Ø Govt to subsidise over K. 1 mil for prawn farming in Tanintaryi Division. Entrepreneurs to repay within two years or after 4 successful productions. Plans are underway to establish over 500 salt-water prawns by 2006.
Ø The Chinese govt has spent Yuan 1.46 mil on farm machinery to establish rubber plantatons in the Inn-da-gaw area of Bago Division. This is under the MoU of the ASEAN Cooperation agreement between govts.
Ø Brunei is negotiating to buy pork from Burma. Inspections and pricing deals are expected in 2004-2005. The Pig Farming Association is projecting production of 165 mil viss of Pork (approx 269 kilos) for 2004-05
Ø 17, 6-wheeled trucks have come off the production line produced by the MTO Co. at the Mandalay Industrial Zone. The trucks have been inspected by officials of the Industry II Ministry and trials with full loads up & down to Maymyo have been concluded. The Co. has been permitted to produce some 800 trucks in line with directives laid down by the Industry II Ministry. The Co. is also looking to produce 12-wheeled trucks
7 Day Weekly News – 5th Aug 2004
Ø Plans are underway to export teak and other hardwoods to India, not via Rangoon, but through the Tamu-Mohray border crossing. The timber will be extracted from the Chin State and W. Mawleik areas. It’s estimated that the the timber will fetch $ 200 per ton while the cost of transport to the border will be only about $35 a ton. Elephants will extract the timber from the forests and the export is scheduled for the beginning of August.
Ø The Chinese Co. Panzhihua Guanghua Reality plans to buy $ 3 mil worth of ‘Elephant’s Foot’ Yam (a tuber) from Myanmar to use in producing indigenous medicines. The Kaung Mon Oo Co. here has taken the responsibility of supply. The Chinese will provide the seed to be cultivated on 30,000 acres here Should everything go through, the Chinese will be spending $ 1,300 per acre for the cultivation. It’s said the medicines alleviate aches & pains, inflammation and also increase hormone levels.
Ø A ‘Biodiversity & Nature Conservation Association was formed in June 04. They will shortly have a Web-site for more information
Ø A Japanese citizen donates K. 100,000 through the Horticultural Association for nature conservation and awareness-enhancement in the Kachin State. He has directed the money be shared for the study & collection of orchids, the orchid & horticultural gardens and the production of posters & literature on orchids and other flora in Burmese and Kachin languages through the Forests Dept., the Botany Dept. & NGOs.
Ø China’s crackdown on production of low quality antibiotics does not affect the sale of the medicines in the country. Burma also imports antibiotics from other countries and has had a prescription-only regulation for many years now.
Ø Tourist arrivals are up in a season when tourism usually slumps. As of 27th June, there has been an increase of almost 35,000 visitors compared to the same period last year. Most are Foreign Independent Tours from Europe, Thailand and China. Tourism companies are looking forward to good times in the coming ‘open’ season. Tourist figures (no source shown) 2003-04 = 100,901. 2004-05 = 133,990 up to 27th June
Ø The Doh-pyi-tha Company is donating a Railway Engine and 3 Rail Busses to the Railways Department. The engines have arrived at the ports. 2 Japanese experts will be training Myanmar drivers on how to handle them. The Railways Department is building coaches for passengers and the trains will be used on the extended Yangon Circular Line.
Ø The Bird Life International Association working with the Forestry Department has discovered about 150 Jewel Thrushes in the forests adjacent to the ‘Lenya’ wildlife park in South of the country. A count of only 20 in 2003 caused concern that the bird could become extinct.
Ø The Wildlife & Conservation Society working with the Forestry Department says it will have a count of tigers in the Hukwang Valley Reserve in a few months. They are using trip-cameras to get photos to make the count. With an area of 8,452 sq.ml., the tiger reserve is the largest in the world. It had only 2,494 sq.ml. in 2001.
Ø A new ‘MYOB’ computer programme will allow LCCI students to use a Computerised Accounting Programme to facilitate their work. The software was produced in Australia. The British Council here will, for the first time ever, include the subject of Computerised Accounting in the coming LCCI examinations in November.
Ø The Japanese Organisation JICA has donated $14201.05 worth of books and material to the Law Department of Rangoon University which would be useful for both teaching and research. JICA’s Rangoon Representative stated that JICA’s cooperation was for the development of human resources in the field of law towards the fruition of democracy.
Ø Merging the Cooperatives Bank, the Cooperative Development Bank and the Farmers Bank and forming a public CB Bank Ltd. (15 June 2004) has resulted almost immediately in 2% rise in deposits. Details of the sale of shares will be announced shortly and any member of the public is allowed to buy in and many enquiries have been coming in. Anyone buying K. 40 mil worth of shares will have a seat on the Board of Directors. The CB Bank has a capital of about K. 1.5 billion, K. 22 billion in deposits and K. 12 billion in loans.
Ø The Myanmar Online Travel Consortium has started offering package tours on eight days. 6 travel companies have got together on this and the tours will take in Rangoon, Bagan, Mandalay, Heho, Inle and other tourist places. Packages bought July-Sept for two will cost $ 595 and a single will be $ 675. From October the cost goes up $ 650 for two and $ 730 for a single.
7-Day News Weekly – 24 June 2004
Ø Seamen leaving to join their ships will be allowed to legally exchange FEC for USD at the foreign Trade Bank. Veteran seamen who already have an account there will be permitted $ 500 while new ones who do not have an account will be permitted only $ 200. All will need a letter from the Overseas Seamen Association proving that they are about to join ship to give to the bank.
Ø A group of students have opened a small library – the first private one here. ICE Youth as it is called is non-profit and geared to provided books, cassettes, CD ROMs and standardised tests for the TOEFL,SAT 1 & 2, G-MAT GRE, GCE, IELTS exams. A Myanmar Youth Association in USA donates books for the library. There are about 150 regular users and others who come off and on.
Ø Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO) will offer stipends of Yen 52,000 to top present-day students and provide free visas to students wishing to study in Japan. Arrangements will also be made for the students to work 28 hours a week. The aspiring students will have to sit for an entrance exam. The exam to be held shortly at the Summit Park view Hotel for the first time ever here.
Ø The private Dual Tech Co. has started technical courses for young people who have or have not passed the 10th standard (high school) exams. It has been set up to help the young people to have a future. The Co. offers Modules 1, 2 & 3 – the first dealing with car maintenance and fridge & air-con repair.
Ø Writer Chit San Win heads up a charity group which has donated K. 150,000 to help further the education of the children of lepers from Yadanar Quarter, Monywa.
Ø A Japanese “Funds for Construction Industry Promotion” group which is under the Ministry of Land & Infrastructure Development of Japan has signed an MoU to train Myanmar construction workers in welding. A batch of 25 workers will be leaving in September. They will have on job training for 2 years following the training. The Human Resources Development Committee of the Myanmar Engineers Association will select the trainees from its Corporate Members.
Ø Plans have been submitted to the authorities concerned for the development of resorts on 4 islands of the Mergui archipelago. Three companies, related to tourism, are awaiting approval of the plans. The A-1 Co. will build on Nyaung-whee and two other islands, the Shambala Co. on Wa-ah-lei Island and the Moby Dick Co. on Kyun-phe-lar. They have ambitions to also provide services for yachts that may move up from Phuket, Thailand for a visit.
Ø A huge number of baby sharks are being netted off the Rakhine coast and sales are brisk. Each boat brings in around 1,500~2,000 baby sharks a day. One type fetches K. 120~140 per viss while another costs K.500~550 per viss. In Sittway, Saltfish producers are buying up as much as they can
The 1st India-ASEAN car rally to be held in November will take in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. The rally starting in India will drive through Myanmar 25-28 Nov. the finish line will be in Thailand. The route through Myanmar will be Tamu-Mandalay-Taunggyi-Kengtung-Tacihleik. Over 60 cars each with a crew of four will take part. Myanmar has been invited to register at least three cars. The Indian Chambers of Commerce
7 Day News (3-9June)
Ø Deputy DG of the Energy Department says Myanmar to buy $ 250 mil worth of fuel oil from Petronas of Malaysia for 2004-2005. Selling of the offshore gas from the A-1 field (Rakhine coast) is separate from importing diesel from India. Annual consumption in 1992-93 of Petrol was 46.58 mil gallons & Diesel, 112.06 mil gallons. In 2002-03 = Petrol was 97.84 mil gal & Diesel 335.70 mil gal.
7 Day News (27 May – 2 June)
Ø Feasibility studies begin for the Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River.
Ø Myanmar to trade directly with Penang, Malaysia instead of via a third country. Myanmar exports marine products, agricultural produce, teak, rubber and garments to Malaysia while trade the other way brings palm oil, plastic products, machine spares and medicines. Up to the end of April 2004, Myanmar exported $ 68.74 million worth and imported $ 147.97 worth of goods.
Ø Myanmar gets tax breaks on goods exported to ASEAN countries through the ASEAN Integration System of Preference. 0% ~ 5% taxes will be levied on 282 types of goods to Malaysia, 72 to Thailand, 222 to Indonesia. Singapore does not tax imports. The volume and type of goods is to be agreed between the respective countries. Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam also get this privilege
Ø The Forever Group Co. is offering free use of a Photo Library Management System, a Staff Management System and a Student Registration System until April 24th. The software may be bought for K. 300,000 each after that. Forever Group also has a Video Management System and a Library Management System which it is not giving for free because it is much more expensive.