The Inya banks on Pyay and Kaba Aye roads sides will only be open for public till 9pm on December 31 New Year night in order to protect the plantation and benches from destruction, the government authority announced. (December 21 news)
A research team, comprised with professors, lecturers and tutors from repsective department led by head of the Monyin Degree College, is conducting all-round researches for the development of Inndawgyi region in Kachin State. The researches begun in January 2005 will be completed in May 2006. (December 21 news)
France star Jil Caplan will conduct her music concerts in Rangoon and Mandalay on March 18 and 20 respectively. (December 20 news)
The Minister for Information said at publishers association's annual meeting that the numbers of currently published newspapers, journals and magazines were still fewer compared to the country's population. The Ministry of Information so far had allowed 1043 licenses for variety of publications, he said. (December 20 news)
The Minister for Information said there was press freedom in the country's printed media and the ministry would continue necessary reforms where there should be done to do so. (December 20 news)
Burma signed with ASEAN countries at a first East Asia Business Exhibition, which is held in December, for exporting of about US$21millions commodities including rubber, and bean and pulses. (December 20 news)
Burma signed with China to export US$35millions worth rubbers at a border trade fair, which is held in December in China's Shweli. (December 20 news)
The Ministry of Information will open more than 40,000 libraries in the remote villages throughout the country to help increase the reading habit. It plans to open more than 20,000 libraries during 2006. (December 20 news)
Experts from UNESCO will help installing two tidal gauges in Sittwe and Mawalmmyine coastal areas as part of establishing tsunami warning and mitigation system in Burma. (December 19 news)
The Water Resources Utilisation Department holds demonstration of the application of paddling water pumps in collaboration with International Development Enterprise to help distributing the pumps to the farmers. (December 19 news)
Country's livestock and breeding sector from 1990 to 2004 showed that there were 1.8, 1.5, 3.7, 6.1, 8.5 and 7 per cents improvement in cow, buffalo, sheep and goat, pig, chicken, and duck breeding sectors respectively, the Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Brig-Gen Maung Maung Thein said. He said there were 373-degree holders, 88 master degree holders, 12 doctorates, 9 candidates on master degree and 11 candidates on PH.D on veterinary subject. (December 17 news)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said foreign embassies in Rangoon could move to Pyinmana at the end of 2007. According to a diplomat from Rangoon, 5-acre land plot would be leased to each embassy and additional 2-acre land would be provided depending on the requirement. (December 15 news)
UNICEF will distribute 3,000 book containers, which include guiding books on systematic children nurturing approaches, to parents who want to nurture their kids themselves. (December 14 news)
Myanmar Industry Development Committee allows 12 private companies to importing required facilities and providing services for CNG conversion of the vehicles. (December 13 news)
Department of Fisheries, and Livestock Foodstuff and Milk Products Enterprise under the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries would remain in Rangoon though the ministry would move to Pyinmana. (December 13 news)
Minister for Livestock and Fisheries urged exporters to strive meeting the targeted export earning amount set for this fiscal year, which is about US$400millions. So far Burma has earned US$170millions from fisheries products export. (December 13 news)
Myanmar Ant-Narcotic Association began HIV/AIDS elimination project in Lashio in collaboration with UNAIDS and UNDP. It is also conducting similar project in Muse in collaboration with UNODC. (December 13 news)
An elevator maintenance company from Qatar is officially recruiting 30 Burmese workers via local Star Trader labour recruiting agency. Wages for labours will range from US$330 to 1380. (December 12 news)
Myanmar Industrial Development Bank so far has provided more than K1900millions loans to the bus owners for converting their vehicles to be operated on CNG. (December 9 news)
Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department and FAO are planning to launch 'school milking programme' in Rangoon's primary schools to help develop the intelligence of the primary students. (December 9 news)
Because of the increasing demand from local and overseas coffee seed prices are expected to be up in 2005-06 fiscal year. Market price of the coffee seed last year was K1,200 per viss.
Cooperative Bank has granted K127 millions loan to seven businesses in Yenanchaung industrial zone and it will soon grant about K60 millions loan to another two businesses. (December 7 news)
Major General Khin Aung Myint from the Ministry of Defence confirmed at a press conference the establishment of Naypyidaw regional command. Minister for Information Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan said it was still democratic although drafting constitution included the 25 per cent of the parliament representatives would be from Tatmadaw (military). Journalists also praised Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan for his clear and precise explanation on the contents of the constitution, of which some sessions were hard to understand for general public. (December 6 news)
A Netherlands company had offered to buy 50 per cent of the Burma's total rubber export amount by importing 2000 tonnes in each month. Though the offer was higher Burma still lacked in producing the required quality asked by the Netherlands company, said the general secretary of the rubber growers and producers association. (December 6 news)
Each ten finalists who are chosen at the Rangoon, Pathein, Pyay, Mandalay and Taunggyi's IQ competitions on HIV/AIDS for youth will compete at the final contest to be held on December 20 in Rangoon. The contest is organised by the Myanmar Medical Association in collaboration with United Nation Population Fund to raise awareness on the disease. (December 5 news)
Myanmar anti-Narcotic drug Association is conducting self-hygiene, anti-smoking and anti-alcohol edutainment campaigns at the primary schools. The campaign began since 2003 and so far it has completed at the schools in the townships including Tarmwe, Yankin, Mingaladon and Hlaingthaya. (December 5 news)
Locals praised the UNDP's small loan program as effective one and suggested that the program would be more efficient if it could provide long-term loan services. UNDP granted total of K1800millions to women in 11 townships from 1997 to 2004. (December 2 news)
A Japan-based Asian medical doctors association is providing free health services in 50 villages in Wa special region by opening medical camps since this year to next August. (December 1 news)
Shwe Mann Thu Transportation expands its daily Rangoon-Pyinmana service depending on the demands of people who want to use its service. So far four highway transportation services are operating Rangoon to Pyinmana daily. (December 1 news)
Japan International Cooperation Agency is planning to implement a three-year rural development and poverty reduction project in 10 districts in Central Burma in collaboration with the Agriculture and Irrigation, Livestock and Fisheries, and Co-operative ministries. (December 1 news)
Plastindia Foundation invited Burmese plastic businesses to participate in Plastindia Exhibition to be held next February in New Delhi. (November 30 news)
Bangladesh had contacted the Market Information and Research Team, as it wanted to import as many onions as possible from Burma, the team said. (November 30 news)
Boat ferries at the Sintoweden jetty in Lanmadaw Township will only be allowed to have 12 passengers on board beginning from January 1 in order to reduce the accidents. (November 30 news)
The Myanmar Shrimp Association is seeking ways to export white prawn as a value added product in order to achieve more earning. Burma raised the white prawn in trials last July. (November 29 news)
Myanmar Fisheries Federation will organise three-day fisheries product exhibition on December 23 to mark its general annual meeting. (November 29 news)
Thailand has proposed to import 300 she-goats from Burma and goat farms are preparing to export soon. (November 29 news)
A local private pharmaceutical manufacturing company, FAME, will export mouth wash liquid produced from the indigenous medicine to Japan next year. The company began exporting mouth wash liquid to Malaysia in 2004 and has exported 40,000 bottles in this year. (November 24 news)
All round Bus Lines Control Committee is monitoring the use of compressed natural gas containers after gas-container explosion on November 16. The explosion is due to the use of the gas containers, which are meant for kitchen use. (November 23 news)
Myanmar Red Cross Society and its branch association in Mingaladon Township will hold ceremony to mark the World AIDS Day on December 1. The ceremony will include seminars, paper reading sessions and exhibitions. (November 23 news)
Asia Express Highway Transportation service will convert its highway bus to run on compressed natural gas. The conversion is done as a pilot one and the company will convert its all highway buses to operate on CNG when the authority approves. (November 23 news)
Myanmar Red Cross Society provided medicines for tuberculosis patients in Thaketa nad Mayangone townships as part of its seek and cure project. (November 23 news)
Myanma Airways International will operate once a week seasonal flight to Manila from Rangoon. (November 23 news)
Fisheries products will be displayed in 20 booths of the Burma-China border trade exhibition-2005 to help increase fishery export to China. (November 22 news)
A South Korean manufacturing company will export CNG kits, which are used to convert vehicles to operate on CNG, to Burma. (November 22 news)
The Department of Fisheries will confine anyone who tries to export saltwater shrimps with roes. (November 22 news)
A record of more than 10 groups of tourists have visited Fongunrazi mountain region in Kachin State during November. Normally the mountain receives about three or four groups of tourists in a month. Meanwhile government is also building a Fongunrazi-Puta-O road that will allow travellers to spend only one day, which is reduced from three days, to go to Fongunrazi from Puta-O. (November 22 news)
There still was no suspect of bird flu symptoms in Inndawgyi Wildlife Sanctuary in Kachin State where most migratory birds stay in winter season, the secretary of Myanmar Bird and Nature Society who recently visited the sanctuary said. (November 21 news)
Pyinmana became more crowded and transportation businesses were also developing in the city, some residents said. According the official statistics there were about 0.26 millions people in 2005. Six-seat buses and motor cycles are operating days and nights to the project sites of the government offices located in 5 miles north of the city. The bus charges K200 per head to the project sites while the motor cycles K2000/3000 per head. So far there are one hotel, one inn and a number of guesthouses in Pyinmana. (November 17 news)
Tasaungmone full-moon day's and the subsequent day's (on November 15 and 16) afternoons and nights are teemed with the traditional Nivanzay (charity fairs) being held throughout Rangoon. (November 17 news)
The historical Shwe-taik (building to store gold) and palace buildings in Amarapura old city need to be conserved and refurbished so as to become one of the attractive places that depict the ancient architectural crafts. (November 16 news)
The Yangon City Development Committee's ambition to Transform Rangoon as a digital city would take long due to lack of technology and infrastructure, a YCDC's official said. (November 16 news)
Sesame oil price is likely to drop slightly soon due to entering of the new harvests to the markets. (November 16 news)
The 11-day training on bee breeding begins on November 11 in Aungpan in Shan State. The training held as part of the Burma-Israel co-operation program is conducted by two Israeli experts. (November 15 news)
Burma regularly exports its freshwater carp (Nga-Myit-Chin) to 20 countries including Bangladesh and India. (November 15 news)
The arsenic prevention project conducted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs, and UNICEF will be expanded in two townships in Ayeyarwaddy Division and three township in Bagon Division. Currently the project is being conducted in 165 villages. (November 14 news)
A Mandalay-Rangoon train departed from Mandalay on November 10 derailed between Nyaung-pin-tha and Ka-nyut-kwin rail stations and no casualty was reported. (November 12 news)
Coffee plants will be grown in 10,000 acres in Kayah Special Region (2) beginning from next year. (November 10 news)
A daily direct train service between Rangoon and Pyinmana began on November 6. The trains leave from Rangoon railway station on 7:30am and from Pyinmana on 7:30pm. (November 9 news)
Air Bagan is planning to operate Rangoon-Singapore, Singapore-Kuala Lumpur, and Kuala Lumpur-Rangoon. (November 9 news)
Burma invited Chinese companies and business to produce wood from forests in Kachin, general secretary of UMFCCI, U Sein Win Hlaing said. The invitation was due to the incapability of local businesses to invest in the wood production industry. (November 8 news)
More than 17,000 impoverished children in Burma were taken care by the 22 training centres under Department of Social Welfare, NGOs and 156 child cares associations of the religious organisations, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement said. (November 8 news)
The Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development's Central Equipment Statistics and Inspection Department will auction 80 vehicles and more than 150 motor cycles on November 11. (November 8 news)
The results of the children's blood tests made at the Thailand's regional reference Laboratory approved that three children in Kengtong Township died not because of bird flu but because of a normal flu. (November 8 news)
Burma trade delegation to Vietnam signed an agreement early November that will allow to export US$48 millions worth commodities to Vietnam. (November 8 news)
Yenangyaung Industrial Zone in Magway Division is allowed to assemble more than 100 jeep and light truck vehicles during this fiscal year. Meanwhile the industrial zone is also preparing to assemble Dream motor cycles, which have already been accepted in Bangladesh market. (November 7 news)
Government is providing K1200 millions loans for the second time to 12 businesses that are cultivating palm oil plants or establishing palm oil grinding mills. (November 7 news)
Number of commodities trucks arriving at Bayintnaung Complex were decreasing because it was the off season of most of the commodities and also because of the increased petrol prices, warehouse owners said. (Oct 18 news)
The Myanmar Agricultural Produce Trading will increase growing onion in about 50,000 acres exploited from the waste lands for coming fiscal year as overseas demand especially from Bangladesh is rising. Paddy will also be cultivated in more than 0.1 million acres of the wed land cultivation areas in coming fiscal year. (Oct 18 news)
This year's mid-year gems emporium sold the highest number of jade and jewellery, general manager of Myanmar Gems Enterprise, U Maung Maung Thein said. 1535 jade lots and 45 gem lots were sold at the emporium. (Oct 19 news)
More travellers rely on taking the trains recently because highway bus fares are raised. Sales of number of train tickets without seating facilities are also increased to 20 units from the previous numbers of 10 tickets per coach. (Oct 17)
Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Limited will import 200 diesel-fuelled passenger buses from Japan to facilitate the transportation. Five private companies will convert those buses to CNG. (Oct 19 news)
WHO, UNICEF and the Ministry of Health will conduct a measles inoculation project in the end of next raining season for a total of 15 millions children in Burma. (Oct 20 news)
This year's mango export earning, which is about US$ 11.249 millions, is increased ten times compared to last year's earning. (Oct 19 news)
7
Day News Vol.4, No. 30 (6/10/05)
Burma to establish football academy in Mandalay, with assistance from FIFA. Burma will receive US$ 1 million from FIFA for the academy.
Over 500,000 eggs are entering Rangoon from the delta region and they are sufficient for Rangoon's consumption. About 90,000 viss of chicken are also arriving to Rangoon daily. 2 private companies have been supplying 300,000 baby chickens weekly to the poultry farms.
Burma's flag carrier MAI and Malaysian Airlines MAS have signed a code-sharing agreement in September and will start implement the passenger sharing program in end October.
Air Bagan is buying two more aircraft for its fleet. Currently, the airline is flying with 4 aircraft to domestic destinations.
Burma's ministry of hotel and tourism announces that applications for visa on arrival should be submitted 5 days ahead of the arrival date through the travel agencies and tour companies that arrange the package tour.
Although GFATM has withdrawn from Burma, Malaria eradication programs will continue in Burma, which has been fighting malaria since 1950, said an official from the ministry of health. Average 600,000 people contracted malaria every year and 2000 people had died from the disease in 2004. The Burmese ministry of health is co-operating with WHO, UNICEF and JICA in malaria eradicating programs.
About 400 police officers from Burma police force have been trained by Australian experts on anti-human trafficking methods and they will distribute their knowledge to police forces all over the country, said a senior police officer from Anti Trafficking Unit.
The efficiency of Burmese police force has improved significantly due to co-operation with the public, said the minister for home affairs at a ceremony on 1st October to mark the 41st anniversary of founding of the Burmese police force.
Migratory birds have arrived early to northern Burma's Inntaw Gyi Lake, even before the end of monsoon season, said the general secretary of BANCA.
7 Day News Vol.4/No.29 (29/9/05)
Burma's ministry of mines opens 'special gold shop' to sell gold coins cast at the government's mint.
A competition on knowledge of HIV/AIDS will be held soon in Mandalay for the youth, said Dr. Ne Win, the secretary of general practitioners association.
Rain will continue until October and November although the monsoon has retreated in the end of September, said the veteran weatherman U Tun Lwin of meteorological department. Rain would continue in the country due to the remaining storms that could occur in the Bay of Bengal, said the weatherman. Rainfalls in Burma this year have been on average, he added.
UMFCCI (Chamber of Commerce) has been forming a economic study and research institute. The institute will conduct continuous surveys on agriculture, commerce, industry, information and communication, financial and international laws. UMFCCI is recruiting academics to work with the institute.
Dengue Fever outbreaks in the country this year are not as serious as they are reported in the foreign media, said a health official from anti-malaria department of the ministry of health. The number of Dengue Fever cases were increased as expected but they were under controlled due to the advance preparations such as storing enough medicines and prevention efforts for the outbreaks, said the official. Dengue fever cases rise every 3 to 4 years, and Burma was expecting a rise in the disease this year. The health official admitted that although the number of cases was not as bad, this year's dengue fever symptoms are more serious and strong. Also the death rate has increased from previous 0.8 percent to 1.3 percent, said the official. Rangoon Division was top in the list of affected areas and cases, followed by Pegu, Mon and Mandalay divisions respectively.
Burma's timber merchants association is conducting vocational training to develop the industry by raising the standard of wood works in the country.
Burma's trekking and hiking federation is planning to climb the Madwe snow peaked mountain in Kachin State in October.
Astronomy and Science Hobbyists Association will be formed in Burma to expand the knowledge of astronomy in the country, said an executive of Burma's Astrological Association.
Car spare parts market thriving in Rangoon, due to the damage cause by heavy rains.
Burma to publish the anti-human trafficking laws, which was promulgated recently, both in English and Burmese languages and distributed for the public soon.
A third batch of publication licences was issued recently. Another 16 weekly journals and 12 magazines were issued licences for publications. A total of 65 publication licences have been issued since the beginning of this year.
7 Day News Vol. 4, No. 28 (22/9/2005)
Export demands for black eyed beans have been high this year and there are no more stocks in the market, said a big trader. Burma has started importing black eyed bean seeds from the US this year and the high yield seeds are widely interested by Burmese farmers. Burma's agriculture sector is in need of quality seeds as the native seeds have been degraded as they have been used for the last 30 to 40 years.
The ministry of commerce has announced the requirements for inspection of the cargoes for export. Cargo owners (exporters) are required to provide proper documents and the exact amount of cargoes that are being applied for export licence. Weighing machines and labours have to be provided by the exporter. Exporters will have to bear the fuel costs of the inspection team, said the announcement.
Ministry of Commerce has published the book 'History of Rice Marketing in Myanmar', with kyats 2000 per copy.
Two Burmese lawyers, U Nyein Kyaw and U Win Naing from the NK Legal law firm have passed the WIPO examination on the subjects of General Course of Intellectual Property, Intellectual Property in Electronic Commerce and Advanced Course of Copyright.
Gano Excel Myanmar Company has helped reform the charity group, which is involved in providing free medical cares for the cancer patients.
Real estate market in Burma starts to move slowly this week, with a few buying of condominium rooms.
There are 49 private labour agencies in Burma providing foreign employment services, up from 20 agencies in 2004, said an official from the ministry of labour. The USDA owned Myan Gon Myint and the military owned Shew Innwa are the only two authorised labour agencies to send Burmese labours to Malaysia and the other private agencies have to co-operate with the two to be able to send Burmese labours abroad.
The environmental NGO FREDA is planning to provide vocational educational programs for the locals in central dry zone Nyaung Oo Township. FREDA is currently involved in conservation works on Alaungdaw Kathapa reserved forest and reforestation of tidal forests along Burma's coastal regions.
7 Day News Journal Vol.4, No 27 (15/9/2005)
There are very few puppeteers in Burma, who could inherit traditional puppetry, said a marionette maker in Mandalay. Burmese traditional marionette performance could vanish in a few years because only a few people are interested in learning marionette but most of them drop out after learning it for one month. .
Although GFATM (Global Funds) has decided to stopped aid to Burma, TB medicines will be available free of charge until 2008, said the project manager from national TB eradication program. The program has already received US$ 11.9 million GFATM and the funds will be used for supplying TB medicines until 2008, said the official.
British Council to hold English reading tests for children aged between 9 and 18.
YCDC to upgrade 25 roads in Rangoon starting from October. The roads will be upgraded until no repairs would be required in the coming monsoon seasons, said an official from YCDC. YCDC blames heavy rains and overloaded vehicles for the roads' damages.
Myanmar US Fellowship Exchange MUSFEX is providing information for the US Humphrey Fellowship Program. The 10-month courses in the US universities invite applications from national level executives in social, health, and education.
About half of the 800,000 new patients with various diseases in Burma are suffering from TB, said a doctor from Burma Red Cross's TB unit. More public information programs are needed for the fight against TB, said the doctor.
150 trainees from the ministry of agriculture are departing for Israel in the end of August, to study diploma courses on agriculture developments.
A pilot project on TB prevention, to be jointly operated by Burma Red Cross and Int'l Red Crescent Association, will be conducted in Thar Ke Ta and Mayangone townships in Rangoon, starting this month.
7 Day News Vol. 4/ No. 26 (8/9/2005)
Pulses and beans prices drop and business is cool in Mandalay, said the wholesales market source.
The famous fortune-teller cum author Min Theinka is opening a hospice for poor and needy patients who are in their last days. The 60-bed hospice will be in Mayantalin Village in Hmawbi near Rangoon.
A private company named Roy's Aquarium is planning to export endangered Salmander (a water lizard) from Burma with the approval from Burma's fisheries department. The animal has been protected by CITES.
A Buddhist monastery orphanage in Rangoon Kaba Aye Naga Cave is seeking donations for the over 1000 orphans in the monastery.
Seminars on foreign studies will be held regularly at the Potential ICT Corner in Rangoon ICT Park.
Diarrhoea cases on the rise in Burma in the last two years, an official from ministry of health said. Poor sanitation, unclean water supplies, poor quality foods and flies are the cause of diarrhoea, said the official.
Within 8 months, over kyats 100 millions were collected as fines from traffic violators in Mandalay, said a traffic police officer in Mandalay. Fines were raised over 10 folds since December last year, for example, the fines for driving without driver licence is from kyats 1000 to kyats 11000 and for reckless driving is from kyats 1,500 to kyats 51,500.
7 Day News Vol 4/ No 25 1st Sept. 05.
Intellectual Properties Rights Law will be promulgated in Burma in January 2006, said the attorney general office sources.
Interview with Dr. Saw Simon Tha on his humanitarian works.
Burma is trying to be the leading country in the ASEAN in agriculture and fishery product exports.
India has proposed for co-operations in human resources developments in ASEAN countries including Burma.
Sesame plantations have increased in central Burma Aung Lan (Allen) township due to the price increases for exports.
A management seminar titled 'From Effectiveness to Greatness' led by Professor Dr. Aung Tun Thet from Italy's Turin UN System Staff College held in MICT Park main meeting hall on 23rd August. The Forum's detailed can bee seen at www.mit.com.mm/seminar.
Burmese sport horses are shorter in their height and they are good at dressage competitions but it is difficult for them to compete in international show jumping competitions, the secretary of Burma's equestrian club said. Malaysia is offering to exchange taller Saba horses which are over 6 years old and are already retired from the competitions, with Burmese horses, which are known for their endurance in cross-country competitions, the secretary said. Thailand is also interested in exchanging sport horses with Burma, said the club secretary.
The first private owned hotel in northern Burma's Putao in Kachin State, will be opened in October 2006. The foreign owned hot air balloon operator 'golden banner' company is building the hotel. About 100-200 tourists visited Putao every year and it is expected that about 500-600 visitors will visit the area after the hotel is in operation, said the company's executive. The area is known for snowy mountains and has the potentials to become a new eco-tourism destination.
UMEHL to import 200 units of CNG cars, mostly buses. The government since the end of last year has said CNG vehicles will be allowed to import, but no one in the private sector has succeeded in importing the CNG vehicles.
Burma will be included among the top 6 pulses and beans exporting countries in the world, according to the FAO report for 2005. Burma's pulses and beans production in 2004-05 was 3.6 mil tons and exports were recorded at 1.1 million tons.
An official from MAPT has urged the private sector to try to penetrate pulses and beans markets in the middle east, where prices are better than India, the main importing country for Burma's pulses and beans.
Real estate market cool.
Car prices up and up trend.
Spanish tourist arrivals have increased due to the visa on arrival system, said an officer from the government tourism ministry. (A package tour group from Europe, which was arriving Rangoon with the aim of taking visa on arrival, was repelled from Rangoon Airport recently, said a tourism source).
7 Day News 15/8/2005~19/8/005
There are high lead content in the traditional Burmese foods such as fish pastes and fish sauces, said a health officer from medical research department.
Popular Burmese Sein Ta Lone mango trees facing insect attacks, when they are about 4 years old, said an agriculture advisor from Thailand. Many mango plantations in Burma are facing big losses every year due to the insect attack, said the advisor. There are reports this week that black spots and cracks were found on the mangoes destined for Singapore. Burmese agriculture officials said the black spots and cracks were due to mishandling of the mangoes while on transport and not due to any fruit disease.
Burmese pulses and beans exporters can take advantage of the flooding in Munbai, India, where floods destroyed many agriculture fields, said an official from ministry of commerce. Current pulses and beans market in Burma is very cool, said the market sources.
Real estate market cool, as the weather is cool, said the market sources.
Australia will continue to help Burma on fighting human trafficking, said Col Sit Aye of Police cross border crime prevention dept. Australia is giving training and assistance to Burma police force since 2003 in fighting human trafficking.
Banned chemicals and food additives were found in the foods being served in 13 restaurants in Mandalay, during a surprise check on the restaurants by health officials. Excessive additives were found in the local sausages and sauces, said the health officials.
There are less potential for flooding this year than 2004, said the deputy director general from meteorological department. There will be less rain in middle of monsoon in central and lower Burma. However, there is a potential for more rain in northern Burma and there can be flooding on the northern part of Irrawaddy River, the weatherman forecasts.
A clinic to treat venereal diseases will be opened at the Burma's Surgeon Society compound, with the assistance from Global Fund. Patients will be treated without charge.
Burma's Industrial Development Bank, Livestock & Fisheries Bank and Co-operative Bank will issue loans to vehicle owners, who are turning their cars into CNG vehicles.
FAO is giving assistance to the coffee growers and there are potentials for Burmese coffee to gain markets internationally, said an official from ministry of agriculture and irrigation.
Industrial wastes should be treated before they are discarded into the environment, said an executive from Burma's Industrial Manufacturers Association. Currently in Burma, treating industrial wastes has been almost non-existence in most of the industrial zones. There are increasing problems on industrial wastes in the industrial zones in the country, said the executive.
A Thailand based Ionic Logistic Company is offering direct delivery service for goods from Thailand. Importers from Burma can ordered any goods from Thailand through the company and delivery will be made within one week through the border entry points, the company said. The company will take care of import procedures for all kinds of goods including consumer goods, textiles and electronic goods, said the company. An electronic goods merchant said importers can save the troubles of import procedures.
Htoo Trading company is planning to open a chain of five star hotels, the first in Burma for such hotel chain, in tourist areas such as Pagan, Inle, Mergui, Moulmein and Putao. The hotel chain is named Myanmar Treasure Resort and construction works are underway and will be completed in 2007.
Real estate market started to move slowly in Rangoon suburban areas, said a real estate agent.
International Education Fair 2005 will be held in Rangoon's Grand Plaza Park Royal Hotel, on 16th and 17th July. Northumbria New Castle University from UK, TAEF and Western Australia University from Australia, AIT from Thailand, Ihmes Manila Campus and EOG England Optical Group from Malaysia are among the participants.
Snake bite insurance schemes are selling well in central Burma and Myanmar Insurance is planning to expand the scheme in the other parts of the country.
YCDC has started to allow game fishing in Inya Lake in Rangoon after paying a fee of kyats 500 per day at the YCDC's Parks and Sport Grounds Department in Kandawmingalar Park. Game fishing is ban in other public lakes around Rangoon.
A blind student from Kyemyingdine blind school under the social welfare department is on her way to Japan to study massage courses. Japan's JICA sponsored the study trip. Sophia is the first blind student from Burma to study abroad on a long study course. Sophia is also a philosophy student from Rangoon Eastern University and is fluent in English and Japanese.
A private tour company named Myathet Chel will arrange mountaineering tours to the well-known mounts in Burma.
Gold miners in upper and northern Burma should beware of the environmental issues, said an executive from Burma's industrial manufacturers association. Gold miners in Burma use Arsenic and Mercury in collecting gold in their mining operations and the substances are detrimental to the environment and also dangerous for human beings and natural inhabitants, said the executive.
Used cars market cool with only a few trading in the market.
Air Bagan, the private owned airline in Burma, is expanding its fleet. The company has ordered 2 new Fokker 100 jet aircraft and two new ATR aircraft. The first Fokker 100 jet aircraft has arrived Rangoon on 1st July. The airline is currently operating with 3 ATR aircraft, two owned by the company and one leased from the government.
A new general manager will come to the Traders Hotel in Rangoon. The new GM is from Singapore Traders Hotel.
Burma to grow 1000 million orchids (Dendrobian species) in the country to produce herbal medicines.
Gold prices in Mandalay have been stable around kyats 234000 tical, kyats 2500 lower than Rangoon's gold prices. The gold merchants association in Mandalay has intervened in setting gold prices.
A total of kyats 192 lakhs have been donated by donors across the country to build water tanks and deep wells in central Burma's Yenanchaung township. The township has been facing water shortages.
7 Day News 23/6/2005
The fees for using Internet is high in Burma due to high initial investments on infrastructure constructions, said an official from MPT. Internet usage in Burma is the lowest among ASEAN members but the Internet user fees are the highest.
All the disable children in the country can join schools now, said an official from the ministry of education. The ministry has started a project for disable education and instructed all the township education offices around the country to collect disable children population census and assist in sending them to schools.
A green channel is open in the passport office, for those who require getting passports urgently. Those who need to go abroad urgently for medical treatments, and for students who face entry deadlines, will benefit from the green channel, said an officer from the passport section.
With only 400,000 telephones for 52 million people in Burma, only 0.08% of the populations is having access to telephones, said an official from MPT. The government is giving priority to extend telephone lines in the countryside, said the official.
Ministry of forestry's central dry region mountain ranges re-greening project has started since year 2000 and the project's works will be completed in 2005, said the newsletter from ministry of forestry.
National environmental conservation commission has given environment conservation awards to two individuals and to the Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BENCA), on the World Environmental Day.
AFXB Myanmar, the international NGO involving in HIV/AIDS projects, is providing training on income generating works, for the families of HIV/AIDS sufferers.
Scrutinising on quality and safety of high-rise buildings' designs and constructions have accelerated.
Car prices up.
The ministry of commerce has raised the export floor prices of pulses and beans.
7 Day News 16/6/2005
The Ledo highway road, which links India, Burma and China, will be re-opened in 2006. The 1300 km road was first opened in 1945, beginning from India's Lido Town, passing near Myintkyina in northern Burma's Kachin State and ends in western China's Kumming City.
During the Monsoon season, the public should beware of Dengue Fever which could attack older people as old as 70, said health officials.
Burma's first walk-in aviary in Pyin Oo Lwin will be opened to the public in November. The aviary is attached to the botanical garden.
Leading businessmen from Bangladesh and China have urged their governments to construct a highway road linking the two countries, passing through Burma.
The market for traditional Burmese shoulder bags has shrunk 50%, due to competition from modern backpacks.
City Mart Supermarket, which sustained major damages on the May 7th bomb attacks, has donated kyats 29 lakhs received from charity sales for Mothers' Day, to the non-governmental social organisations.
Three Takin offspring were born from the four Takins, one male and three females, being bred in Pyin Oo Lwin's National Park. Takins, which dwell in northern Kachin State's snowy mountains, are one of the most endanger animals in the world. The parents Takins were caught in Kachin State and brought to the national park.
Training programs for coffee growing and production are being conducted in Pyi Oo Lwin with assistance from FAO under technical assistance program to the ministry of agriculture and irrigation. The program received US$ 280,000 from FAO.
Over 100,000 acres of coffee plantations are being established in northern Shan State and Pyin Oo Lwin.
The first trade fair for Burmese products will be held in India's Bombay in September.
Free trade agreement among ASEAN countries for animals and animal products could start in 2007.
Second batch of government's agriculture loans to the palm oil plantations, amounted to kyats 14000 lakhs, are being issue to the palm oil plantations entrepreneurs, said an official from ministry of agriculture. The first loans amount of kyats 35450 lakhs were issued recently. Total government loans to the palm oil plantations will be kyats 64,750 lakhs.
India's Rail Coach Factory will supply rail coaches to Burma. Burma railways ordered a total of 36 coaches from the Indian factory.
Government domestic pearl sales aiming at selling to the local people, will be held in July said an official from Burma's pearl enterprise.
7 Day News 9/6/2005
The prospect of conserving shark species in Burma is good because the catch of sharks are only 1% of the total fish catches in Burma, said an official from the research section of fishery department. Burma do not have commercial shark hunting but the sharks are caught in the trawl nets and drifts nets used by fishermen for catching other fishes, said the official. Burma designated an area in southern Burma's Myeik Archipelago as a shark sanctuary. Since 2004, Burma has collected the data of shark species in its waters and has recorded over 30 shark species. Old records showed that there are 60 species of sharks in Burma waters.
Government owned Myanmar Economic Bank starts money transfer service by fax for the public, between the bank's branches around Burma.
China is interesting in investing in palm oil plantations in Burma. Thailand and Malaysia have shown keen interest in setting up palm oil plantations in Burma and now China join the forces by sending a delegation to study the prospects of setting up the plantations. Yunan province's agriculture department officials will lead the delegation. A team of experts from Malaysia visited Burma in May and one Malaysian company in interested in setting up palm oil plantations of 50,000 acres to 300,000 acres. Local entrepreneurs said if the foreign companies are allow to take up lands in Burma, the local companies will not be able to compete with the foreign companies and only joint venture operations should be allowed for foreign firms.
Smoking among health workers is not declining in Burma, said the minister for health on May 31st at the ceremony of World's Tobacco Free Day. 20% of male doctors and 0.8% of female doctors in Burma are addicted to smoking or eating betel quid.
A Burmese student named Cherry Than won gold medal in 2004's LCCI's Private Secretary's Diploma examination.
Myanmar Airways International MAI increases its weekly flights to K.L and Singapore from previous 3 flights to current 4 flights a week.
Junction 8 Shopping Centre re-opens on 21st May with tighter security. The City Mart Shopping Mall in the centre, which sustained big damages in the May 7th bomb blasts, remains closed.
A prayer service was held in Singapore for a Burmese illegal worker, who died from a fall while on a building painting job. The body of Soe Thein, 24, was discarded in a parking lot by his employers. Soe Thein left home from Ywa Thit village in southern Burma's Mon State two months ago, and had sent his family US$ 200 recently. A Singapore undertaker has offered to send the body home with the expenses of S$ 5000, but the parents of the deceased requested not to send back the body due to their village's tradition of not accepting dead bodies from far away places. The undertaker again offered for a funeral arrangements in Singapore, which also costs S$ 5000.
Burma-Yunan bilateral trade co-operation will be increased. The negotiations were made during Yunan province governor's visit to Rangoon in the third week of May. Border trade between Yunan and Burma reached US$ 400 million in 2004, a 25% increased compared to 2003.
Portable generators prices drop in Rangoon but sales have been decreasing, said the generator sale shops.
Over 60,000 trees will be planted in Rangoon and its surroundings starting from the beginning of June, as a move for greener Rangoon scheme, said an official from YCDC.
The management school of Myanmar Human Resources begins courses on Human Resources Management. The six months course costs kyats 160,000 (US$ 160) and the examinations will be conducted by ABE (UK).
Tea leaves production declined in Burma this year due to the weather and tea leaves prices are increasing.
The government is increasing the number of public communication booths to 12 in Rangoon, which are providing telephone, fax and e-mail services. The new booths will be established in downtown Rangoon, said an official from MPT.
Cotton dresses from Burma with owned designs are making their way in Japan market, said the Burmese popular designer Daw Su Su Hlaing.
Businessmen from Thailand, who are interested in setting up businesses in Burma, have made a tour to the proposed industrial zones in Myawaddy, Moulmein and Pa-an in last week of May. The trip was the third visit for the Thai businessmen. Land prices in the industrial zones have been increasing. The construction works for the industrial zones along the Thai-Burma border are likely to begin in the end of 2006, said the sources from UMFCCI.
More and more people are getting interested in growing rubber due to the TV advertisement by the government, saying growing rubber can make people rich. Many people are now planting rubber in southern Burma Mon State, said the residents from Mon State.
Myanmar Insurance is introducing War Risk insurance, after the bomb blasts in Rangoon on May 7th.
Serious forest depletion is happening in Mone Da area in central Burma's Thayet Township. The area is a protected forest area but the makeshift cultivation in the area causes the forest depletion. Burma is facing forest depletion rate of average 500,000 acres annually, due to the makeshift cultivation and illegal logging.
Switzerland based AFXB is conducting sex education and HIV/AIDS awareness programs in southern Burma Moulmein.
Sales have been brisk for diarrhoea medicines and analgesic drugs in Rangoon wholesales market, due to the increased sicknesses during the season change.
The Dagon Centre second anniversary will be held from 25th June to 2nd July. The anniversary was scheduled to hold starting 23rd May, but due to the bomb blasts at the centre on 7th May, the ceremonies were postponed.
A value added wooden factory owned by Sein Yadanar Wuthmone Company opens on 1st June. The company is exporting value added wooden products such as planks, wooden boats, floorings for boats and parquets to Europe including Italy, Germany and England, and to Taiwan, Korea and Japan, using low cost wooden raw materials.
Gold prices drop in the last week of May and in the first week of June, trading around 222,000 kyats per tical, a drop from 228,000 in the previous weeks.
Scholarships were given to the children of lepers in Monywa in central Burma on 31st May. The scholarships program for the children of lepers were established by Burma leprosy doctors, journalists and well-wishers in 1999.
7 Day News 2~8/6/2005
Burma to establish crime database in 2006, according to the ASEAN agreement made among ASEAN Police Chiefs this month in Bali, Indonesia.
OPEC to assist Burma in building two edible palm oil refineries worth US$ 5 million. Total loans from the OPEC for the project will be US$ 12 millions and the two refineries will be built in Rangoon and Mandalay.
Two experts on Tsunami warning system, from IOC and UNESCO, will come to Burma in June. The two experts, one Italian and one Japanese, will advise Burma on establishing Tsunami warning system in the country with the assistance from UNESCO and IOC.
Brown University from the US asked the producer of the Burmese historical movie of "Kyan Sit Min" (the history of Burmese King Kyan Sit Tha), to keep the movie as a reference in the university's history department. The movie was a success among Burmese and foreign viewers while on the pre-shows in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.
Blazon shopping centres in Rangoon and Mandalay have introduced telephone-shopping system. The shopping centres will make deliveries directly to the homes, 24 hours a day, for purchases worth over kyats 10,000. Security at the shopping centres have been beef up after the bomb blasts in Rangoon and Mandalay.
Home delivery businesses have gained popularity among Rangoon consumers, due to the security scare after the bomb blasts. Standard consumer goods are packed into a basket and delivered directly to homes and payments are made 10 days later.
The body of a Burmese illegal migrant worker was found in a Singapore parking plot. It was believed that the worker's employer had left the body at the parking plot. The Burmese migrant worker was a construction painter and was killed from a fall from a building while painting it. The worker's Singaporean employer and an Indian supervisor were detained.
Burma's foreign trade surplus reached US$ 954.554 million in 2004/05 fiscal year, said the ministry of commerce's Web site. Burma's total exports were US$ 2927.834 million and total imports were US$ 1973.28 million. Total trade volume is US$ 4901.114 million. Statistics show that trade surplus in 2003/04 was US$ 116.843 million. Burma's top exports in 2004/05 were industrial finished products, followed by forestry products and agriculture products. Industrial products exports fetched US$ 1240.78 million and forestry products fetched US$ US$ 427.81 and agriculture products fetched US$ 320.79 million.
MAPT to auction the seized agriculture products such as rice, sesame seeds, onions, chillies, corn and beans, to foreign buyers by sealed tender system. The more than 100 tons products were seized while transporting for smuggling to neighbouring countries.
Myanmar Timber Enterprise has issued a notice to the wood based factories that have purchased raw materials (logs and planks) from the MTE in 2004/05 fiscal year, to make payments by 31st August this year. Wood based industries were allowed to buy raw materials from MTE with deferred payment system and payments to MTE can be made within 4 to 6 months after the finished products were exported. A 13% surcharge is charged to the raw materials buying factories. The government is encouraging the wooden industry to increase the exports of finished products, instead of exporting timber as raw materials.
Po Kyar Elephant Camp in the central mountain range is one of the good places in Burma for bird watching, said the secretary of Burma's bird watchers association. 103 bird species were recorded in the surroundings of the camp during the latest bird watching tour to the camp in May.
Mon Ywa commodities trading centre in central Burma has changed its opening hours, to 9~11 AM from previous 11 AM to 1 PM, due to the hot weather. The temperature has reached 44 C in Mon Ywa during the month of May.
E-Passport holders will have to obtain D-form before departure from Burma, announced the Passport section. E-passports were issued to the government employees, diplomats and businessmen starting from October 2002.
Burma to amend the cross border crime suppression law, said the ministry of home affairs sources. A Law Review Group is being formed in the ministry, said the source.
Interview with FAP Representative.
Burma is exporting 30,000 tons to 50,000 tons of sugar to foreign countries and could not fulfil the demands for exports, said an official. Burma has 140,000 acres of sugar cane plantations in 2003/04 and target for 2005/06 is 360,000 acres. Sugar production in the country is 50,000 tons to 60,000 tons per year and per capita consumption is 4 kg per year.
7 Day News 26/5/2005~1/6/2005
· The Burmese minister for commerce has urged the Burmese businesses to take advantage of the AISP (GSP) privileges on Burmese products given by China and ASEAN. Burma, in 2005/06, has agreed to increase bilateral trade with China and India to $ 1 billion each and $ 50 million with Vietnam. Thailand this year has announced that 850 products from Burma will have duty-free access to Thai markets.
· In a bid to increase pearl production, Burma has expanded its pearl culture centres and pearl culture facilities in its southern waters. Burma targets to produce 100,000 pearls in 2008.
· Two Japanese companies, SHIKOKU and SATAKE, are conducting feasibility studies in Burma delta area to build small-scale rice husk biogas turbines for generating electricity.
· Burmese mangoes are on their way to Singapore. 2 local companies have signed contract with Singapore companies to export Burmese Sein Ta Lone (Single Diamond) mangoes with US$ 1000 per ton.
· UNDP to provide US$ 1 million for conservation works on mangroves along Burma coastal areas, stretching 2800 km from southern Burma Mon State to western Burma Rakkhine State. FREDA’s secretary U Ohn said in some areas, the banks (shoreline) have collapsed almost 1 mile inshore, due to the depletion of the mangroves. He said it will take at least 3 years after receiving the funds to correct the mangrove depletions and for reforestation works on the mangroves, and it is necessary to control on the fish and shrimp farming in the areas for long term sustainable survival of the mangroves.
· UMFCCI its affiliates organisations to donate kyats 4 million to the victims of the May 7 bomb blasts.
· Dagon Shopping Mall, which was damaged by the May 7 bomb blast, has reopened with tight security measures.
· Local NGOs need to work more closely with the international NGOs to conserve critically depleted forests in Burma, said FREDA’s secretary U Ohn. There are three areas of critical forest depletions in Burma, the northern rain forests in Kachin, Chin & Shan States, the dry zone and the mangroves. The government could not afford to conserve all these forests due to a constraint in the budget and the local NGOs should continuously contact to the international NGOs for assistance, said the FREDA’s secretary. Among the three areas of critically depleted forests, only a few areas were protected and the forests in Shan, Chin and dry zone are in critical condition, said the veteran forester.
· Burma and Germany to exchange animals on animal exchange program. 2 elephants from Rangoon Zoo will be exchanged with 2 rhinos from Cologne Zoo in Germany.
· NCEA (National Commission on Environmental Affairs) to honour outstanding environmentalists. 3 outstanding environmentalists will receive prizes and awards from NCEA on 5th June, the World’s Environmental Day.
· Department of fisheries is conducting research and surveys on the sea turtles, which are seriously endangered in Burma. The government this year has continuously issued warnings and educational information on the endangered sea turtles. The fisheries department is planning to conduct educational awareness programmes for the local villagers and will travel to the areas to protect the turtles where the turtles are coming to shore for laying eggs, and conduct research. Among the world’s 7 sea turtles species, five species were found in Burma. The sea turtles can be seen in western Burma Rakkhine State, southern Mon State and southeast Tenessarim Division.
· A team of conservationists from the WCS and Burma’s ministry of forest’s wildlife conservation team has travelled in Hu Kaung Valley, to educate the local villagers about tiger conservation works. The team has travelled for three months to 50 villages in the valley and conducted meetings with the local villagers and gave them information about the tiger sanctuary and the conservation works. A member of the team said 80% of the local villagers do not have any idea about the tiger sanctuary or the tiger conservation works and do not even know that the area has been designated as a tiger sanctuary.
· Rice mills in Burma are receiving financial assistance from the IDA (International Development Assistance) and there are only a few rice mills that need to repay the loans, said a report from Rice Millers Association. Burmese rice millers have received US$ 488,000 to upgrade their rice mills, said the report. There are a total of 24,000 rice mills in Burma.
· FAO and MAPT conduct workshops and seminars in Rakkhine State on exportable crop productions and handling.
· The locals in Rakkhine State’s northern Maung Daw Township are hunting pythons as a side income source. The local hunters would catch pythons bigger than 8 feet and a python skin fetches between kyats 10,000 ($10) and 50,000 ($50) and a gall bladder of a python fetched between kyats 5000 to kyats 20,000.
· Burma will have to wait some more time for the monsoon rains due to the prolonged high temperatures in lower Burma, said the dy DG of meteorological dept. Monsoon usually enters Burma in mid May. This year’s high temperatures are not record breaking, but the prolonged high temperatures are causing the people to feel the heat, said the official.
· Burma soon to export 500 tons of mangoes to Australia and the processing works are underway, an official from YCDC said. YCDC is the owner and operator of the cold storage and processing plant (Pack House).
· Burmese tour companies will participate, for the first time, in the Arabian Travel Market to be held in Dubai from 3rd to 6th May. Burma is hopeful to lure Arab travellers to come to Burma.
· Registered private companies, which could not show incomes for two consecutive years, will not be allowed to renew their registrations, said the director from directorate of companies. Many companies were formed to apply license for GSM phones purchase, and for applying business passports. The validity period of a company registration is 2 years and registration fee is kyats 500,000 kyats, up from previous kyats 1500.
· Most of the Burmese workers registered to work in foreign countries are from Rangoon, said an official from labour department. The Burmese foreign workers mostly go to Malaysia, followed by South Korea, Singapore and Japan respectively. There were 2114 registered Burmese foreign workers in the whole 2004.
· Gold prices up slightly to kyats 223,000/tical on 28th April with steady sales.
· After the Intellectual Property Rights Law is approved and promulgated in Burma, most of the Burmese musicians who are copying foreign music will be in trouble, legal sources said. Currently, Civil Laws can be used to take actions against the copyists, said the source.
· Greater Mekkong tourism development co-operation project will start in 2006, said an advisor from Burma to the strategic project, which might take 5 to 10 years to implement.
· Men, who seek luxury at the beauty saloons, are warned about eardrum punctures caused by taking hair wash at the modern beauty saloons. Many patients have arrived to the specialist clinics with eardrum problems, because the beautiful hairdressers would use their long fingernails to wash and clean inside the customers’ ears, explained an ear specialist doctor.
· There are increasing numbers of garment factories in Thailand’s Maesod border town, on the Thai-Burma border. Many garment workers from Rangoon are arriving in Maesod to join the newly established Thai garment factories, which provide accommodations and meals and also pay attractive salaries around kyats 60,000~70,000 (US$ 63~73) plus bonus.
· UN ESCAP to give technical assistance to Burma’s IT sector by sending Burmese IT professionals to Thailand for training, said an official from the UN ESCAP.
· Burma’s pearl productions have been increasing yearly due to improved technology adopted in Burma since 5 years ago, said the GM of Burma’s pearl enterprise. Pearls sales at the last annual gem emporium have increased 45%, with sales worth Euro 324,223, said the GM.
· The high yield rice hybrid seeds, produced at the government research centre, could not be successful in the market and it is not possible to attract the farmers to grow the government’s hybrid seeds, because of low rice quality and high cultivation costs, said a manager from government’s agriculture enterprise.
Bagan Thiripyitsayar Hotel will reduce room rates for the locals in the summers, from US$ 80 per night to kyats 30,000. The program is aim to attract local guests when foreign guest arrivals are low in summer.
· 650 Buddhist Yogi from 20 countries visited the Shwe Dagon Pagoda and donated robes to 30,000 Burmese monks. The international Buddhist yogi mission also made donations worth kyats 800 million in Burma. The mission arrived Burma on 18th and departed on 22nd April.
· Burma soon to promulgate Agriculture Seed Law, which was drafted since 2004 and awaiting endorsement from the government. Most of the agriculture seeds enter Burma through border trade and due to the substandard seeds, Burmese farmers often suffer losses.
· Burma has banned shark hunting and trading of shark products since last year May, said an official from the fisheries department. Early this year, the local fishery departments in delta region have issued warnings to the fishermen that selling of shark products carry stiff penalties. The selling of raw shark meat have declined since then but trading of dried shark meat and shark fins are still ongoing as before, said the dried fish shops in the delta region. A viss (1.6 kg) of dried shark meat costs kyats 1500 (US$ 1.6) and the price of shark fins vary from kyats 10,000 to kyats 100,000 (US$ 11- US$110) per viss.
· Commercial mushroom farming still could not meet the local market demands, said a mushroom farmer.
· Traffic accidents during this year’s water festival are the lowest in the last five years, traffic authorities announced.
· Catfish fillet exports see good prospects with increasing orders from overseas, said an exporter.
· Disabled Equestrian Club will be formed in May, said the vice-chairman of Rangoon Equestrian Club.
· Passport applications with fake documents and false personal details could face severe punishment, said an announcement at the passport section.
· UNICEF provides pharmaceuticals and health education programmes at Kyi Myin Dine and Kaw Hmu Townships in Rangoon Division.
· Selling of shrimps and lobsters with lead pieces inserted in the heads will face severe punishment, said an announcement from the fisheries department. Pieces of lead are inserted into the heads of lobsters and shrimp to gain weight.
· Myanma Timber Enterprise has issued an announcement on 29th March, saying that timber export licenses will be valid only for 3 months from the date of issue, a cut from previous 6 months validity.
· Commodities trade are declining after the water festival, said the wholesales market sources.
7 Day News 7~13/4/2005
· IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to provide US$ 170,000 worth of technical assistance & support materials to Burma’s diary cow breeding industry. The three years project to assist small breeders with less than 5 cows will start in March. The project will provide the breeders with technologies to produce nutritious cow feeds made out of Urea and sugar and also in artificial insemination methods.
· Burma’s first law web site, ‘www.myanmarlawfirm.net’, hosted by a law firm.
· Burma to tackle the problem of increasing fishmeal prices said the minister for livestock breeding and fishery at a workshop to find solution for the problem. Burma’s fishmeal prices have risen significantly compare to last year, due to hedging by traders who are keeping stocks of over 400,000 tons of fishmeal, said the minister. Burma’s fish farm owners are facing financial losses due to the increasing fishmeal prices.
· A well-known medical professor of liver diseases has warned against eating chicken liver, a popular meal in Burma.
· Highway bus fares have increased more than double due to the approaching water festival, when there are many travellers. Many people in the cities are returning to their native towns for the festival.
· Burma’s Forest Joint Venture Corporation, a joint venture between the ministry of forestry and public, to resume its operations after it has recently received the permits to buy 7000 tons of hardwood from the ministry of forestry. The FJVC, the only public firm with its shares traded at the Myanmar Securities Exchange Centre, has to ceased its operation after it fail to receive raw timbers from the ministry of forestry with subsidised prices.
· Burma to expand rubber plantations throughout the country, including to those areas where rubber has never been planted before.
· GSM mobile phone handset prices drop significantly, due to there are no more GSM phone lines issuance from the government in recent weeks.
· A workshop on Burmese lacquer wares will be held in March in Bagan.
· The Myanmar Birds & Nature Society, on a recent birds watching course in Hlawgar Park, has found 3 unrecorded species of birds in the park. There were 188 species of birds in the park.
· A post-graduate student said in her graduate term paper, that there are 106 species of birds found in Dala township opposite Rangoon river.
· More Burmese are interested in learning & playing piano, said a musical instruments store owner. About 30 pianos have been sold annually with prices ranging from kyats 7 lakhs to 30 lakhs, said the store owner. Piano lessons cost kyats 10,000 per month.
· Corn prices dropping, due to increased supply from the delta.
· About 76.1% of the Burmese populace are now using fly proof latrines, an UNICEF officer said. UNICEF has spent US$ 800,000 on water & sanitation projects in Burma and it is hoping that by 2015, the whole country will be using safe fly proof latrines.
· International Development Enterprise, together with water resources department, has conducted a demonstration on foot pumps in Magwe Aung Mingalar Ward.
· Rare & endangered Gibbons found in the Mahamyaing Forest in north-west Burma’s Sagaing Division Kalaywa Township. The WCS and Burma’s forestry department have been jointly conducting surveys on the gibbons’ population since June 2004. The joint team will also continue to work on the conservation of the natural habitats of the gibbons.
· ADB to provide assistance for tourism development projects in Burma, said the general manager of the government’s directorate of tourism. Burma’s Myeik Archipelago & Three Pagoda Pass areas are likely to win the ADB’s projects, the official said. ADB is planning to provide assistance to 15 tourism development projects in 6 countries in the greater Mekong Region.
· Souvenir shops at the Pagan Archaeological Town are recently ordered to abide by the authorities’ new rules and regulations. Selling of antiques, begging from the tourists, guiding tourists without license and indecent dressing are prohibited. Shops which do not abide by the rules will face severe actions, authorities announced.
· The sales of weekly news and sports journals have increased after the Tsunami, said a distributor.
· The government to allow onion exports in March, cultivated by the private farming companies. About 10 farming companies have been cultivating onion since last September. Onions were exported to Malaysia, Singapore and some Middle East countries. Current onion prices in the Malaysia market are low due to increased supply from India. Burma bans onion exports since the end of 2003. In 2004, private companies were told that they would be allowed to export onions coming from their own farms.
· Burma to produce 50,000 tons of rubber in 2005/06 and about 40,000 tons can be exported, said a government official. In 2004/05, Burma similarly produced about 50,000 tons of rubber and exported about 40,000 tons. A ton of rubber fetches between US$ 1000 and $ 1300 and Burma earned about US$ 5 million from rubber exports in 2004.
· Compared to last year, the interests for Information & Computer Technology have increased among the Burmese people, said an official from the Myanmar Computer Professionals Association. A significant 15% increased in studying of the ICT was recorded among the educated women aged between 18 and 30, said the official.
· Doctors (general practitioners) from 100 townships around Burma were given follow up courses on reproductive health education, sponsored by the WHO and UNFPA.
· Rangoon’s bus drivers and conductors have to undergo psychological tests, said an official from the government’s bus lines control committee.
· A Canadian Pharmaceutical Company named Apotex is trying to import medicines to Burma, said the vice president of the Burma’s Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs Association. The company was advised to import the medicines to Burma via Malaysia, Singapore or Taiwan, said the vice president of the association.
· Burma to form a bee breeders and honey producers association in April, aiming to develop bee keeping in the country.
· 1000 acres of castor oil plants will be planted by contract farming this year in Karen State, said a government official. The castor seeds will be exported to Thailand. Burma is planning to expand castor oil plants plantations in the coming years. Currently, Burma has about 2000 acres of castor oil plantations in central Burma. The big companies like Asia World, Yuzana, Super One and Shwe Thanlwin are also involved in commercial cultivation of castor oil plants.
Burma to attend Berlin International Tourism Fair. 15 tour companies, 5 hotels and 4 airlines from Burma, organised by Burma’s Tourism Marketing Committee, will participate in the fair
· Burma’s government tourism school to offer tourism general knowledge course for Burmese drivers, the school principal said.
· S1 Thein Sein said, the government to continue supporting for IT sector developments. Burma’s IT sector was led by ex-PM Khin Nyunt & his son.
· Burmese passports will be issued also on Saturdays, said the passport section’s announcement on 21st January. Current passport applications take only one week, said the passport issuing section.
· Burma resumes exports of Tilapia fish. Tilapia fish exports were stopped two years ago after technical problems in breeding and due to low local market demands.
· Burma’s Yuzana Company starts building the country’s first edible palm oil refinery in Rangoon. Currently, there are only palm oil mills in Burma that can produce only the raw palm oil for industrial use. There are 130,000 acres of palm oil plantations in southern coastal region.
· The validity of import licenses has been changed (reduced) to three months from previous six months starting from 19th January, announced the ministry of commerce.
· Tea leaves (both dried and pickled) prices have risen this year, due to increased demands both for local sales and exports. There are reports that Burma’s organic green tea has been gaining popularity in the world market and has established a strong base in the international market. Burma’s organic green tea is competing well with the organic green tea from China & Japan, said a tea entrepreneur from Kachin State. Burma is currently exporting organic green tea to France, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand & Taiwan and there are prospects for exports to Germany & Korea, said the entrepreneur.
· Souvenir sales for Chinese Lunar New Year have been slow this year, said the souvenir stores owners.
· Burma is introducing new species of Rohu fish stocks to fish farmers. Previous cultured Rohu fish species have been genetically degraded in Burma, due to continuos breeding from the same old stocks.
· Nikko Hotel has donated Kyats 2,067,000 generated from Nikko Charity Golf Tournament to Burma Red Cross Society for the tsunami victims in Burma. Similarly, Traders Hotel has donated US$ 805 to the ICRC & Red Crescent Society for the tsunami victims in Burma.
· Burma’s private owned Universal Bank is opening its new head office on Pansodan Road. The bank’s previous head office was on Theinbyu Road. The bank has 27 branches all over Burma and the new head office will become 28th office of the bank.
· Burmese government urging pulses & beans exporters to try to export value added products. In a recent workshop on pulses and beans export, government officials urged the merchants and farmers to produce better quality green mung beans for Japan market, and the deputy minister for commerce said Burma should try to export value added products from pulses and beans such as snacks & cakes. He suggested good packing and good labelling. Businessmen said 80% of Burma’s pulses and beans go to India market and due to low quality & price, there are times that it is difficult even to export to India. A businessman suggested at the workshop that, to be able to compete well in the international markets, the government should reduce taxes and also should change the rules & regulations for export. The deputy director general of department of trade from the ministry of commerce replied that the businessmen should try to work within the boundaries of current rules and regulations. The export department director from the ministry of commerce said exporters should also try to get better prices for their exports. He mentioned that current Burma’s pulses and beans export prices do not reach the prices in 2002. He said average per ton prices for Burma’s pulses and beans are US$ 269.55 in 2002/03, $ 236.36 in 2003/04 and $ 262.09 in 2003/04. Pulses and beans prices are declining in Burma this year and there are signs of further decline due to an increase in production in India, said the official.
· A total of 1086 delegates, including those from the 10 legal political parties, are being invited to attend the upcoming national convention, said the minister for information at the recent press conference. The government said, 87.4% of the N.C delegates are university graduates.
· Burma is at the last stage of negotiating for mango exports to Australia with US$ 600 per ton, said an officer from the ministry of commerce. Only the stage of technical transfer from Australia for mango exports is remaining to negotiate, said the officer.
· One of the only two big companies, which are allowed to export labours for Malaysia market, has changed its name from Myan Gon Myint to Myanma Mahn. The company will co-operate with Thukasusan employment agency in recruiting labours to Malaysia. Only Shwe Innwa Company (owned by MEC) & Myan Gon Myint (USDA owned) have received official licenses for labour exports to Malaysia. Myan Gon Myint has sent, since 2001, about 3000 Burmese workers to Malaysia.
· Burma football team received US$ 10,000 for winning fourth place at the ASEAN Tiger Cup tournament. The prize money was distributed among the players, coaches and team leaders. Burma was fined US$5000 for misconduct during the tournament. It is not known how the fine was paid.
· Car prices declining and prices will keep on declining for another two to three months, said the dealers.
· Gold prices stable at kyats 213000 per tical.
· Yangon Airways will fly weekly flights to Tavoy & Mergue in southeastern Burma coastal region on every Thursday.
· A Burmese business delegation led by UMFCCI (Chamber of Commerce) has visited Pakistan in the first week of February, aiming for trade promotion between the two countries.
· Rangoon & Mandalay Dental Colleges to receive 200 students each college yearly, an increase from previous 50-100 students per year.
Spitting & littering from the cars will receive heavy fines (kyats 11500), said the traffic police
· Burma to use satellite images to prove that it has escaped the Asian tsunami, said meteorological department deputy D.G.
· Burma’s fishery department to collect, in co-operation with the FAO, statistics of fresh water fish farming in the country.
· Fresh water shrimp farming on the rise in Burma. Marine shrimp farming has decreased in Burma due to commercial reasons. China is the major market for Burma’s fresh water shrimps.
· Burma to grow 70,000 acres more palm oil plantations in southern coastal region. Burma currently has 129000 acres of palm oil plantations. The government since November has issued loans amount kyats 33,920 lakhs to 7 private companies.
· About 500 would be overseas employees are registering daily with the Labour Department for overseas employment, since the announcement that the government will issue passports within one week for the overseas employment seekers.
· Burma’s football federation said it will not appeal to the Asian Football Federation’s decision to impose US$ 5000 fine on Burma, on Burmese players’ misconduct on the field.
· Burma is trying to export melons, mangoes and dried tomatoes, said the general manger of MAPT. Melons will be exported to Singapore, Middle East, and to Europe. Dried tomatoes will be exported to Middle East countries. Mangoes will be exported to Australia, Asia and Europe, said the government official. A team of experts from Australia will arrive Rangoon soon to provide technical expertise for mangoes exports to Australia. The government is encouraging for fruit and vegetable exports, said a businessman.
· Burma expects fish consumption will increase to 22 kilograms per year per person from current 14 kilos. Daily supplies in Rangoon per day are: viss 3.5 lakhs of fish, 60000 viss of chicken, 40,000 viss of pork, 30,000 viss of beef, and 20,000 viss of mutton & duck.
· Chartered flights have increased from previous 2 flights a month to current 4 flights a month since the beginning of this tourist season, said private owned Yangon Airways.
· The two foreign oil & gas companies, the Mottama Gas Transportation Co., and Thaninthayi Pipeline Co., will invest in environmental conservation works in Thanintharyee division in south-east Burma. The companies will assist forestry department to implement a natural reserve on 400,000 acres of land area. Elephants and tigers inhabit the area, said the report.
· Foreign owned Diethelm Travel & local owned In-Sight Myanmar have merged.
· Car prices drop. Gold prices stable this week with kyats 211,200 per tical.
· Charcoal & firewood prices are significantly up in Karen State Pa-an, compare to last year.
· Real estate rentals up in down town areas. Some foreigners are inquiring for rentals in down town condos and flats, said a real estate agent.
· Burma’s tourist arrivals have been stable even after the tsunami, said Rangoon airport’s manager. Tourist arrivals in Burma have been increasing since last year April and the whole year average increase has been 21%, said the manager.
Mythun (a kind of domesticated wild ox) breeding has increased in Chin State due to the government loans to mythun breeders. There were 1888 mythuns in Chin State in 2002 and since the issuance of kyats 1000 lakhs loans to 207 breeders, the mythun population has increased to 3585 in 2004 end December
· Burma ministry of hotel & tourism has instructed all the hotels in Burma to raise their room rates for 20-40%. The ministry sources said that although tourist arrivals have been increasing yearly, tourism income has been stagnant.
· WCS and Burma fishery department will conserve the Irrawaddy dolphin’s nature of helping the fishermen in catching fish. The fishermen in northern Irrawaddy River, near Banmaw, would take assistance from the dolphins in herding school of fish to their boats. Some fishermen have recognised the dolphins by their own marks and some of the dolphins are almost 40 years old, said the fishery department officer who is responsible for the conservation works. The dolphins’ populations have increased since the conservation works begin in early 2000.
· Burma will issue passports with electronic security stickers, said the Passport Issuing Section of the ministry of home affairs. Passport applications take only one week starting from 5th January.
· Burma co-operatives to export 900 tons of wooden sculptures & furniture worth US$ 360,000 to China by Muse border trade.
· Burma opens its first CNG gas station in Rangoon on 13th January and plans to open 5 more CNG stations in Rangoon before March. CNG will be sold freely without rations in Burma.
· Burma will produce more freshwater culture fish in 2004-05, said an officer from fishery department. There is a big increase in fish farming, from 90,000 acres in 2003/04 to 160,000 acres in 2004/05.
· Authorities impose time limit, from Morning 4 AM to evening 9 PM, on visiting Inya Lake’s public areas.
· Local tour companies are eyeing Rangoon-Myawaddy tour trips as a potential market for the local travellers. There is a significant increase in local tours to the area, said a tour company which operates the border tours.
· Gold prices drop due to lesser demands for gold savings, said a gold shop owner. Down trend.
· Real estate market is cool with only some rentals in the market.
· Car prices cool. Not much activity in the used car market.
· Sea Turtles still face the danger of extinction in Burma despite the conservation works, said the officer responsible for turtle conservation at the fishery department.