy staff, Relics Conveying Team leader Mr Neranjan Wijeyerante and
members, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office,
departmental heads, technicians and experts, members of the board of
trustees, well-wishers, personnel of religious associations and invited
guests. At 6 am, the members of the board of trustees offered flowers, water
and fruits to the Image. Artistes of Fine Arts Department of the Ministry of
Culture sang dhammapuja songs.

 Next, the ceremony to enshrine Buddha relics and to hoist htidaw atop the
Gandakuti Kyaunghdawgyi commenced with recitation of Namo Tassa three times
by Sayadaws and lay persons. The congregation received the Nine Precepts from
Vice-Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Maha Aungmye Bonsan
Sayadaw Abhdhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Panindabhivamsa.

Members of Upathaka Committee presented Paritta flowers, water, thread and
sand to the Sayadaws. Members of the Sangha recited Metta Sutta. Next,
members of Upathaka Committee sprinkled Paritta water on the image and tied
Paritta thread to the image.

 In his supplication, the Secretary-1 said, Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni
Image which was conveyed from Madaya Township on 10 July 2001 and arrived in
Yangon on 5 August. The image began to reside in Mindhamma Hill on 12
September. On that day a cornerstone laying ceremony for construction of
Gandakuti Kyaung-dawgyi was held. He said carving of the image has completed
and the Gandakuti Kyaungdaw and two stairways have also been constructed.
Construction of glass- walled hall for the image will take one month and
consecration ceremony and Buddha Pujaniya will be held after completion of
the glass-walled hall, he added.

He said originally, there is a hole in the hair-knot of the image. The hole
is 14 inches deep and its diameter is 1 1/2 inches. To place the relics in
the hole Ovada was sought from Sayadaws of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka
Committee, he said. Sacred relics from various parts of the country including
two relics from India and those from Sri Lanka have been collected. On 24
November, Sayadaws of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee selected the
relics. These relics were kept in gold a casket, he added. He said he learnt
from Sayadaws that Lord Buddha said that planting trees, building roads,
wells, dams and Tazaungs paves the way to the abode of celestials beings.

The State Peace and Development Council Government is implementing such tasks
with the participation of the people. Therefore, glittering and white-washed
pagodas and other religious buildings can be seen in various parts of the
country. There is less heat in arid zone due to the planting of trees. With
the implementation of irrigation networks there is surplus of food in the
country. The world's biggest ruby, the biggest pearl and the biggest jade and
a white elephant emerged and it was unprecedented, he said.

 He wished to endeavour for emergence of a peaceful modern developed nation
and to carry out the tasks for flourishing of Buddhism in the world. Then,
leader of the relics conveying group of Sri Lanka Mr Neranjan Wijeyerante
presented the Buddha's relics conveyed from Sri Lanka to the Secretary-1.
Afterwards, Daw Kyaing Kyaing, wife of Chairman of State Peace and
Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General
Than Shwe, presented the gem casket, in which the relics are kept, to
Vice-Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Aungmye-bonsan
Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Panindabhivamsa.

The Secretary-1 presented the nine-tier gem casket, in which relics of the
Buddha are kept, and the Seinbudaw of central Pyatthad of Gandakuti
Kyaungdawgyi to Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Magway
Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika
Bhaddanta Kumara. Daw Kyaing Kyaing then presented offertories to the
Sayadaws. Daw Mya Mya San, wife of Vice-Chairman of State Peace and
Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services
Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, presented offertories to the
Sayadaws.

The Secretary-1 and wife Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe presented offertories to the
Sayadaws. Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of late Lt-Gen Tin Oo, presented
offertories to the Sayadaws. Ministers, deputy ministers, departmental heads
and wellwishers also presented offertories to the Sayadaws.

The Magway Sayadaw delivered a sermon. Daw Kyaing Kyaing and those present
shared merits gained. Next, the relics enshrining ceremony followed. The
Secretary-1 conveyed the relics, and enshrined them into the hair-knot of the
Image. The Secretary-1 sprinkled scented water over the image. The Sayadaws
recited Gathas, the beginning of which is " Jayanto Bodhiya Mule". Then,
Htidaw hoisting ceremony was held.

The Secretary-1 conveyed the Seinbudaw around the image clockwise and put it
onto the carriage float. Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than conveyed the
Hngetmyatnadaw and the ministers, tiers of the Shwehtidaw around the image
clockwise and put them onto the float. Patron of the Pagoda Board of Trustees
U Shein Aung Bo opened the ceremony. At the auspicious time, Daw Kyaing
Kyaing sprinkled scented water on the first tier of Shwehtidaw.

Then, Daw Mya Mya San, wife of General Maung Aye, the Secretary-1 and wife,
and Daw Khin Than Nwe sprinkled scented water on the first tier of
Shwehtidaw. Daw Kyaing Kyaing and party hoisted the tiers of Shwehtidaw,
Hsatthwaphu and Zunbon atop Gandakuti Kyaungdawgyi.

 Led by Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Daw Mya Mya San and Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe and
responsible persons sprinkled scented water on the Sein-budaw and
Hngetmyatnadaw, and hoisted them atop Gan-dakuti Kyaungdawgyi. At that time,
vocalists led by U Tun Shwe and Daw Yee Yee Thant, sang religious songs. The
Secretary-1 took position on the Kyaungdawgyi and fixed Hngetmyatnadaw and
Seinbudaw atop the Kyaungdawgyi. The Secretary-1 offered flowers to them.

 The Secretary-1 sprinkled scented water on Seinbudaw, Hngetmyatnadaw and
tiers of Shwehtidaw. Officials hoisted tiers of Shwehtidaw atop four
satellite Pyatthads of the Kyaungdawgyi and the four Pyatthads of the
southern and northern stairways. The ceremony came to an end with three-time
recitation of Namo Tassa. After the ceremony, Daw Kyaing Kyaing performed
rituals of golden and silver showers to mark success of the ceremony.
___________________________

( 3 ) Secretary-1 attends Brand Launching Ceremony of LG  ( Gold Star )
Elevator into Sigma Elevator

Yangon, 28 Nov - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council
Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended the Brand Launchaing Ceremony of LG (Gold Star)
Elevator into Sigma Elevator, organized by the Fortune International Ltd and
the Sigma Elevator Co, Republic of Korea, at the Traders Hotel on Sule Pagoda
Road here at 1.30 pm today. The LG (Gold Star) Elevator was renamed Sigma
Elevator. Also present on the occasion were ministers, the attorney-general,
deputy ministers, Ambassador of ROK Mr Chung Jung-Gum, officials of the State
Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads, national
entrepreneurs, invited guests, officials from Sigma Elevator Co in Korea,
Managing Director U Mya Han and members of Board of Directors and officials.

The Secretary-1 and Managing Director U Mya Han formally unveiled the
signboard of the Sigma Elevator Co. The managing director extended greetings
and explained facts about the ceremony. He then presented a Sigma elevator to
the Secretary-1 to be used in nation-building tasks to mark the Brand
Launching Ceremony. Officials from Sigma Co, Korea, explained the capacity of
Sigma elevators with the help of digital video display and the ceremony came
to a close.

The company, using the names Gold Star Co and LG International System Co Ltd,
has distributed elevators since 1968, and now it was renamed. The Fortune
International Ltd has been the sole agent of the Sigma elevators and
escalators since 1991 and it has taken responsibilities concerning
purchasing, installation and maintenance of elevators and escalators. The
company has distributed altogether over 500 elevators to all over the
country. Changing the new name is intended for convenience of users, safety,
making of modern designs using digital technology and promoting the quality
of the elevators.
__________________________

( 4 )  Formation of SPA Scholarship Foundation held

Yangon, 28 Nov-The 10th Anniversary celebration of SPA (Myanmar) Ltd and
formation of SPA Scholarship Foundation were held at Inya Lake Hotel this
evening, attended by Myanmar Education Committee Chairman State Peace and
Development Council Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

Also present were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman
of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command
Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, the ministers, the deputy ministers, officials of
the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of departments,
ambassadors, Chairman U Thein Wai (a) Mr Serge Pun of SPA (Myanmar) Ltd and
members of the board of directors, local and foreign entrepreneurs and
guests. Chairman U Thein Wai (a) Mr Serge Pun spoke on the occasion. Next,
the Secretary-1 delivered a speech.

He said: I am greatly delighted to attend this auspicious function tonight in
celebration of the 10th anniversary of SPA Myanmar. The introduction of
market-oriented economic  policies in the country has resulted in a very
rapid development of the private sector. In this regard, I am happy to
acknowledge the contribution made by SPA Myanmar towards the development of
our economy. Projects such as the FMI City and the Pun Hlaing Golf Estate in
Hlaing Thayar have become models of urban residential development, providing
excellent living environment for the people. Moreover, the First Myanmar
Investment Company Ltd (FMI) and Yoma Bank are also two entities which have
experienced tremendous growth and stability over the years.

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my warm congratulations to
its Chairman U Thein Wai (a) Mr Serge Pun, their directors, and all the
managers and staff for their achievement over the past ten years and wish
them continued success. Myanmar is firmly committed to the development of our
country in all spheres so as to bring peace, stability and prosperity to the
nation. In this age of globalization and knowledge, human resource
development has become a primary pre-requisite for advancement of a nation.

The Government therefore places highest priority in raising the education
standards of the people so that Myanmar will be on par with the more advanced
nations of the region. Consequently, more than 6100 new basic education
schools have been set up during the time of our Government, many of which are
in areas where previously no educational facilities were available. At the
same time, the introduction of e-learning and multi-media classrooms all over
the nation mean that even students in remote parts of the country can now
have access to the best learning aids.

In terms of higher education, the number of universities and colleges in the
nation increase from 32 in 1988 to 144 at present. Moreover, post-graduate
master and doctorate courses are being conducted in many fields. Even as the
Government endeavours for promoting education in the country, we fully
recognize the role created by the private sector. As the Chariman of the
Myanmar Education Committee, I would like to express our sincere thanks and
appriciation to SPA Myanmar for the generous donation of 10 million kyats to
the Myanmar Education Committee's Higher Education Fund. Allow me to say that
the fund will be used to raise the education level of the people.

 I am also very glad to learn that in commemoration of its tenth Anniversary,
SPA Myanmar has announced the formation of the SPA Scholarship Foundation and
the contribution of 20 million kyats as the initial capital fund for the
foundation. The objectives of this charitable organization to provide
opportunities to worthy students of Myanmar to attain a higher education in
any recognized learning institution are indeed noble and commendable. I
belive that this meaningful foundation will benefit many promising young
people in gaining much valuable knowledge in academic fields in the years to
come, and this will certainly benefit our country and our people.

 I commend SPA Myanmar for sponsoring this Foundation wish it every success.
In conclusion, please allow me to extend my sincere congratulations to SPA
Myanmar again and wish all our distinguished guests health, happiness and
prosperity. Works being undertaken in Myanmar by SPA (Myanmar) Ltd were
screened with the aid of video slides. Daw Ohn Hlaing (a) Ms Olive Pun
presented K 10 million for Myanmar Education Committee to the Secretary-1.
Chairman U Thein Wai (a) Mr Serge Pun and members of the board of directors
of SPA (Myanmar) Ltd presented K 20 million for SPA Scholarship Foundation to
Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing. Chairman U Thein Wai (a) Mr Serge
Pun and members of the board of directors cut the cake to mark the ceremony.
__________________________

( 5 )  Lawka Chantha Image Information & Documentation Committee meets

Yangon, 28 Nov - Information and Documentation Committee for Lawka Chantha
Abhaya Labha Muni Image and All-round Construction of Mindhamma Hill held a
meeting at Myanma Radio and TV this afternoon. Chairman of the committee
Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein gave a speech. Historian
Dr Khin Maung Nyunt and officials then took part in the discussions. The
meeting ended with concluding remarks by the deputy minister. Also present
were Vice-Chairman of the committee Director-General of MRTV U Khin Maung
Htay, the committee members and guests.

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Mekong Subregion Ministers arrive to attend conference

Yangon, 28 Nov - Minister of Trade of Cambodia Mr Chan Prasidh, Minister at
the Prime Minister's Office of Thailand Mr Chaturon Chaisang and Minister of
Transport of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Mr Le Ngoc Hoan and party
arrived here by air this evening to attend the 10th Greater Mekong Subregion
Ministerial Conference on Subregional Economic Cooperation to be held in
Yangon tomorrow. They were welcomed at Yangon International Airport by
officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National
Planning and Economic Development and Ambassadors and military attaches of
Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

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Senior officials of Greater Mekong Sub-region tour Yangon

Yangon, 28 Nov - Deputy Administrator, General Administration of Customs Mr
Duanmu Jun of the People's Republic of China, who is currently here to attend
the Greater Mekong Subregion 10th Ministerial Conference on Subregional
Economic Cooperation, the senior officials and representatives of Cambodia,
the People's Republic of China, the Lao People's Democratic Republic,
Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam who attended the Senior
Officials Meeting of the 10th Greater Mekong Sub-region Ministerial
Conference on Sub-regional Economic Cooperation, accompanied by officials
concerned, visited the Shwedagon Pagoda here this morning.

 They were welcomed there by members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees. First,
Deputy Administrator, General Administration of Customs Mr Duanmu Jun, senior
officials and representatives offered flowers, lights and incense sticks to
the Buddha Image in the western prayer hall and signed in the visitors' book.
Then, they made cash donations and paid homage to the Pagoda. Then, the
senior officials and representatives visited the National Museum on Pyay Road
and the Drug Elimination Museum in the morning and the Myanmar Gems Museum on
Kaba Aye Pagoda Road in the afternoon.
___________________________

to be continued ...