7Day News 2006

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 42 (December 28)

• The Ministry of Forestry has set up 30-year reforestation project since 1992 in order to fulfil people from rural areas the requirement of wood-related products. It expects to produce 4.12millon tonnes of wood in 2030-2031 from the project. (December 20 news)

• About 59,870 tourists entered Burma via Tadaoo International Airport in Mandalay during this year till December 18. The number is slightly higher than last year's figure of 56,166 tourists. (December 20 news)

• An 18-member group of medical specialists from Thailand and local general practitioners provided free medical services in early December to more than 2,000 people in Pakokku in Magway Division. (December 20 news)      

• A local labour agency, PM Company, is sued for failing to provide service to about 200 people who had paid the company local currency equivalent to US$5,500 each as service charges for working in Japan. (December 19 news)

• Aung Zaydi monastic education school in Bago is struggling to continue due to inadequate supply of teaching facilities and stationery for the students. The school is need of donations to continue education of about 100 students, who are orphans and children from poor families. (December 17 news)

7 Day News Vol. 5, No. 41 (December 21)

• In order to help disabled people having regular incomes, a Singaporean woman set up a barbershop in Dagon Township. The Association of Aid and Relief Japan and private professionals provided the disabled hairdressing training. (December 13 news) 

• Burma enjoyed US$1,500million trade surplus in this fiscal year by the end of November, according to the Ministry of Commerce's figures. It has earned more than $1,800million from export in corresponding period. The ministry raises its targeted trade volume in this fiscal year to $8billion from previous expectation of $7billion because the trade volume reaches more than $5,100million within eight months of this fiscal year. (December 13 news)

• Construction projects in Naypyidaw are facing labour shortages due to a number of reasons that include most project sides' demanding on many labours in order to be completed in time. As it is the harvesting season in the region, some labours are returning to the farmlands. (December 13 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 39 (December 7)

• The Ministry of Forestry and Japan International Cooperation Agency agreed on five-year project to grow mangrove forest in Ayeyarwaddy Division beginning from December this year. (November 29 news)

• Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise has earned more than US$720million from natural gas export in this fiscal year till October. It earned more than $350million from gas export in October. The Myanma Timber Enterprise ranked as second top exporter in October with more than $54million export earning. (November 22 news)

 7Day News Vol. 5, No. 38 (November 30)

• Beginning later this year, liquors, cigarettes and soft drinks with tax paid description (on their covers) only will be allowed to sell in the market, the Ministry of Finance and Revenue said. The move will help eliminating forged commodities in the market but it can also create price rises. (November 22 news)

• The British Embassy in Rangoon announces to process non-settlement applications within 24 hours of receipt since November 30. In order to do so the applicants are to apply in person and be prepared to attend interview on the same day. (November 22 news)

• Some quarters in Rangoon receive intermittent power supply only despite the Yangon City Electricity Distribution Group's efforts to distribute electricity regularly. (November 22 news)

• The newly chosen members of quarter and village level peace and development council are attending one to two months training since November 20 in order to take over duties in respective quarters and villages. (November 22 news) 

• A special economics zone will be established next year in the country's key area in order to attract foreign investment and to earn foreign earning more. The zone will accommodate various local business industries and products produced at the zones will be distributed as 'Made in Myanmar' products, according to the draft of special economics zone law. (November 21 news)    

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 37 (November 23)

• The Water Resources Utilisation Department will establish 40 river-water-pumping stations throughout the country to have plantation areas sufficient water supply. It has already established 298 pumping stations till 2006 and 52 projects are ongoing. (November 15 news)

• The British Council will hold a presentation on musical journey through the history of modern UK music on November 27. Linzi Manson and David Channon will lead the presentation titling Rock 'n' Roll to the Rave generation. (November 15 news)

• The Union Solitary and Development Association has more than 23.8million members of which more than 0.87million have completed various courses provided by the association. (November 14 news)

• Electricity voltage supplied in Rangoon is insufficient to operate electrical appliances such as air-conditioners and refrigerators even though electricity is supplied almost without interruption. (November 14 news)

• High school students from Pyinnyadagon private boarding school in Rangoon donated cash and stationery for students attending high school level classes provided in Aung-Za-Bu monastic education school in Kawhmu Township. (November 14 news)

• Guitars playing and singing are banned near hostels close to Pyay University in order not to disturb the studies of distant learning university students. The university also orders the students to wear traditional costumes during their study in the campus. (November 13 news)

• The higher raw material prices since early 2006 to now have resulted in the higher prices of locally assembled vehicles. The demand for raw material is also higher because government allows the assemblers to do more. The authority very recently rules out assembling four doors vehicles in the industrial zones in an attempt to prevent unregistered vehicles to be transformed as locally assembled ones. Instead two-door vehicles are allowed to assemble.  

• The Ministry of Immigration and Population is issuing national registration cards for eligible citizens who have submitted required documents. It will confine anyone who submits forged document for obtaining the NRC.

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 35 (November 9)    

• Onion plantlet price reaches to K550,000 per basket in late October due to much higher demand. The price already increased to K440,000 per basket in September last week because of approaching onion-growing season. (November 2 news)

• Rubber more than 141.62million lbs. are produced in 2005-06 fiscal year. Rubber is also planted in 558,565 acres in corresponding year. (November 2 news)

• Turtles and tortoises are being smuggled to neighbouring country via Muse very frequently. About 2,000 are confiscated in Muse 105^th mile in August third week and the survived 1,000 are released to Ayeyarwaddy River. (October 31 news)

• Seedlings production project done in northern areas of Rakhine State with the participation of local farmers by the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation will be extended for three more months. The United Nations FAO funds the project. (October 30 news)  

• In Rangoon ratio of number of vehicles that violate traffic rules in 2005 became double compared to that of in 1990. (October 27 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 34 (November 2)

• The Ministry of Communications, Posts and Telegraphs will lease additional 40,000 GSM mobile phones before this year end while more 0.1million GSM phones will also be leased next year. It is also developing software to introduce prepaid system. (October 28 news)

• Discussions are underway to amend the 1993 Child Law's article 66 (d) that prohibits wilfully maltreating a child, with the exception of the type of admonition by a parent, teacher or a person having the right to control the child, which is for the benefit of the child. (October 25 news)

• Exporters and importers are required to submit their companies' addresses attached with the approval of respective ward peace and development councils for applying export/import licences. (October 25 news)

• Warehouse rental fees in Bayintnaung complex become double compare to that of last year. (October 25 news)

• More than US$182million worth commodities - the largest imported volume in September - are imported from Singapore, according to the Ministry of Commerce figures. China ranks second top importing country in the same month with imports of more than $48million worth commodities followed by India with more than $34milion. Since September the ministry begins publishing the importing country's names instead of companies or organisations. (October 25 news)       

• The Myanma Timber Enterprise said about 1.6 million tonnes of hardwoods including 0.3 million tonnes of teaks are allowed to be produced annually from the country's forests. However the annual actual production is still lower than permitted amount as 0.25 million of teaks and 11 million tonnes of hardwoods per year only are being produced so far. Meanwhile the enterprise has earned more than US$190million from wood export during first half of this fiscal year. (October 24 news)

• Aerial photographs of Naypyidaw will be used in to-be-published the Map of Naypyidaw directory in order to provide precise information. (October 24 news)   

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 33 (October 26)

• The retailers will get the onion with wholesale price of K900 per viss for resale if they can show ID cards and identification of their addresses to the onion wholesalers in Bayintnaung wholesale market. Onion wholesale price is set at K900 per viss since October 10 to help stabilise the onion price. (October 18 news)

• Rentals in property market are up after completing of Buddhist Lent season while sales of apartments and detached houses are still sluggish. (October 18 news)

• The confiscated 50 unregistered vehicles, which are transfigured as the ones assembled in local industrial zones, are likely to be auctioned as the evaluation on those vehicles by the vehicle appraisal teams is already completed. Rangoon Command Commander Brig-Gen Hla Htay Win said at a meeting that controls would be carried out for industrial zones not to get involved with transforming such unregistered vehicles. (October 18 news)

• More than 18,500 tonnes of rubbers are exported during April 1, the beginning of this fiscal year, to October 16, the Ministry of Commerce said. Rubber is planted in more than 0.75million acres in this fiscal year and it is expected to yield 69,170 tonnes. (October 18 news)

• More than 200 booths will be displayed in three-day Burma-China border trade fair to be held in Muse 105^th mile trade zone beginning on December 21. Bangladesh, India, Thai and Laos will display their products and services in two booths each while Burma and China will be in 108 booths respectively. (October 18 news)          

• Paddy plantations in Ayeyarwaddy Division are unaffected by heavy rains that generated slight inundation in the division. (October 17 news)

• Chicken price is up since the announcement of the country's bird flu free status and it becomes much stronger since early October. Trade is normal in fowl wholesale market since early this month. (October 16 news)

• Under the grassroots grant assistance scheme the Japanese government donated US$74,701 early this month for building project of Yama monastic education school in Bago Division's Inndacaw village. (October 14 news)      

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 32 (October 19)

• Vegetable prices that went up twofold because of flooding drop again to higher-than-normal price levels during this week. Price of tomato that has reached to K1400 per viss during supply shortage is down to K700 per viss. (October 11 news)

• Cultivation of winter season crops, normally begin in October, would likely to be late for one month due to continuous rainfalls throughout the country during this month. (October 11 news)

• Myanma Railways changes its Rangoon-Mawlamyine-Ye train schedule to daytime operation following the schedule changes made for Rangoon-Mandalay train operation since September 26. (October 11 news)

• In an attempt to stabilise the rice prices the Pyapon Rice and Paddy Traders' Association's recognised traders will only be allowed to buy rice produced from Ayeyarwaddy Division's Pyapon, from which about 5,000 bags of Grade I rice are sent to Rangoon market daily. (October 10 news)     

• Highways express lines that make their bus fares exceed than set fares will be confined, authorities warned. The express bus fares become higher because of the increased number of passengers who are willing to use the expresses that operate in night-time. (October 9 news)

• The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism will issue operating licences for hoteliers who want to operate new hotels. Licence will be made available without constraints if new hotels meet the ministry's criteria. (October 6 news)

• A 46-member pilgrim group from Sri Lanka arrives here today for paying homage to famous pagodas throughout the country and the group will also donate offerings to the monasteries in major cities including Rangoon, Mandalay and Mawlamyine. (October 4 news)      

• The office of 7Day news journal will be moved to No 37, La Pyayt Woun Plaza tenth floor, Signal Pagoda Road in Dagon Township since October 30.   
  
  
  

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 31 (October 12)

• Hoteliers would be allowed to import required hotel-related facilities once they had paid taxes and deposited their foreign currency earning in MFTB, said Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Soe Naing. (October 4 news) 

• The annual general assembly of the Union Solitary Development Association would be held in Naypyidaw after the performing arts competition is completed, said its general secretary Maj-Gen Htay Oo. (October 3 news)   

• Vehicle trade is cool during this week while prices are also down in Rangoon market. (October 3 news)

• Torrential rain on September 29 and 30 caused inundation in lower land in Mandalay Division and 1500 flood victims from Pyigyidagun Township and 2197 from Chanmythazi Township are accommodated in the relief centres. Some households return their homes as water receded on October 3. 

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 30 (October 5)

• Retail prices of onion and garlic increase again and the price gaps between retail and wholesale markets becomes considerably higher. Onion is available with K1600 per viss in retail market while with K715 per viss in wholesale market. Onion and garlic production significantly drops during this season. (September 27 news)

• Construction work on Naypyidaw central post office, to be the third central office in the country after two central offices in Rangoon and Mandalay, will soon be completed. (September 26 news)

• Onion seedlings price skyrockets because demand is considerably higher due to expanding of onion growing areas during this year. Price of a basket of onion reaches as close to K0.4million while the similar quantity is available with K50,000 in 2005. (September 25 news)  

• Burma is an ideal country in establishing SchoolNet project that interconnects the state schools of ASEAN countries with the assistance of ICT infrastructure, UNESCO's project co-ordinator Ms Alexa Joyce said in a report. (August 30 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 29 (September 28)

• Qatar will hire 300 temporary Burmese workers for its coming 15^th Asian Sports Festival. Meanwhile a company representative from Qatar is in Burma to recruit more than 1200 short-term workers. (September 19 news)

• More than 10,000 tonnes of sesames are exported to China within one-month time. Sesame exported amount so far this year is still less than that of last year's similar period. Sesame production decreases this year because of the heavy rains during harvesting season. (September 19 news)

• Myanma Gems Enterprise has achieved more than US$13million export earning from May to August, according to the Ministry of Commerce's figures. (September 18 news)   

• The Myanma Posts and Telegraphs imported US$18million worth communications facilities during August. (September 18 news)

• The Central Committee for Preventing Trafficking in Persons arrested 30 local human traffickers who had trafficked in about 180 Burmese women to China within two years. (September 13 news)

• Myanmar Police Force will expand its anti-trafficking units in border areas in addition to current eight units already established in border entrant towns. (September 13 news)  

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 27 (September 14)

• Export of green mung beans to China decreases while those beans are largely exported to India till end of July. The export decrease is Chinese side's lessening demand as well as local exporters' unfamiliarity with new system for export commodities to China. (September 6 news)

• Poultry farms in Mandalay and Sagaing divisions that were affected bird flu will resume fowls breeding in October second week. AusAID pledged to donate US$0.44million, USDA $0.5million, China $0.125million and Japanese Trust Fund $1.3million for bird flu control and resettlement works on disease affected areas. The Japanese government will also assist $2.1million via UNICEF for bird flu control. (September 6 news)

• ASEAN countries discussed at three-day regional post offices meeting held on August 28 to establish an official money transferring system among member countries by using money order forms. (September 6 news)

• Vehicle assemblers in industrial zones will be confined if unregistered vehicles are found transfigured as the locally assembled ones. (September 5 news)

• Six out of about 500 people, who have been hospitalised for dengue fever during January to June this year, died because of the fever. (September 5 news)

• The Japanese International Cooperation Agency will conduct dry zone multi-sector development pilot project till 2010 in six villages in Magway, Mandalay and Sagaing divisions. (September 5 news)

• More than 50 companies and organisations obtained 32550 acres for growing export crops such as onion, orchid and melons. (September 5 news)

• Indo Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industries will organise SME India-2007 exhibition in Rangoon from January 25 to 28. (September 5 news)  

 
7Day News Vol. 5, No. 26 (September 7)

• Myanma Agriculture Service is working to produce paddy that is suitable to grow in Wa region, which has already stopped growing poppy in its area, a senior government official said. (August 30 news)

• Nursery school operators are required to complete the Department of Social Welfare's early childhood care and development training and their operating licences will be cancelled if they do not meet standard requirements set by the department. (August 30 news)

• The Ministry of Education will distribute 6000 14-book box libraries to primary schools in 89 townships throughout the country in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund. The small libraries are meant to help improve reading skill of primary and kindergarten students. (August 30 news)      

• A jade lot auctioned at a special gem emporium held from June 20 to July 2 is sold with twenty-fold more than its floor price of Euro0.1million. A Hongkongnese gem merchant won the bid with Euro2million. (August 29 news)

• Officials from Burma and Thailand agreed to conduct survey on feasibility of establishing agro-based industry and special border economic zone in Myawaddy-Mae Sot border area. (August 28 news)

• Negotiation of establishing hydropower plant project on Than Lwin River and a gas turbine electricity plant project is included in a Burma-Thailand meet held on August 23 for establishment of Myawaddy special economic zone. (August 26 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 25 (August 31)

• Rangoon commodities price control committee warned private hospitals and clinics in August third week not to increase their service charges any more to help public getting health care service with affordable prices. (August 23 news)

• The Ministry of Health plans to conduct a survey on health-related behavioural development of primary school students in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation. (August 23 news)

• Local journalists and foreign correspondences enjoyed documentary films shown at the Chinese Embassy in Rangoon held for the first time within ten years.(August 23 news)

• Schools and markets in Mon State's Ye Township are closed since August 8 due to heavy rain and the Department of Relief and Resettlement opens seven rehabilitation centres to assist 2856 residents who suffered the flood. (August 24 news)

• More than 4,000 buffaloes and cows are illegally exported annually even though those animals are included in restricted export item lists, and an official animal trading zone is likely to be included in to-be-established Myawaddy normal trade zone. (August 24 News)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 15 (June 22)

• More than K50million worth basic consumer products including medicines and clothing are donated for the first time to the Cyclone Mala victims in Gwa Township in Rakhine State on June 5. (June 14 news)   

• Burma exports massive number of crabs to China while Chinese traders re-export those crabs to Korea. (June 13 news) 

• Two local companies plan to open the hotels in Naypyidaw hotel zone in September in which four hotels are already operating. (June 10 news)

• The Myanmar Rice Traders Association's special rice retail shop opened in Naypyidaw is selling about 100 rice bags per day with prices cheaper between K1,500 and K2,000 than normal prices. (June 9 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 14 (June 15)

• An official from the Myanma Agricultural Product Trading said licences to export 20581 tonnes onion were granted till June 7 and so far 6275 tonnes were already exported. (June 7 news)

• The Settlement and Land Record Department held a workshop on providing correct and complete information of immobile properties for assisting in the cases of money laundering inspections. The workshop that attracted 53 officials from relevant departments is held in collaboration with Australian Transaction Reports Analysis Centre. (June 7 news)

• The Korean Jeonbuk Trade Mission will visit Burma in July second week for business matching. (June 7 news)

• The Gitamate Music Centre is offering monthly scholarships to outstanding students in two monastic education centres in Hlaingthaya Township. It also conducted summer English and music training courses for students in those centres. (June 7 news)       

• The Myanmar Industrial Development Bank has granted K1580.3million by March this year for passenger bus owners to help convert their vehicles to be operated on CNG. The public bank is also generated more than K548million revenue in 2005-06 fiscal year. (June 5 news)

• Artist Htein Lin will hold his solo Come Rain or Shine painting show in Strand Hotel from June 8 to 12. The show will be the last chance to see Htein Lin's work for some time as he will be leaving Burma soon. (June 5 news)   

• The government will privatise six rice and two oil-grinding mills in Ayeyarwaddy Division and Kaya State, and bidders are to submit their proposals on June 29 only. (May 31 news)

• The submitting and withdrawing import and export licences at the Ministry of Commerce's head office in Naypyidaw is likely to incur the higher total cost per import/export licence, a representative of an export/import business said. Previously licences are available in Rangoon with the total cost ranging between K10,000 and K30,000. (May 31 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 13 (June 8)

• A private airline, Air Bagan, will operate two times per week direct air link from Rangoon to Kalay in upper Burma since June first week. (May 31 news)

• The Japan International Cooperation Agency will send nine young people from the government ministries to Japan from May 30 to June 22 under its Japan-Asia friendship program. (May 30 news)

• The April 29 cyclone has completely destroyed 20 per cent of total buildings in Rakhine State's Gwa Township while the rest houses half damaged. The losses including schools, social affairs and religious buildings mounted to nearly 2,000million and donations are invited for the victims. (May 29 news)

• More Burmese commodities are exported to Bangladesh with the normal trade system and as a result of it Burma-Bangladesh border trade becomes weaker. (May 29 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 12 (June 1)

• Officials from Burma and Bangladesh have met for the second time for export of 0.3million tonnes onions to Bangladesh. (May 25 news)

• Eight police boxes (police station) are established in crowded areas in Thanlyin Township since April to help assist the public security with 24 hours patrolling. (May 24 news)

• The Ministry of Commerce said in its website that export and import licences would be issued at the ministry's head office in Naypyidaw since June 1 and potential exporters and importers are required to apply their completed documents in head office. (May 24 news)

• The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation will help establish US$0.5million palm oil research centre in Kawthoung in Taninthayi Division. Burma already has two palm oil research centres and FAO's centre, to be established with 3-year project, will become the best in the country. (May 24 news)

• The Myanmar Red Cross Society and International Committee of the Red Cross jointly organised a workshop on international humanitarian law in Grand Plaza Park Royal Hotel on May 17. (May 23 news)

• The United Nations Children's Fund held three-day child protection training with the collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement on May 16 in which 30 representatives from the ministry, Myanmar Police Force, Myanmar Red Cross Society and non-government organisations participated. (May 23 news)

• The American Centre library in Rangoon raised library member fees to K5,000 from K2,000 since early this month in order to cope with the increased facilities and services. The library has more than 12,000 memberships. (May 23 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 11 (May 25)

• The Myanmar Emperor International Company won auction for operating the City Hotel building in 8^th mile junction, which once is used as the former military intelligence headquarters. (Ma y19 news)

• Continuous leasing of GSM mobile telephones in six major cities has boosted the mobile phone handset sales as much as fourfold compared to regular sales. (May 17 news)

• Sales and rental stirred again in Rangoon's property market after salary hikes for civil servants but the rent and sale prices are still stable. (May 16 news)

• The United Nations Children's Fund plans to expand its HIV/AIDS education program for children to be conducted in all townships throughout the country with five years. (May 11 news)

• The Cyclone Mala generated mountain torrent has destroyed 427 houses killing at least 32 people in Ayeyarwaddy Division's Kyankinn town. Flood covered about 75 per cent of the town and the dead toll is expected to rise.

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 10 (May 18)

• A highway bus terminal is being built in Chaungtha Beach and it is expected to be completed this year. (May 11 news)

• The Myanmar Red Cross Society and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies will organise a two-day workshop on June 1 to discuss the bird flu prevention issues. (May 10 news)

• The Happy Haven Humanitarian Project that takes care under 12-year old orphans living with HIV calling for the contributions for establishing a permanent building so as to facilitate the welfare of the children effectively. (May 9 news)

• Gold price that reached the recorded K0.53million per tical in April third week drops gradually and the price is fluctuating at about K0.47million. (may 9 news)

• The eighth conference of the English language teachers will be held in Sedona Hotel on May 20 and 21. The conference with the theme - Language Across the Curriculum - is expected to attract more than 400 participants. (May 8 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 9 (May 11)

• The Ministry of Industry No (1)'s Tharbaung paper and pulp mill is producing more than 200tonnes paper per day and papers are planned to export to China daily. (May 4 news)

• Local companies began importing CNG vehicles since early this year, and 3-tonne 37 vehicles arrived here in April. (May 3 news)

• The Ministry of Health, UN organisations and non-government organisations are completing a draft on national level five-year project for assisting people living with HIV/AIDS. (May 3 news)

• The Forest Resource Environment Development and Conservation Association and fishery association will initiate a pilot natural fish-farming project in mangrove forests in order to protect the deforestation. Meanwhile FREDA is also working with UNDP and a Japanese NGO for growing more than 3500 acres mangrove in Bogalay in Ayeyarwaddy Division. (May 3 news)

• Vehicles that have not registered at the Myanma Hotels and Tourism Services will be confined when found providing transportation service to foreigners. (May 3 news)

• Price of hardwood produced from Bawmitapa forest in Ayeyarwaddy Division is about K50,000 a tonne. Previously about 28,000tonnes hardwoods annually were produced from that forest and current annual production is about 20,000tonnes. (May 3 news)

• South Korean experts are working together with a local company to help develop a technology for producing unlimited wind-power electricity using water pressure. The technology is widely utilised in Korea. (May 2 news)    

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 8 (May 4)

• Many businesses from Mandalay were reportedly investing in Pyinmana, which is close to the country's new administrative capital, Naypyidaw, very recently, residents said. (April 26 news)

• Chinese Jiangxi Province donated Burma 33 vehicles including two excavators and nine passenger buses during April second week. (April 26 news)

• The Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Limited again sold 23 city buses with K16million per vehicle, which are already converted to be operated on compressed natural gas, on April 10. (April 26 news)

• Print and broadcast journalists from Thailand's TV7, ITV and Bangkok Post newspaper participated in the government's 4/2006 press conference and narcotics burning ceremony. (April 26 news)

• About 1780 tonnes of Jatropha curcas are exported to China via Muse border trade checkpoint between April 1 to 14. (April 26 news)

• ASEAN countries including Burma will introduce a three-year project since May 1 in a bid to monitor and educate the dried fish, and fish paste and sauce producers from member countries to produce good manufacturing practise (GMP) and sanitation standard operating procedure (SSOP) standards-meet products. (April 25 news)

• About 10,000 metric tonnes of copper produced from copper mines in Monywa in Sagaing Division would be imported annually to South Korea since later this year, the Ministry of Commerce's official website said. (April 25 news)

• According to the Hlaingthayar township peace and development council's figure the gusty cyclone on April 28 night that damaged more than 200 residences and 10 factories has resulted in the lost of more than K83530million.

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 7 (April 27)

• A water-purifying machine donated by the Japanese Yamaha Company to Yangon City Development Committee is installed near a drinking-water lake in Thaketa township since April 11. (April 20 news)

• Onions are grown in more than 30,000 acres since last year for export and about 0.3million viss onion are soon to be exported to Bangladesh. (April 19 news)

• About 100 tonnes pozolan produced from volcanic lava at the factory in Popa are supplied daily to Yeywa Hydropower project for use in constructing RCC dam. (April 18 news)

• In an attempt to become the plastic pollution-free zone, Mandalay has banned the production of the plastic products in the city with an exemption to sell the plastic products produced from other areas. (April 12 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 6 (April 6)

 ·         The commodity prices become stable since March 28 after impact of the report of salary hike. (March 29 news)

·         The Yangon City Development Committee detains vagrants weekly and sends them to the vagrant rehabilitation centre in Hmawbi Township. (March 29 news)

·         Experts from the Health, Livestock Breeding and Veterinary departments, Directorate of Livestock and Fisheries, WHO and IFRC will conduct a bird flu educating seminar for red cross societies in each state and division to help improve them in combating the disease. (March 29 news)    

·         Burma lost more than K2,000 million from 835 fire outbreaks occurred in 2005. The lost value is the biggest since 2002. (March 28 news)

·         As a result of the successful protection activities of the Ayeyarwaddy dolphin conducted by the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Society Myanmar Office the number of dolphin increased to 72 from 35 dolphins, which is counted in the very first study. (March 28 news)

·         Five universities have already conferred Ph.D degrees to total of about 580 Burmese, of which 471 candidates are female, till January this year. There are 3007 doctorate candidates till this January and the number includes 2642 female. (March 28 news)  

·         Teacher student ratio in 2005-06 academic year sees 1:30, as there are more than 7.8 million students and more than 0.24million students in basic education sector. (March 28 news) 

·         A local Pathein umbrella producer plans to export its product to South Korea for the first time. (March 27 news)

·         Italy-based non-government organisation, New Humanity, opens an education centre in Rangoon to provide English, Spanish and Italian with reasonable charges. (March 24 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 5 (March 30)     

 ·         Burma begins exporting eel to Thailand since March in addition to its regular customers from China. (March 21 news)

·         The United Nations Children’s Fund donated K1million each worth water pumps to the villages in Bago and Ayeyarwaddy divisions where water is arsenic contaminated. The pumps generated with solar power are donated for pumping arsenic-free water from underground water layer. (March 21 news)   

·         The Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association published the Burmese version of the Asia copyrights guideline in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO. (March 15 news)

·         A two-year pilot project for the home care for older persons initiated in April 2004 by the YMCA and KOK/ASEAN Help Age Korea was successful and similar projects are planned to be conducted throughout the country. Sixty over 70-year old people from Insein and Hlaingthaya townships enjoyed at the pilot project in which Korea’s HAK, MCC and the Department of Social Welfare provided the necessary medications. (March 15 news)       

·         Residents in Pyinmana enjoy 24-hour electricity supply and local businesses said that the regular supply of electricity had generated increased productivity. (March 11 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 4 (March 23)

• The Ministry of Energy enabled reducing the fuel supplies about 25 per cent due to conversion of more vehicles to be operated on compressed natural gas. It enabled saving about petrol 13655 gallons and diesel 94439 gallons monthly. (March 15 news)

• The Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department will distribute posters depicting dos and don'ts for bird flu to the states and divisions in a bid to help protect the dissemination of disease. (March 15 news)

• The Yangon Zoological Garden is tightly monitoring its birds from infection of bird flu. It has already done precaution measure for more than 400 birds at the zoo. (March 15 news) 

• The utilisation of the fire alarm and security surveillance equipment is increasing in Rangoon and more equipment is also available in the market. (March 14 news)

• Myanmar Red Cross Society and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies held a press conference for their public-based health development project in Magwe Division. (March 14 news)  

• The Minister for Information, Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan said at a meeting with staff from the Press Scrutiny Board that the ministry would continue issuing new licences for journals and magazines. (March 12 news)

• The bird experts estimated that there would be more than 250 Nordmann's Greenshank birds in Burma. Those birds are listed as the endangered species and the experts estimated that about 1000 birds are left in the whole world. (March 10 news)

• The British's Cambridge Tutor Colleges held an education seminar on February 25 to introduce more Burmese students with the UK education. (March 9 news)       

• Business is booming in Pyinmana and some business sectors are also required more investment due to the intensive higher demand. Meanwhile the numbers of brick kilns in Pyinmana reached more than 100 and the city authorities ordered the kilns to use firewood substitute fuel instead of using kindling for producing the bricks. A 1000-bed hospital is also open near Pyinmana since early this year.       

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 2 (March 9)

• The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, United Nations Children's Funds and the Israeli embassy in Rangoon will organise a workshop from March 6 to 17 on the appropriate practice for the children development. (March 1 news)  

• The officials from the Myanmar Overseas Seafarers Association left Rangoon to sign an agreement, which includes the employment of Burmese seafarers in Chinese freight and cargo ships, with Chinese (Taipei) shipping groups on March 5. (February 28 news)

• The installing of the Internet network began in the government ministries in Pyinmana. A government official said completion of the Internet network would help the companies to deal with the ministries online that was said to be available in March. (February 28 news)   

• Bandoola Transportation Co., Ltd's Shwe Mann Thu passenger transportation service has earned K2000million net profit from six years operation. (February 28 news)  

• The deputy commander of Yangon Command, Brigadier General Wai Lwin said at a meeting that there was enough supply of compressed natural gas for 30 years for Rangoon area. So far 16 CNG filling stations are open and total of 41 filling stations is planned to open in Rangoon. (February 27 news)

• The government and non-government organisations are striving to multiply mangrove growing in Ayeyarwaddy Division and in 2800 kilometre long coastal line between Kyungyi in Mon State and Maungdaw in Rakhine State. The Forest Resource Environment Development and Conservation Association is also working for the mangrove conservation in coastal areas in Mon and Rakhine states. (February 24 news)

• PTTE Company will begin development work and natural gas exploration in M7 and M9 blocks in Moattama offshore since this year. (February 22 news)

7Day News Vol. 5, No. 1 (March 2)

• Myanmar Mayflower Bank Ltd., which operating licence was withdrawn last March because of breaching existing monetary regulations, announced that its depositors were required to withdraw their funds by February 28, and the funds that were not withdrawn by the due date would be delivered to the government. (February 22 news)

• The Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said at the 2/2006 press conference that any individual and organisation that damaged the stability and security of the nation would be taken action. (February 22 news) 

• Work on construction of the Mount Popa Forest Monastery in Popa town began to help develop the education and social welfare in the Popa region. Once the construction of the monastery is completed it plans to teach religious courses in Burmese and English, as well as the languages and IT courses. Donors can contact the headquarters of the First Private Bank in Pabedan Township and its branches throughout the country for donations. (February 22 news)         

• The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand met again with the Burmese officials on February 13 for establishing export processing and general industrial zones in Myawaddy, Mawlamyine and Hpa-an. (February 22 news)

• Burma earned US$11.51 million from mango export to China via border trade till end December in this fiscal year. (February 22 news)

• A domestic airline, Yangon Airways, will fly to three new destinations from Rangoon during May to September. As a regular flights it is operating from Rangoon to nine destinations. Meanwhile the airline will reduce airfares especially for Burmese citizens during summer holidays. (February 22 news)

• A Sri Lanka cultural troop will perform in Rangoon and Mandalay on February 22, 23 and 25 respectively under the bilateral cultural cooperation program. (February 22 news)      

• A hotelier in Chaungtha Beach is installing a Germany-made wind-power electricity plant with the assistance of two German experts. (February 21 news)

• The Central Point Tower, formerly known as Hotel Sofitel Yangon, in Sule Pagoda Road that includes 23-storey five-star hotel and 24-storey office tower is expected to open in early 2008. (February 21 news)  

• The directorate of Trade will issue a new identity card for 2006-07 fiscal year for the representatives of the exporters and importers since March 1. (February 20 news)

• The Budh-gaya Monastery in Budh-gaya will be expanded in order to facilitate growing number of pilgrims who take lodging at the monastery during their visit to Budh-gaya, and well-wishers are invited for donations that will cost K2,000 per one square foot land. (February 18 news)      

• The clock machine, one of a handful machine units manufactured by the British Gillette and Johnson Co., Ltd to mark the 25^th reign of H.M King George V, is still working at the clock tower in Pyin Oo Lwin that is 70-year old in 2006.

7Day News Vol. 4, No. 50 (February 23)

• The Ministry of Transport begins dredging the sandbank of the Rangoon River to facilitate the ocean liners that are using the river for freight transport. (February 16 news) 

• Because of the higher demand in local chick pea price has doubled since harvesting season and currently the chick pea is priced K18,000 per bushel. (February 15 news)

• A new K1,500million building of the Myanmar Banks Association will be open in March in Yankin Township. The association established in 1999 became a member of the ASEAN Banks Association in 2002. (February 15 news)

• The Department of Forestry is working to expand the teak special plantation to 0.8million acres within five years. Burma currently has 1.9million wood plantation in which about 3,600 acres are of teak special plantation. (February 10 news)

• Burma required having quality film producing industry in order to encounter the film being produced by a neighbouring country that aimed to disseminate false image of the country among other countries, the chairman of the Myanmar Film Industry Association said. (February 9 news)  

7Day News Vol. 4, No. 49 (February 16)

• Businesses and private organisations in Rangoon would not be required to go to Pyinmana for dealing with the government ministries, an official from the Ministry of Commerce said, adding that the official works could be done online or at the departments in Rangoon. (February 8 news)

• Burmese and South Korean officials have met on February 6 for establishment of special agricultural zone and other collaborations in agricultural sector. (February 8 news)

• Rangoon's real estate market faced downfall of sales and rentals of the apartments and buildings since early this month and the prices of the real estates in downtown, which normally is stable, is also likely to drop soon. (February 8 news)

• About 300 tonnes of rockfish and soft crabs produced in the Ayeyarwaddy Division are exported to Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore via Malaysia. (February 7 news)    

• KMD computer centre plans to provide wireless Internet service in limited areas in October. The laptop computers will require for those who want to use the service and the centre is also planning to rent the laptops. (February 6 news)  

• A local labour agency is striving to send the Burmese workers to Thailand legally. There still is no agency in Burma that provides legal services for sending labours to Thailand. (February 6 news)

7Day Vol. 4, No. 48 (February 9)

• An assistant director at the Yangon Zoological Garden denied the rumours of a bomb blast and a tiger cub's death because of the crowded public during the garden's centenary. (February 1 news)

• Myanmar lovers association, a non-profit organisation in Kobe, grew 1250 mangrove plants in Mein-ma-hla island in Ayeyarwaddy Division. The mangrove is believed to be the best barrier to protect the natural disaster. (February 1 news)     

• US$ 2million worth south sea pearls produced by the Myanmar Oriental Company are exported to Hong Kong last month. Meanwhile the 43^rd gem emporium will also be held from March 15 to 24 and more than 1,400 local and overseas gems traders from 24 countries are expected to visit the emporium. (February 1 news)

• The Myanma Salt and Marine Chemical Enterprise will confine the salt producing businesses along coastal areas that have yet to apply business licence from the enterprise. (February 1 news)

• Since there was growing potential of people to go to Japan as the trainees without paying any service fees to any agencies they should take time to learn the Japanese properly in order to support their stay in Japan, the local labour recruiting agencies said. (January 31 news)

• A local labour agency is recruiting for 105 vacancies in Qatar construction sector. The Ministry of Labour allowed sending labours to Qatar since late 2005 and three local agencies are providing the recruiting services. (January 31 news)    

• Construction works of the three-star hotel projects in Pyinmana are accelerated and some hotels are planned to open in March. (January 30 news) 

• Burma last year earned US$153 million from tourism industry and the number of tourists visited last year also is more than previous year. The increase was due to the harmonious collaborative efforts of the country and its neighbours and Asia-Pacific travel agencies, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said. (January 29 news)

• Pork is targeted to produce more than 0.3 million tonnes in this fiscal year and 5.7 million pigs are raised throughout the country in order to meet the targeted production. (January 25 news)

• The Moeywingyi wildlife sanctuary allows the visitors to have bird-watch without any restriction and the varieties of birds in the sanctuary are also monitored by the three groups for the suspects of bird flu. (January 25 news)

• Leopards can still be spotted in Alaungdaw Kathapa national garden in Sagaing Division even though tigers cannot be seen in the 616.843 square-mile garden. (January 24 news)       

7Day News Vol. 4, No. 47 (February 2)

• The BIMSTEC countries including Burma will establish a weather centre that will help to collaborate for studying weather changes and exchange of climate information. (January 24 news)

• Three local companies in Yenanchaung industrial zone will assemble 1,000 motor cycles, which are aimed to export to Bangladesh, in February. About 35 per cent of the required components for motor cycle assembling will be imported from China and the rest will be obtained domestically. (January 24 news)  

• A local company and a Chinese leading motor cycle manufacturing company will jointly establish a motor cycle assembling factory in Yenanchaung industrial zone, where the local companies already establish two motor cycle assembling factories. (January 24 news)

• A local company is planning to distribute day-old-chicks, which are imported from Denmark for the first time, to the local poultry farms in early February. (January 24 news)

• The private airline, Air Bagan, which is operating with five aeroplanes for local destinations, is planning to fly overseas destinations. (January 24 news)   

• There are about 10 private oil filling stations in Lashio and they are selling petrol and diesel obtained from China as well as locally. (January 23 news) 

• Misunderstanding triggered fight between the government's military and the KIA group in Namhkhan, which is the control area of the North Eastern Command, the deputy commander of the NE Command, Brig-Gen Hla Myint said at a press conference. (January 22 news)

• The International Corn Foundation will provide seeds and technological assistance to help develop the corn production in Burma. The Department of Agriculture Planning and ICF have signed a memorandum of understanding last December and the latter has already provided US$0.1million worth seeds to the department. (January 19 news) 

7Day News Vol. 4, No. 46  (January 26)

• Gold price is up slightly along with the surging international gold price and reaches about K326,500 per tical. (January 19 news)

• The Ministry of Commerce would deal with businesses via online, by using its new website - www.myanmartradenet.com.mm - to be launched in February, when it moves to Pyinmana. (January 17 news)

• The migratory birds - identified as rare Himalayan vultures - captured in Thanlyin Township will be checked for bird flu disease. (January 17 news)

• Food and mouth disease has killed five per cent of 14 millions oxen and buffalo in the country. (January 17 news)

• The Air Mandalay will increase the number of its Rangoon-Chiang Mai flight to four times per week since January 27. (January 17 news)

• Containers arrive at the Asia World and Thilawa container yards will begin checking the containers with X-ray that will help to facilitate the export and import processes. (January 16 news)

• The implementation of the crime free week was successful and the crime rate reduced significantly, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs' official said. (January 11 news)

7Day News Vol. 4, No. 45 (January 19)

• Fire broke out at the Happy World children amusement centre closed to Shwedagon Pagoda due to an electric problem at a ghost train rail track. (January 15 news)   

• More people in Rangoon are interested in converting their luxury vehicles to be operated on compressed natural gas. A service centre said conversion of the luxury vehicles would take about four hours only. (January 12 news)

• The pilgrimage tour operators complaint that the toll gates along the route of upper Burma pilgrimage tours were asking more than the prescribed rate for road use. (January 11 news)   

• The Myanmar Forest Products and Timber Merchant Association's members met with partners from more than 10 countries last year for forest product export. According to the association's figure Burma has exported K2.3billion worth 8.15million tonnes of varieties of woods in 2004-2005 fiscal year. (January 11 news)

• Chickpea (be-tuu-pe) mainly grown in Sagaing Division for export entered the market since early January with higher price. Meanwhile pigeon pea, one of the commodities regularly exported to India market, also entered the market since December last week. (January 11 news)

• A local company is planning to export about 600 tonnes of charcoal-substitute fuel block made with charcoal fragments and plum powder to Malaysia for the first time. (January 11 news)   

• Burma had exported more than 2,200 tonnes of teak in 2005, the chairman of the Myanmar Forest Products and Timber Merchant Association said. (January 10 news)

7Day News Vol. 4, No. 44 (January 12)

• With the arrangement of the Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Limited between 0.15 and 0.18 millions visses of white and black sesames are exported daily to China since early December. (January 4 news)

• The Ministry of Education began to establish local network for three basic education high schools as a preparation for including those schools in ASEAN regional network under the Schoolnet program, which is funded by UNESCO. (January 4 news)

• Rice prices would not change noticeably even though paddy prices increased slightly soon after the raining season paddies were harvested, local paddies warehouse owner said. (January 4 news)   

• Mandalay is receiving more tourists in this tourism season. More tourists are also enjoying bicycle-tours in Mandalay, Bagan and Pyinoolwin. (January 4 news)

• The UMFCCI is likely to move its headquarters in March to the new building in Ahlone Township. (January 4 news)    

• Figures released by the Department of Forestry estimated that only 125 to 150 tigers were recorded in Burma. (January 3 news)

• An English couple who is staying in Rangoon donated K0.1million to youth development centre in Monywa that is accommodating 70 orphans. They also offered to help teach orphans English. (January 3 news)

• The Myanmar Livestock and Fisheries Development Bank Limited opened its branch in Mawlamyine in December. (January 3 news)

• The Department of Health holds health forum in its National Health Museum in Myenigone in the end Friday of every month in collaboration with NGOs and INGOs. It held 12 forums last year. (January 3 news)     

7Day News Vol. 43, No. 4 (January 5)

• Myanma Posts and Telecommunications said in its website that more than 50,000 GSM mobile phones would be leased in five major cities including Rangoon. (December 28 news)

• The UNIAP and other non-government organisations jointly held an educating talk in December on human trafficking and human smuggling prevention awareness with the highway bus drivers and conductors who mostly are involved in such issues. (December 28 news)   

• Ministry of Home Affairs said there were more than 100 cases of human trafficking during 2005 and victims were sent to China, Thailand and Malaysia. (December 27 news)

• About 72 kilometre area along Ayeyarwaddy River (between Kyauk-myaung and Bamaw regions in Sagaing Division) is announced as a conservation area for protecting the Ayeyarwaddy dolphins, and systematic traditional fishing only is allowed in the area for the locals. (December 28 news)

• Myanmar Earthquake Committee will distribute its earthquake map that depicts detail earthquake information of the country to the relevant government and private organisations, and the construction businesses. (December 27 news)

• The Minister for Livestock and Fisheries, Brigadier General Maung Maung Thein said more livestock and fisheries development banks were planned to open in three business prime areas - Dawei, Kawthoung and Kyimyindaing. (December 27 news)

• The Myanmar Fishery Federation is planning to grant loans to fisheries businesses to help develop the industry. (December 27 news)

• A four-member Japanese earthquake expert group will visit here in early 2006 to exchange seismological information, and the group will also survey some earthquake prime areas in Burma. (December 27 news) 

• Chaungtha beach attracted about 0.15 million overnight visitors during 2005 and it expects to attract more visitors in coming years. (December 26 news)

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation conducts five-year poppy cultivating eradication and poverty reduction project in Kokant region from 2005 April to 2010 in collaboration with Japan International Co-operation Agency. (December 26 news)  

• Lieutenant General Myint Swe said today there was an average of K233,156 per capita income in Rangoon and an average of K167,000 per capita income in the whole country. He said the increase in per capital income was due to development of the country's industrial sector. Meanwhile he also said Rangoon Division was to strive earning K790billion of the whole GDP in 2005-2006 fiscal year. (December 23 news)