Khit Myanmar 2006

Khit Myanmar Vol. 4, No. 12 (December 29)

• The European Commission will contribute US$2million via World Bank to conduct humanitarian assistance in Burma, EU Minister Consul for health and food safety Mr Patrick Deboyser pledged during his visit here from December 12 to 14. (December 19 news)

• The Japanese government, under its grassroots grant assistance scheme, pledged to contribute a grant aid of US$68,561 to the Myanmar Ceramic Society for construction of a ceramic vocational training centre in Nyaung Dagar village in Rangoon Division's Twnate Township. (December 16 news)

• Price of Grade III rice is up slightly as a result of increasing paddy prices. Prices of Grade III rice from Myaungmya range from K15,000 to K19,500 per bag. (December 15 news)

• About 70 per cent of this fiscal year's targeted bilateral border trade volume between Burma and China, estimated to have US$760millon, was already achieved by the end of October this year, according to the Ministry of Commerce's figure. The figure also said about 60 per cent of targeted total border trade volume, which is about $1.1billion, was reached in the corresponding period. (December 15 news)

• Matpe price fell to K70,000 in early December from above K0.1million per 60-viss bag in early October. The price normally drops when exporters stop their purchase due to sluggish supply of Matpe to the wholesale centres. (December 10 news)

• Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs U Maung Myint pledged at a Burma-Laos senior official meeting held early December in Naypyidaw to provide more agriculture and irrigation assistance to Laos. (December 10 news)

Khit Myanmar Vol. 4, No. 11 (December 22)

• Rice prices in Mandalay return to normal level in mid December after the prices notably went down in early December due to exceed supply. Meanwhile freight-forwarding charges from Rangoon to Mandalay also fall again since December third week due to requests of Mandalay traders. Cargo transportation charges increased twofold after trucks carrying more than limited weights are fined since December 7. (December 18 news)

• The Myanmar Edible Oil Dealers Association's retailed shops raise the palm oil price to K1,400 from K1,100 per viss since December 8. (December 17 news)

• Swiss NGO Francois-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) will grant scholarships to people living with HIV/AIDS and poor persons for attending professional training including tailoring and weaving. (December 13 news)

• All trishaws operating in the six downtown townships will soon be expelled to satellite towns in Rangoon. So far trishaws are not allowed to enter into six main roads in downtown areas and the restricted numbers of road will be increased to 13. (December 11 news)

• The Traffic Rules Enforcement Supervisory Committee fined 116 trucks on December 7 and 8 for carrying extra loads. The committee set level of weight limits ranging from 20 to 40 tonnes for 6 to 12-wheel cargo trucks in order to protect roads and bridges. (December 9 news) 

• Import of onion from India stops since December first week as the price offer for imported onion is getting lower due to the crops' quality. In addition to that old harvest onion stocked by the traders enter the market soon after 4,000 backs of onion imported from India arrived local market. (December 8 news)

• The Ministry of Home Affairs conducted a ATS clandestine laboratory investigation training from November 2 to 4 in collaboration with US drug abuse control and Australian police force. (November 29 news)       

• Some foreign-invested garment factories in Burma move to Vietnam as its recent membership in the World Trade Organisation widens the market opportunities for the investors. Meanwhile some Burmese garment factory owners are also considering moving to Vietnam even though labour wages are not that different. Factory owners said the number of orders received this year were notably smaller than last year.

• A Living Colour magazine columnist, Aggha, said encouraging imposing sanctions for democracy transformation was a wrong method and alternative approach should be considered. A UNESCAP's director, Ravi Ratnayake, told the Voice Weekly in Bangkok that only sound policies on income distributions and social security would bring development of the developing countries. Chinese consul Ms Deng Qing Hua told Voice Weekly that China had no attention to interfere the other country's domestic affairs but rather helped resolve the political stalemate by means of economic cooperation.

Khit Myanmar Vol. 4, No. 9 (December 8)

• Fishery products from Kayin State are planned to be exported to Thailand via Myawaddy trade zone, which is to be completed in early next year. (November 25 news)

• Pork price is increasing slightly due to decreased supply as well as higher transportation charges. Sale is still normal even though the price is up. (November 25 news)

• Collaborating with China, Burma will begin conducting survey for poppy cultivation with the assistance of satellite images in its northern areas since December. (November 25 news)   

• The Japanese Embassy in Rangoon announces to provide US$61,125 under its grassroots grant assistance scheme to upgrade Kawmutha-Shwetaw road in Kayin State's Hpa-An Township. (November 25 news) 

• Inspection has been tightening up since early November along Rangoon-Myawaddy highway road, one of the main routes that smugglers use to carry contrabands. (November 22 news)

• Agricultural products are exported to Thailand, China, India and Singapore via border and normal trades, and about 80 per cent of exported agricultural products went to Singapore. (November 20 news)

• US$1.07million out of $12million funded by OPEC for oil crops development project will be spent for the 31 staffs from the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation to pursue agricultural doctorate and master degrees in the universities in India, Thai, Malaysia and Australia. (November 19 news)

• The Department of Fire Service provides newly chosen chairmen and secretaries of quarter peace and development councils fire-protecting training. (November 12 news)

• Rice prices fall since early December because rice was re-allowed to trade freely in accord with market nature, the veteran rice traders said. Traders can now trade rice city to city without requiring permits.  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 4, No. 8 (December 1)

• Norwegian government had contributed Kroner5million (about US$770,000) to Three Diseases Fund, the Norwegian ambassador to Burma, Ms Hagen Mariann Ruud said. (November 26 news) 

• Rangoon's hotels enjoy 100 per cent room occupancy during this tourist season and TG airways is planning to expand its operation during November 9 to March 7 in order to facilitate increasing tourists to Burma. (November 24 news)

• The Ministry of Energy reduces diesel price to US$2.7 from $3 per gallon very recently. The reduction will save local businesspeople about K40,000 per barrel. (November 21 news)

• New and old harvest onion 0.15million tonnes enter the Bayintnaung wholesale complex daily and prices are expected to drop to its normal condition. (November 20 news)

• Burma earned more than US$300million in October from export of oil and gas, according to the Ministry of Commerce figures. The figures also showed that Myanma Timber Enterprise gained more than $54million export earning in the corresponding month while Myanma Gem Enterprise with more than $20million earning. (November 20 news) 

• Unregistered a local and foreign labour agency run away with more than K100million, which is obtained deceptively from 20 people who want to work in New Zealand. (November 19 news)

• Banks to be open in emerging special economic zones will have the rights to accept and pay foreign currency in accord with the central bank's regulations. (November 18 news)

• Length of roads being repaired in last fiscal year is shorter than that of in 2004-05 because the damaged roads were being repaired with higher quality material since last fiscal year. (November 1 news)

Khit Myanmar Vol. 4, No. 7 (November 24)

• Three Diseases Fund (3D Fund) includes three experts - a Burmese citizen and two foreigners - in its board. They are Nwe Nwe Aye, Mr Martin Smith and Mr Mike Toole. The fund held its first board meeting on November 21 and 22 in Hotel Nikko. 3D Fund donors so far are Mr Andrew Jacobs (European Commission chairman), Mr Anderson (Sida), Ms Anne Harmer (European Commission) and Mr Michael O' Dwyer (DFID-Britain). (November 20 news)

• Two South Korean airlines will launch Rangoon-Seoul seven times per week operation soon. MAI and private Air Bagan are also preparing to operate to South Korea. (November 20 news) 

• About 300 people queue daily in front of Thai Embassy to have visas. Long queue is as a result of the embassy's decision to let just five applicants in one time into its compound for security reason. Numbers of Burmese visiting to Thailand surge because of introduction of budget airlines between the two countries as well as availability of passports easily. (November 17 news)

• The Ministry of Commerce has deregulated its Order No. 4/98 that described the two-import item lists (A) and (B) for importers who are required to import in a ratio of at least 80 per cent from (A) and the rest from (B). The move is to help accelerate import/export process. (November 14 news) 

• Officials from India and Burma are working together to establish a border checkpoint in India's Morah, the Ministry of Commerce said. In accord with the bilateral border trade agreement 22 items only are allowed to trade between the two countries. (November 13 news)

• The deposited monies in private banks increase because those banks regain trust from public. (November 12 news) 

• According to the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development figure Burma earned the highest export value of K7868.64million in 2005-06 fiscal year from export to Thailand. It gained K2841.6million and K2125.19million from export to India and China respectively in the corresponding year. Values are calculated with official exchange rate. (November 11 news)

• Prices of farmland in Thongwa and Kayan townships in Rangoon Division surge during this year because those lands produce better yield of beans and pulses. The prices of farmlands with last year's price of about K0.7million per acre reach to about K1.5million per acre in this year. (November 6 news)

• The Ministry of Industry No (1) grants lands to about 40 companies including Yuzana and Great Wall companies for growing sugarcane, maize and tapioca, which will be used for producing Ethanol fuel. (November 5 news)    

• Rice prices in Rangoon drop notably during November second week because of increasing rice supply. 

Khit Myanmar Vol. 4, No. 6 (November 17)

• The Ministry of Finance and Revenue allows private banks to charge per annum interest rate of 15 per cent on loans obtained by manufacturing industry. The previous interest rate was 13 per cent. (November 12 news)

• The Union of Myanmar Federation of Commerce and Industries will build a federation-owned building in China's Nannin. (November 12 news)

• The Myanmar Price Control Committee distributes palm oil to all states and divisions with quota system in order to sell the oils with lower set prices. Palm oil market price throughout the country drops as a result of it. An UMFCCI's vice-chair U Aung Lwin said about 7,500 tonnes of palm oil was imported monthly. (November 8 news)      

• Physic nut price drops to K5,000 from K30,000 per Pyi (2.1Kg) and shipping the nuts to country areas is allowed again. (November 7 news)

• Onion wholesalers in Bayintnaung wholesale complex are to sign approving of their selling price and amount sold. It is the complex authorities' attempt to administer them selling onion with set price. Onion supply to the complex is irregular. Between 3,000 and 4,000 visses of onion entered the complex on November 6. (November 6 news)      

• A Russian agricultural group will arrive here in December to work with the Myanma Sugarcane Enterprise for increasing sugarcane yield. (November 5 news)

• Htoo Trading Co., Ltd plans to expand its Aureum Palace and Myanmar Treasure Resort hotel chains' room capacity to 514 rooms by 2007. It has already purchased lands in Myeik archipelago and Puta-O for hotel building. (November 5 news)

• The number of traders who are willing to stock up new harvest paddy/rice in this harvest season because of the potential of generating higher profits. Paddy and rice prices remain at the higher price levels the whole year due to lesser production caused by rains. (November 4 news)

• Number of illegal fuel retail shops in Rangoon drops as the authorities confine them. Fuel prices in black market are still higher because some remaining shops raise the prices. (October 30 news)

• The Traffic Rules Enforcement Supervisory Committee has confiscated 77 unregistered vehicles within seven months till end of July this year. It seized 978 unregistered vehicles from 1998 to 2005. (October 29 news)

Khit Myanmar Vol. 4, No. 5 (November 10)

• The Ministry of Finance and Revenue announced that public would file complaints via facsimile or email if they encountered difficulties because of the ministry personnel's misconduct. (November 6 news)

• The confiscated unregistered vehicles would not be auctioned to the public, Brig-Gen Khin Yi said at November 2 press conference. According to the official figure more than 10,000 unregistered vehicles have been already seized. (November 2 news)

• Exporters and importers who are dealing with the Ministry of Commerce can file complaints to the ministry for wrongdoing of its staff. (November 2 news)  

• The German Embassy in Rangoon is planning to open a cultural centre that will have similar functions like the US's American Centre and the British Council. (November 1 news)

• Chicken price is still higher because small-scale fowl breeding farms, which wiped out their stocks due to bird flu outbreak, could not resume their operations even now. (November 1 news)

• Chinese traders invest in rubber plantation sector in Eastern Shan State. Some traders invest by means of long-term lease while some purchase many plantation areas. (October 31 news)

• Low-grade rice price begins to drop as new harvest rice starts entering the rice/paddy wholesale centre in Wardan jetty. The price decreases about K500 per bag within a few days. (October 22 news)

• Trade was slow-moving during this year even though government was helping to accelerate business processes, Minister for Industry No (1) U Aung Thaung said. (October 14 news)   

• The FMI Company achieved K525million profit in 2005-06 fiscal year from vehicle manufacturing sector. It has investments in Myanmar Nissan Co., Ltd and Myanmar Suzuki Motors Co., Ltd that manufacture Nissan and Suzuki brand vehicles. (October 13 news)  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 4, No. 4 (November 3)

• The private Air Bagan Airline is planning to operate to South Korea and Japan soon. It begins Rangoon-kumming three-day per week and Rangoon-Singapore daily flights. (October 26 news)

• A six-member group from the Japan Rubber Manufacture Association, Bridge Corporation will study local rubber production sector here from November 3 to 10. (October 25 news)

• The Customs Department detained a vessel on October 9 that headed to Rangoon from Sittwe because of the boat's failure to report to the department's office at the entrance of the Rangoon Port. All boats and ships entering the port are to report to the department. (October 25 news)

• Rice from Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon State, is shipped to Dawei and Myeik townships in Tanintharyi Division to help fulfil the local consumption. Previously vessels are not allowed to ship rice in the region. (October 25 news)

• The Japanese Embassy in Rangoon announced to provide US$80,000 worth assistance for revamping two elevators in the Central Women's Hospital. (October 25 news)

• The British Council in Rangoon made online resources for English teachers available in its website. (October 24 news)

• The Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank has granted more than K1,000 million loans so far to farmers for purchasing hand-push tractors. More than 91,500 hand-push tractors and 11,200 tractors are in use in 2005-06. (October 21 news)  

• The Ministry of Commerce issues goods declaration forms for shipping the to-be-exported items that have yet to obtain export licences. It has allowed two companies on October second week to ship more than 600 tonnes of sesame to Muse 105^th mile trade zone with the forms. (October 21 news)

• The Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise earned more than US$60million from gas export in September. It has earned more than $20million from gas export in August this year. It is estimated that between 13 and 15 trillion cubic-foot of natural gas could be produced from the country's gas fields. (October 21 news)   

• Members of a well-known Buddhist association from Thailand donated 150 set of robes and K1.2million worth offerings on October 21 to 105 monks from Shwepyitha monastery in Rangoon Division's Shwepyitha Township. They will also visit famous pagodas and temples. (October 21 news)   

• The Association for Aid and Relief -AAR Japan is said providing assistance to 50 children till their age of 18. Children are from Eden disabled rehabilitation centre and they will be allowed to study tailoring and hair dressing courses provided by the association when they are 18-year olds. (October 20 news)

• Police officer Than Swe from the Myanmar Police Force transactional crime department said there was no report on child abuse cases in the country but added that such cases were occurred in the places where judicial system cannot be reached. (October 19 news)

• Wholesalers in Hpa-An Township stopped purchasing some commodities imported via Myawaddy, a border town with Thailand, with suspects of those commodities as contrabands. The government strictly controls the smuggling at the border checkpoints. (October 19 news)
  
  
  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 4, No. 3 (October 27)

• The Myanmar Times weekly journal publisher begins preparing to publish a weekly crime journal under the name - The Crime Times. (October 23 news)

• The Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders' Association will begin controlling the advance purchasing system, widely practised by the rice traders who pay cash in advance to rice millers before paddies are milled, since this paddy harvest season to help stabilise rice prices. (October 18 news)

• Jordan construction sector recruits about 100 workers via a local labour agency, Global Greatness Co., Ltd. (October 15 news) 

• The Myanmar Red Cross Society had already stocked aids-kits in its township branch offices in flood-hit Mandalay and upper Burma for use in emergency cases, U Zaw Htoo Oo from the society said. Meanwhile UNICEF and other organisations are preparing to assist for water sanitation in those areas and to provide other assistance for flood victims. (October 14 news)

• Seventeen Burmese companies will participate in an international trade fair to be held in Bangkok from December 16 to 24. (October 13 news)

• The different quantity measurement of rice throughout the country was one of the major causes of price rises, U Aung Than Oo, chair of Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders' Association said. Market experts said a standard measurement should be developed to encounter the price problem. (October 13 news)  

• Matpe price is stable at higher price level after Buddhist Lent season due to stock shortage in the market. (October 11 news)

• Though there is a regular inflow of commodities from upper Burma to Rangoon's Bayintnaung wholesale complex the return outflow of the commodities from Rangoon is lesser mainly due to decreased commodity supply from Myawaddy to the former capital. (October 11 news)

• Private companies would be assigned for massive plantation of sugarcane, maize and tapioca for producing diesel/gasoline-substitute gasohol and octane, Minister for Industry No (1) U Aung Thaung said. So far about 40 companies had agreed for growing those crops, he said. (October 2 news)

Khit Myanmar Vol. 4, No. 2 (October 20)

• The electronic system based border passes are available within a short period thanks to the introduction of the e-entrance system at the four checkpoints in border towns with Thailand and China - Tachileik, Kawthoung, Muse and Myawaddy - since early August. The remaining border checkpoints will also be introduced e-entrance system soon. (October 14 news)

• Use of bird flu vaccines and their import were prohibited because they were not required to do so in a country which is free from such disease, said U Ohn Kyaw, a deputy director from the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department. Meanwhile the Myanmar Livestock and Fisheries Development Bank will assist about 0.1million day-old-chick for free to poultry farms in Mandalay and Sagaing divisions that had suffered bird flu, U Ohn Kyaw said. (October 10 news)

• Burma still had many unexplored areas where gold mining can be done, an official from the Ministry of Mining No (2) said, adding that interested persons from private sector can apply to the ministry for three-year operation of gold mining in those areas. The ministry so far has allowed private sector for small-scale gold exploration in more than 380 mining areas including Mandalay, Sagaing and Bago divisions, and Kachin and Mon states. (October 10 news)      

• A group of Myanmar Aerospace and Aeronautical University students led by a Japanese expert has completed about 80 per cent of building project on ultra light two-seated aeroplane. The US$60,000 to 80,000 project is expected to be completed next January. (October 9 news)

• It is believed that auctioning of the confiscated commodities stuck in the Rangoon's ports would generate prices drop. (October 9 news)

• Prices of the condensed milks show signs of drop after authorities met with supermarketers and condensed milk exporters on September 21 for market stabilisation. (October 7 news)

• The first Korean film festival will be held in Thamada Cinema Hall from November 10 to 14. (October 16 news)     

• Muse 105^th mile trade zone allows importers to store their imported commodities at their own warehouses in the zone prior to paying taxes for those commodities. (October 3 news)

• There is no supply of new harvest rice that was expected to enter the Rangoon's market during this week due to the continuous rainfalls in many places. The regular supply of rice also is dropped. Meanwhile with the arrangement of authorities 0.2viss of onion packages are sold with K200 per package in Rangoon's 21 markets.  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 4, No. 1 (October 13)

• In an attempt to stabilise the prices, onion warehouses will begin selling the onion with a set price of K900 per viss, considerably much lower than current market price, since October second week with the arrangement of the Myanmar onion and garlic growers and producers' association. Currently the retailed price of onion is up to K2,500 per viss. (October 8 news)

• The Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders' Association will purchase 4.5million baskets in coming paddy harvest season from six major paddy growing areas to help control rice and paddy market. (October 3 news)

• The 77-year old Home for the Aged in Bago Division's Paungde Township is requiring donations to continue building 20-bed hospital and clinic that are planned to provide free medical cares to elderly people. (October 3 news)   

• Inspection period of the imported and exported commodities at Muse 105^th mile trade zone is shortened to one-day, the Ministry of Commerce's announcement said. Previously the inspection at the trade zone took 2 to 3 days and shorter period would help quicken the commodity transaction. (October 3 news)

• According to the UNAIDS's 2006 statistic Burma had 1.3 per cent of HIV/AIDS infection rate, Lt-Gen Thein Sein, chair of the national health committee said earlier this month. The UNDP's 2006 figure showed the country's HIV/AIDS infection rate with 1.2 per cent. (October 2 news)  

• The European Union assisted Euro8million during this year to the organisations that are doing humanitarian development works in Burma. And in order to continue assistance it will finalise reviewing in December those organisations' proposed projects to be done next year. (October 1 news)

• Country's hotels and tourism sector had earned US$166million in 2005-06 fiscal year, said the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. Of which government gained $48.76million. (October 1 news)

• Arsenic level in drinking water wells in the villages of Thabeitkyin Township, where private gold miners are actively working, is 60 times higher than standard level of 0.05ppm, said U Aung Tun Thein from the Myanmar Red Cross Society. (October 1 news)

• The Ministry of Industry No (1) will begin reviewing the applications in October submitted to buy 49 per cent ownership of the ministry's 11 factories. (October 1 news)

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 52 (October 6)

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation will auction for leasing its 10 warehouses to the private businesses and the bidding applications will be submitted by October 11. (October 2 news)

• Twenty new private businesses will be allowed during this year to grow palm oil plants in more than 1million acres land while the existing nine palm oil plant growers will be allowed to have additional 146,500 acres for palm oil growing. (September 27 news) 

• The Canadian Leeward Capital Company that has official operating permit for gold mining in Burma said another Canadian company, Quard Energy, will collaborate in its gold mining to be begun in November in Setgadone gold mine near Shan State's Lashio Township. (September 25 news)

• Farms which are close to major cities are facing labour shortage due to wages difference, and productions of crops like paddy are affected as a result of it, said U Aung Than Oo, chair of the Myanmar Rice and Paddy traders' Association.
  
  
  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 51 (September 29)

• A private special hospital law is being drafted to discipline the special clinics throughout the country, said Dr Maung Maung Wint, retired director general of the Department of Medical Science. (September 24 news)

• Two Japanese universities - Ritsumeikan University and International University of Japan - will provide scholarships for pursuing master degrees in those universities to eligible members from the Myanmar Engineering Society and Myanmar Computer Professionals Association. (September 19 news)

• The Transport Planning Department issues operating licences within hours for vehicles used for businesses, and vehicle owners are required to self-apply for the licences rather than asking brokers to do so. (September 19 news)

• Prices of V2 and Pesinngon beans grown in Sagaing Division's Monywa increase about 30 per cent during September second week as a result of surging demand from Rangoon's major exporters. (September 19 news)

• Training for LCCI trainers throughout the country will be conducted in Traders Hotel on October 16 and 17, said U Kyaw Htin, exam services manager from the British Council. (September 18 news)    

• A private Shwe Than Lwin Company won tender to provide CNG conversion services to all passenger buses that still need to convert to be run on CNG. The company will begin conversion work on more than 1,900 passenger buses in early October. (September 16 news)

• The Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department will conduct blood-test survey of oxen and buffaloes in Southern Sagaing Division' townships to monitor foot and mouth disease in the animals. The survey to be done with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency will be begun in September last week. (September 16 news)

• Increased amount of raw materials for producing traditional medicine are to be imported because of surging indigenous medicine consumption and increasing numbers of medicine production businesses. Raw materials are imported mostly from China, Indonesia and Malaysia via Singapore market. (September 15 news)

• The Myanma Ceramic Industries will establish two 0.3million capacity brick factories in Naypyidaw. It will also build a 500-tonnes capacity cement plant in Lewe in Mandalay Division. (September 15 news)

• The Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders' Association begin collecting figures of reserved rice stocked by the traders throughout the country so as to maintain the amount of crop at a certain level to help stabilise the prices. The association will sell that reserved rice, provided by the traders, with reasonable price if necessary. Traders will be allowed to export their reserved rice if market is in stability. (September 11 news)

• Burma, a leading beans and pulses production country in ASEAN, grows such crops in 9.3million acres so far, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation. (September 11 news)  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 50 (September 22)

• Norwegian Minister for International Development Erik Solheim was quoted as saying by news media that sanctions would either slow down Burma's political reformation process or generate counter productive impacts. It is said that his remark, the first one ever made by a senior official from European countries, surprised Burmese political analysts. (September 18 news)

• Burma has US$1380.1million trade surplus during first quarter of this fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Commerce's statistic. It has earned US$2112.19million from export during similar period. The improved trade surplus is due to increased exports of natural gas, agriculture products, minerals and fishery products. (September 13 news)

• Feasibility study conducted for establishing bio-fuel electricity plants by the Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation is completed last month. The study will help establish a one-megawatt electricity plant fuelled with paddy husks after Burma and Japan signed an agreement for the plant. (September 13 news)     

• Engineering students from the American Stanford University are inventing manual generators for use in Burma's villages. The engineering department of the university assisted IDE International (Myanmar), a NGO conducting water project in Burma's rural areas, by producing low-cost foot-power and mobile water pumps for use in the villages. (September 12 news)

• There is illegal export of cleansed groundnuts via Burma-Thai border because of demand from Thai side. A crops and sesame merchant from central Burma said smuggling of such crop greatly affected local edible oil grinding mills and that would result in the price rise. (September 12 news)   

• Advance trading of variety of beans and pulses begin in Bayintnaung wholesale complex as a result of the supply shortage occurred earlier than last year. Lesser production because of the weather condition as well as increased export had made supply shortage. (September 10 news)

• The Japanese argo-experts will assist promoting uses of bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides as well as producing a special product from a particular village (one village one product) in collaboration with an NGO, Safe the Life. (September 10 news)  

• The Myanmar Red Cross society and International Red Cross Society will conduct training for enabling distributing prosthetics to amputees throughout the country. Society's 25 members from eight states and divisions will participate in the first training to be held from September 26. Prosthetics will be distributed for free. (September 9 news)      

• Taxes for operating vehicles on business purposes increase at least K70,000 since this fiscal year. Taxation is different on the vehicles' usage of types of fuel and the vehicles that have fully paid their tax only are allowed to extend their operating licence. (September 6 news)

• Export licences are required to extend two-week before their expiration. The three-month valid licences can be extended for two times and there will be fines for late extension. (August 31 news)

• Varieties of crops are already grown in 11.24million hectares. Burma has total of 67.66million hectares growing land. (August 27 news)
  
  
  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 4, No.1 (September 8)

• The confiscated China-made foodstuffs smuggled via border will be auctioned on September 4 at the Custom Department in Lashio Township. (September 1 news)

• Construction work on second phase hotel projects in Ngwe Saung Beach in Pathein Township is feasible to begin by 20 hoteliers including U Tae Za, U Win Aung and U Win Myint in coming open season. So far there are 22 hotels in the beach. (August 30 news)

• Members of Young Presidents' Organisation that comprises with more than 9500 young global business leaders are planning to visit Burma during September. (August 30 news)

• An Australian joint ventured Atlantic Company produced more than 32200 pearls in August. (August 29 news)   

• There is a complete shortage of day-old-chick supply because of decreased production. The production drop of DOC is due to rising feeds price as well apprehension of infection of bird flu that resurfaces in neighbouring countries. (August 28 news)   

• Most of the general labours working at various construction projects near Naypyidaw are from Rangoon's satellite townships. Employment is low in Rangoon and labours can save their incomes by working at Pyinmana. (August 28 news)

• Residents living closed to the shore areas in Mon State's Kyaikkhami Township moved to the higher lands because of a rumour that said an occurrence of Tsunami in Andaman Sea during August 26 to 28. Some Mawlamyine-based non-government organisations have prepared for relief and resettlement assistance. An official from local meteorology and hydrology department said no disaster warning was officially issued that would lead residents in seashore areas to abandon their homes. (August 27 news)

• Custom Department set September 1 as deadline for importers to apply new licences for items brought in without licences and stuck at the Yangon Port. Goods will be confiscated after that period if they still are found imported without licence. (August 26 news)

• Rice prices gradually dropped after government's successful attempt to control prices and the prices are noticeably cool in August last week. The prices are likely to get stable in September also. (August 26 news)   

• The Ministry of Commerce will introduce online facilities for border trade system at Muse 105^th mile trade zone since September to help improve import/export and licensing procedures. (August 15 news)

• Myanma Gem Enterprise becomes the highest foreign currency earner during July as it enabled exporting more than US$46million worth jades and jewelleries during that month. (August 14 news)

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 47 (September 1)

• The US-based Home Box Office channel and Time and Newsweek magazines apply for trade mark registration in Burma's Trade Mark registration department. (August 26 news)

• China-made tyre supply drops about 75 per cent while there is almost no supply of Thai-made tyre. So far price is still stable because of cool demand despite supply shortage and price is likely to be up should demand increases. (August 22 news)  

• Rangoon's daily power consumption drops about 100megawatts after electricity charges are raised while power consumption in rest of the country increases to 550MW from 450MW per day, said Minister for Energy No (2) Maj-Gen Khin Maung Myint. (August 21 news)

• Officials from private Air Bagan airline went China during August third week to discuss its expanding operation to Kuming and Beijing. (August 20 news)

• Traders begin transporting rice from Rangoon to other required states since last week with the permission granted by the Myanmar Rice Traders' Association, and there is no limitation on the amount of rice transporting. (August 20 news)

• China will assist Yuan1million worth bird flu control equipment to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries. (August 20 news)

• The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation handed over 500 H5N1 protection suits and US$2400 worth laboratory equipment to the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries on August 14. (August 15 news) 

• The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation is inviting applications from ASEAN and East Timor for Canada-funded SEAMEO-Jasper research award. (August 15 news)

• About 60 per cent (US$209million out of $359million) of fishery products exported last fiscal year are done via border trade zones of which Muse trade zone handled for 46 per cent. (August 8 news) 

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 37 (June 23)

• Daily smuggling of eels, which are yet to get recommendation for hygiene issued by the authority, ranging from 6 to 40 tonnes to China via illegal transportation routes would damage bilateral relationship, officials warned. (June 14 news)  

• Local Asia Winner Company plans to export variety of naturally grown fresh crops to Middle East countries since early July. The crops will be exported four tonnes per week. (June 13 news)

• A Chinese company that explores oil in Kyaww in Magwe Division is constructing a road linking to its site and Pale-Gangaw highway in an attempt to facilitate oil transportation once the production begin as expected next year. (June 11 news)   

• A new road that will link Naypyidaw Command and Kyatpyay, where ministerial and civil servant staff quarters are situated, is constructed in order to connect two areas without passing through Pyinmana. (June 10 news)

• Broken rice demand surges especially during this month due to varying consuming style of the public that includes increased daily consuming of broken rice in place of ordinary rice. The bakeries and liquor distillation businesses use broken rice for their productions. (June 7 news)

• Garment factories in Thailand's Mae Sot, a border town near Burma, are keen to employ Burmese designers because they are receiving orders to produce Burmese traditional consumes from western countries. (June 6 news)

• Burma would likely to receive more assistance in addition to initial US$100million fund to be provided by the 3D Fund that replaces Global Fund because there still were other countries and organisations that have potentials to contribute to the fund, said Dr Kelvin Khin Zaw Win from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance. (June)  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 36 (June 16)

• The 3D Fund (Three Diseases Fund) that replaces the Global Fund will begin its activities in Burma since July. The 3D Fund, established by the European Commission, British Department for International Development, AusAID, Swedish Sida, the Netherlands and Norway, will combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria like Global Fund did and it will provide funds for five years project. The EC, DFID and the United Nations' resident co-ordinator, Mr Charlies Petric initiated the new funding because the Global Fund's withdrawal from Burma was coincident with the period when there was a shortage of international organisations' source of funds to fight the diseases in Burma, said Dr Kelvin Khin Zaw Win from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance. A British consultant conducted a three-month survey on strength and weakness of the Global Fund in order to help fight the diseases effectively throughout the country. The United Nations Office for Project Services will administer the fund, and the 3D Fund will hold introduction seminar on June 9 in Grand Plaza Park Royal Hotel. (June 8 news)  

• Rice from various growing areas begin entering into the Bayintnaung wholesales complex and the rice prices are likely to be stable in Grade I K14,500 to K16,500 and Grade III K9,000 to K11,800 per bag. (June 7 news)

• The head of Shwe Chindwin Company revealed the proposal of the South Korean businesses to buy 500 tonnes Burmese gold annually, which are planned to use by the Holland businesses and Dubai Bank. (June 6 news)

• The installations of additional 5065 electricity metre boxes are approved in Mandalay's five townships. About 2,000 metre boxes are already installed in late May and the rest are planned to get installed continuously. (June 6 news)    

• About 20 labour recruiting agencies have signed agreements with Japanese small and medium enterprises for sending on-the-job Burmese trainees to Japan. (June 5 news)

• Some Internet cafes are resuming their operations as Internet connection began better since June 4 morning. The Internet connection has failed since May 23 due to the failure of underwater fibre cable link. (June 4 news) 

• The Myanmar Police Force is striving to eliminate illegal lotteries and gambling on ongoing football matches as a national level project. (June 3 news)

• The chairman of the Myanmar Garment Association, U Myint Soe said 146 garment factories that enable to employ between 0.1million and 0.12million workers were currently in operation. The number is down from 400 factories that operated in 2000. (June 2 news)

• The Japanese consular Mr Massashi Ogawa said the Japanese government would provide Burma between US$25million and 30million in 2006 as its official development assistance. (May 31 news) 

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 35 (June 9)

• More Spanish tourists are keen to visit Burma during their holiday period from July to September due to lesser extremist and terrorist activities as well as the easier availability of on-arrival visas at Yangon International Airport. (May 31 news)  

• With the arrangement of a local travel agency, the German tourists will enjoy 10-day horse-riding tours in upper Burma since October 26. (May 31 news)

• The Japanese consul in Burma, Mr Masashi Ogawa, said locals from any areas throughout the country that are in need of building or repairing schools, hospitals and small scale bridges could submit their proposals to the Japanese Embassy. The embassy will collaborate with the local authorities for the assistance, which is up to US$90,000, to the authentic proposals. (May 30 news)    

• The private electricity distributors, who use diesel generators for generating electricity, in Rangoon's outskirts areas increase their per night electricity charges to get in line with the rising overhead charges and fuel price. The Ministry of Electric Power's announcement made last November allows the private sector to distribute electricity for commercial purpose. (May 30 news)    

• The Department of Posts and Telecommunications officially announced to extend radio licences or to have licences and anyone who breaches the law will be confined under the Wireless Act section 6. The announcement said extension or applying licences were to be done at the township's post offices by June 30. (May 29 news)  

• The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism will soon accept applications for extension of the hotel operation licences online while for the new licences are to be applied in person at the ministry's head office in Pyinmana. (May 27 news)

• Burma is expecting to attract many foreigners by holding a international furniture fair in October. (May 27 news)  

• The private tuition schools that are providing education services for Grades 9, 10 and 11 students were seen shut down very recently, a student's parent in Kyauktada Township said. Normally approval for licences of operating tuition schools are allowed in October and tuition schools that open before getting their licences shut down temporarily in fear of confinement. (May 23 news)      

• Rice prices that went up since news of civil servants' salary hikes would down again in June and July with the result of closely monitoring to the traders and wholesalers as well opening of special rice retail shops in Rangoon, Mandalay and Ayeyarwaddy divisions, the association's chairman, U Aung Than Oo said.
  
  
  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 34 (June 2)

• An official from the Ministry of Forestry said the ministry and regional authorities in Rakhine State jointly grew about 1.3million mangrove seedlings along the Nat River that is bordering Burma and Bangladesh. (May 24 news)

• The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation will provide US$0.203million worth assistance to the Department of Forestry for conducting survey on forest coverage area and protecting deforestation. (May 24 news)

• The Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry will move its head office to the chamber's 12-storey building in Min Ye Kyaw Zwar Road by June 15 after two-month temporary opening of the office in one of the Ministry of Commerce Building. (May 21 news)

• A labour recruiting agency said female could also apply for on-the-job training in Japan and selected trainees would be allowed to work in the jobs that are suitable for female. (May 18 news)

• Watermelon export to China via border trade zones during April this year, which generated US$0.538million earning, has exceeded last year's first four months total watermelon export value. (May 16 news)

• An Australian laboratory diagnostician conducted a survey with the arrangement of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation to inspect the possibility of bird flu outbreak in Rangoon Division. Meanwhile a British epidemiologist will also conduct two-month survey on disease spreading in Sagaing and Mandalay divisions with the collaboration of the Australian expert and officials from the Department of Livestock Breeding and Veterinary. (May 15 news)      

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 33 (May 26)

• A Mayangone Township's assistant education officer, U Han Shwe said the registered private tuition schools throughout the country were allowed to teach up to three subjects. The private schools and teachers will need the Ministry of Education's approval for operating the tuition schools in which up to 240 students only are allowed to be taught. (May 19 news)

• The United Nations Development Programme is providing farmers seeds for rainy season paddy plantation and it will receive 45 per cent of the profit in return. The organisation is also introducing the microfinancing loans programme to households in Ayeyarwaddy Division to help increase incomes of the families. (May 17 news)

• Some townships' peace and development council offices in Rangoon are encouraging the residents to grow physic nuts and even distributing the plants without charges. (May 15 news)  

• Officials from the Myanmar Red Cross Society's states and divisions branches, the departments of Health and Livestock Breeding and Veterinary and non-government organisations are expected to participate at a two-day avian influenza forum on June 1 in Traders Hotel organised by the International Federation of Red Cross Societies and MRCS. (May 13 news)

• The US$112million diesel engine manufacturing factory in Thagaya in Bago Division will produce business and family used engines once the factory is completed in 2007. The factory is being built with the organisation of the Ministry of Industry No (2) and a Chinese company. (April 30 news)  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 32 (May 19)

• The United Nations officially announced that its under secretary general for political affairs Mr Ibrahim Gambari would visit Burma soon. A UN's spokesperson said the organisation would continue acknowledging Burma's effort for democracy. (May 12 news)    

• A minister consular from European Union will visit Burmese fishery businesses from May 24 to 28 to verify the quality of fishery products to be imported to the EU countries. (May 10 news)    

• Burma is collaborating with Malaysia and Thailand for introducing the foot-and-mouth disease eradication project that is to be completed in 2007. (May 9 news)  

• A Singaporean construction company that won contract for Qatar international airport project is recruiting Burmese engineers and general workers for the project via local Golden Sea labour agency. (May 9 news)

• Hotels and restaurants in Rangoon are re-putting chicken in their menus that have resulted in regaining about 80 per cent of total chicken consumption. (May 8 news)

• The Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders Association is striving to enter more than 50,000 rice bags daily to Rangoon from various part of the paddy growing areas. According to some surveys about 50,000 rice bags daily meet the consumption of Rangoon population. (May 7 news)

• Damages of U Kyu wheat factory because of a April 28 tornado has resulted in decreased demand of beans and pulses as the factory's operating company, U Kyu Family Grains and Manufacturing Co., Ltd, is one of the handful big beans and pulses exporters. (May 7 news)

• More than US$6million worth products are exported to China during last February via 105-mile Muse trading zone. (May 3 news)

• Myanmar Red Cross Society is providing rehabilitation services for those living in areas destroyed by Cyclone Mala. (May 2 news)

• Fourteen journals that received their publication licences recently include two to be published in Mandalay and distributors are expecting that they would gain most of the central Burma's market share that is currently dominated by Rangoon-based 23 sports journals. (April 30 news)

• The Myanmar Printers and Publishers Association is planning to increase the printing prices because of the rising prices of basic raw materials. (April 30 news) 

• The World Health Organisation has provided Tamiflu vaccines that would cover for 100 persons. (April 28 news)       

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 31 (May 12)

• The Myanmar Rice and Paddy Traders Association removed price rates for low-grade rice fixed since last March in an attempt to stabilise the prices. (May 7 news)   

• Air Bagan reduces ticket prices for foreigners with effective from May 1 even though airfares for locals remain unchanged. Tourists will save between US$2 and $7 depending on the destinations. (May 1 news)

• The 21^st domestic pearl fair for local pearl merchants only will be held in July at the Ministry of Mining. The fair will invite potential buyers only. (April 30 news)

• A highway bus terminal bigger than Rangoon's Aungmingala highway bus terminal will be established in Pyinmana soon. (April 28 news)

• Egg price in Sagaing Division's Kantbalu Township dropped notably even though bird flu outbreak is under control. Kantbalu is one of the bird flu infected areas in central Burma and nobody dares to buy egg even with K100 per ten eggs. (April 26 news)

• More pearl breeding farms will be established in Myeik archipelago, where a range of breeding farms have been operating, in order to increase the country's pearl production. (April 21 news)  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 30 (May 5)

• Hotels in Burma's famous beaches, Chaungtha and Ngwe Saung, were badly damaged by the gusty cyclone Mala, the first one ever passed through the country in two decades even though about 130mile/hour wind hardly damaged the country's renowned Ngapali Beach. Hoteliers claimed that there were damages because of the unsystematic preparations though they had learnt where and when the storm would cross the beaches. (April 29 news)

• The Ministry of Energy's special petrol stations adjusted the price per gallon to FEC2.8 from FEC2.5. The first amendment of the fuel price, from FEC3.3 to FEC2.5, at the special stations was made last October. Other fuel stations are still selling the petrol and diesel with K1,500 per gallon. (April 28 news)

• Burma and Turkey, which is striving to become a member of European Union, had signed bilateral trade and business collaboration agreement on April 22, the Cihan news agency reported. (April 25 news)

• The newly established public-owned Myanmar Marine Products Producers and Exporters Association would be in control of the trades in marine products processing zone in Muse 105-mile trading zone, the association's chairman, U Soe Tun Shein said. (April 24 news)

• The hoteliers plan to grow rubber plants in 4,540 acres land in Thandwe in Rakhine State where several wastelands are still available for the plantation. (April 20 news)   

• Negotiation was in progress with the All Line Buses Control Committee by a private company for operating a new city bus line in Rangoon, that planned to carry the numbers of passengers equivalent to a city bus's seat capacity only and charging K150 per head for a destination, the committee's secretary, U Myat Hla said. (April 21 news)

• The Paung-ti Township's Union Solidarity and Development Association will provide loans to farmers in three townships in Northern Bago for use in agricultural sector. Each township will have K50million loan with one per cent interest. (April 14 news)

• The Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development's figure revealed that the country's GDP was K4622.8million in 2005-06 fiscal year, up about K541.4million than the previous fiscal year. The figure also showed that per capita income in the year was K219,552, up from K167,202 in 2004-05 fiscal year. (April 8 news)       

• An official from the Department of Border Trade said the department had discussed with the merchants for practising normal trade procedure once a month beginning from February in Myawaddy where border trade procedure was widely practised. (April 2 news)

• The Myanma Economic Bank accepted the unlimited amount of deposited money at its 333 branches throughout the country, the bank's general manager U Maung Maung Win said, adding that the deposits would also be available any required time. (April 2 news)

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 29 (April 28)

• Three South Korean companies were reported to collaborate with Canada-based Myanmar Ivanhoe Co., Ltd for copper mining in Moywa. The Korean and Canada companies had agreed in principle for collaboration in January this year and they planned to sign the agreement contracts in July. (April 18 news)

• The Myanma Railways is operating four more trains to Hlawga and it also is planning to add three more trains to the Rangoon's circular railway operation. (April 18 news)

• China's top machinery manufacturing companies were working to invest in Burma due to the country's economically strategic location and thrives of skilled labours, a Chinese government senior official said. (April 11 news)  

• Rangoon construction sector is facing scarce construction labour resources since late 2005 due to the labours migrating to Pyinmana. (April 6 news)

• Clothing prices in Mingala Market, the biggest clothing wholesale market in Rangoon, are up because of the temporarily stopped supplies from China and Thailand. (April 6 news)

• Three companies will exhibit indigenous medicine and local cosmetics at the Japan-ASEAN health and wellness fair to be held in Tokyo during April third week. (April 5 news)

• Work on conservation of Ayeyarwaddy dolphin along Ayeyarwaddy River conducted by the Department of Fishery and Wildlife Conservation Society will be expanded to Katha and Bhamo, which are in upstream of the river. (April 2 news)  

• The Ministry of Culture announced that 671 ancient buildings only were left in Bagan for renovation. (April 1 news)   

• Gem mining companies built the 100-mile road linking Hpakant and Myitkyina. Each company spent between K5million to K6million for building 1-mile respectively. (March 30 news)    

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 28 (April 7)

 ·         Burma will co-operate with other Greater Mekong Sub-region members in 21 out of 29 projects that are to be done for the tourism development in the region. (April 2 news)  

·         Yangon Commodity Prices Control Committee was established on March 29, a committee member confirmed. The committee is established as the stability of commodity prices throughout the country mainly depends on the stability of prices in Rangoon that has about 6million population. (March 31 news)   

·         The officials from the Myanmar Rice Millers’ Association complaint that retailed rice shops made the rice prices unstable by exploiting the report of salary hike for the civil servants and the rice prices in those shops were being up at least 100 per cent. (March 31 news)

·         Some highway passenger transportation services announced increasing their ticket price twofold with effect from April 1. (March 29 news)    

·         About 100 per cent increase in fish prices was due to rising production cost as well increased feed prices but not the result of the outbreak of bird flu, an official from the Myanmar Fish Breeders’ Association said. (March 28 news)

·         GAIL decided to transport natural gas from A-1 Block in Rakhine offshore to India via waterway. (March 27 news)

·         The Japanese government donated ¥4.25million worth Japanese language teaching aid facilities to the University of Foreign Language in Mandalay. (March 27 news)    

·         Beans and pulses prices are up about 100 per cent per bag within two days in Mandalay wholesale market due to the falling currency exchange rate. (March 26 news)

·         Export of freshwater fish to Iraq began since early this year. Iraq market is purchasing 1 kilogram and above freshwater fish, and export volume decreased about 30 per cent per month due to lesser capturing of fish with such weight. (March 21 news)

·         Ayeyar Shwe Wah Company plans to open a hotel in Ngwe Saung Beach during this year. Ngwe Saung Beach already has 22 hotels with more than 800 room-capacity. (March 20 News)

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 27 (March 31)

 ·         The Minister for Information, Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan confirmed on March 27 the salary raise of the government personnel. The salary raise was announced by the government with the announcement No 62/2006 made on March 24. (March 27 news)  

·         Yangon Airways will expand its operations from Rangoon to Myitkyina, Dawei, Myeik and Kawthoung during monsoon season. (March 20 news)  

·         Princeton-based Saytana education foundation will hold a seminar on Burmese citizen and culture in Nassau Presbyterian in Princeton on April 1 to help US citizens to know more about Burmese culture. The foundation has opened its office in Rangoon seven years ago and has provided financial assistance to about 300 students. (March 22 news)   

·         A private airline, Air Bagan, begins negotiating with the airline agents for its Rangoon-Bangkok flight to be begun in October. (March 20 news)

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 26 (March 24)

 ·         Yep-yar-gaut-kwin forest reserve near Pyinmana would be prescribed as the second special zone for producing lacquer due to the reserve’s authenticity of lacquer tree plantation, the Department of Cottage Industries said. (March 15 news)

·         The UK education-2006, where about 20 British educational institutions will participate, will be held on April 2 in the Traders Hotel. The exhibition, organised by the British Council, Mentor International and Regent Consultancy Services Co., Ltd, is the fourth in its kind in Rangoon and it will be held in Mandalay also. (March 15 news)

·         Petrol and diesel prices dropped about K200 per gallon respectively in March second week. The dropped price is due to decreased demand from the other cities. (March 14 news)

·         Applicants who try cheating for application of their passports by using forged documents would be jailed for about seven years, the Office of Passports Issuing Board said. (March 12 news)

·         Euro and Japanese Yen are used instead of dollar in normal trade sector between Burma and Japan since last February. The US government has pressed again in February the Burmese traders’ dollar accounts in Singapore and Japanese banks, and the traders faced the drop of about three percent in their profits because of using many currencies for the transactions. (March 12 news)

·         A Myanmar company has signed with the Japanese Itochu Company to export sesame 1,000 metric tonnes to Japan by this May. (March 12 news) 

·         The Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Limited’s Myawaddy Trading is leading other trading companies in early this year by importing more than US$18million worth products during January. The Myanmar Ivanhoe Copper Company stood second in January with $3.8million import volume followed by the Rothemans of Pall Mall Myanmar Pte., Ltd with $2.5million. (March 12 news)        

·         The Ministry of Information’s Myanma Radio and Television has improved broadcasting some of its presentations in an attempt to attract more public interest. (March 12 news) 

·         A Burmese-Japanese joint venture company, Myanmar Tasaki Co., Ltd, has produced a record of more than 168,000 pearls within a month starting from December 25. The Joint Venture Company has already produced total of 330,000 pearls and it is working to produce about 400,000 pearls in 2006-07 fiscal year. (March 11 news)

·         More than 80,000 labours are estimated to have been working at the construction sites in Pyinmana. (March 11 news)

·         The City Bank and Myawaddy Bank Ltd had granted total of about K2,000 millions for conversion of city buses, which are under the supervision all-round bus lines control committee’s, to be operated on CNG. (February 24 news)

KhitMyanmar Vol. 3, No. 25 (March 17)     

• The Indian President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, told the Burmese University students that the Indian would provide assistance for Burmese students to study doctorate courses in Indian universities. Meanwhile India will continue road extension project that will link to India's Mizoran and Burma's Tiddim. (March 9 news)

• A private pharmaceutical company signed a contract with Bangkok-based Kaw Kan Company for exporting 46 pharmaceutical products to Thailand. (March 9 news)  

• Burma and South Korea are collaborating for the reforestation project in central Burma's dry zone. (March 7 news)   

• Thai traders are offering more than Chinese merchants for shrimp shells that are reused as raw material for animal feeds. (March 5 news)

• According to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism's figure Burma attracted 660,000 tourists last year, which is about 4,000 tourists more than the previous year. The figure is the highest compared to the previous five years. (February 28 news)

• Eight charter flights carrying total of 942 passengers have visited Burma last year. Burma attracted the record 55 charter flights carrying 4810 passengers in 2004. (February 28 news)

• The Ministry of Labour has issued licences to 71 companies for overseas labour recruiting services. (February 24 news)

• Under the four cleaning projects conducted by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Funds 1.8million toilets will be built throughout the country in 2006. (February 24 news)

• The Asia World Company will complete a road in 2006-07 tourism season that will link Chaungtha Beach and Ngwe Saung Beach. (February 15 news)  
  
  
  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 24 (March 10)

• All ICT service centres providing such services as network games, Internet and email are to register as the public access centres at the Myanmar Info-Tech. Myanmar Info-Tech opens the public access centres in collaboration with Myanma Posts and Telecommunications since 2005 in an attempt to boost the use of ICT throughout the country. (March 4 news)      

• Air Bagan, a private-own domestic airline, begins operating Rangoon-Ayelar (Pyinmana) three-time a week flights since March 1. (March 1 news)

• A painting show of the orphans from welfare centres in Burma and Cambodia will be held at the Lawkanatt gallery from March 13 to 20. More than 200 paintings drawn by the 4 to 15 years old orphans will be displayed at the show. (February 28 news)

• Rice prices are slightly up due to the less supply of raining season harvest but the prices are likely to drop again when summer season paddies are harvested. (February 25 news) 

• The Myanma Posts and Telecommunications will lease 2000 GSM mobile phones in Bago. It has accepted 40,000 applications for phone leasing in Bago since last December. (February 25 news)

• Burma's total import volume in 2005 accounted for US$557.33millions even though more than $2160million worth import licences were issued in the same year. (February 25 news)  

• Thailand's CP Company will breed 0.6 million tilapia fingerlings, which are to be imported from Thailand, in Maubin Township in Ayeyarwaddy Division. The company, which has already established factories for producing chicken roast and shrimp ball, is also planning to produce tilapia fish ball. (February 24 news)  

• Under the industrial training and technical internship program conducted by the Ministry of Labour in collaboration with the Japan International Training Cooperation Organisation the Japanese companies that are officially allowed to recruit foreign labours will employ about 100 Burmese on-the-job trainees. (February 23 news)

• Thailand will build international-standard lampposts along Myawaddy-Thingannyinaung road, which is part of the India-Burma-Thailand highway link, a member of the Thailand-Burma Friendship Association said. Thailand planned to spend Baht119 million, exclusive of the cost of lampposts, for construction of road link to Myawaddy and Kawkareik in Burma side. (February 5 news)
  
  
  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 23 (March 3)

• The 8452 square-mile Hugaung Tiger reserve was regarded as the world's largest sanctuary for tiger, Mr Alan Rabinowitz, an American natural scientist who gets involved in establishing the tiger reserve since ten years ago, said. (February 27 news)

• The experts from the SEAFDC will visit on February 26 to study the feasibility of producing fish slices in Burma. (February 24 news)

• The betel leaf price is again down to under K2,000 from K2,800 per viss since a couple of days ago. The previous price increase was due to growing number of consumers as well as the lesser supply from the plantation areas. (February 22 news)   

• Pearl traders from the United States, Germany, Spain, Hong Kong, Japan and Thailand bought US$2million worth 210 pearl lots at the Myanmar Pearl Auction-2006 held from February 17 to 19 in Dusit Inya Lake Resort. (February 21 news)

• The trail introducing of the industrial development information system, which is to be established for supporting the development of the country's industrial sector, is expected to begin in this mid year. (February 20 news)     

• The Nation news agency reported Thailand was in need of more than 0.5 million general labours from countries including Burma, Cambodia and Laos. (February 19 news)

• The Ministry of Industry No (1)'s Sittaung paper mill will soon market its new type of quality paper. (February 17 news) 

• Work on US$15million hotel project in Pyinmana built by Ngwe Sin Company is expected to complete in March. Construction sites of all government ministries buildings are also confirmed and building works are progressing. (February 17 news)

• Import of textile products from India drops due to trade in of Chinese textile products, which are imported with cheaper prices. (February 17 news)  

• Onion price, which has dropped because of marketing disqualified crops in January, is up again since early this month. (February 16 news)

• A feasibility study to establish a ¥712 million electricity plant fuelled with paddy husk in Ayeyarwaddy Division's Dedaye Township with the assistance of the Japanese semi-government New Energy Development Organisation would be conducted in late February, an official from the Department of Agriculture Planning said. (February 2 news)

• Ngwe-Saung Beach receives fourfold of the number of tourists attracted by the Chaung-tha Beach due to its unspoiled natural resources and scenery.

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 22 (February 24)

• A new freight forwarding service from Kalay to India's Mizoram and Chin State's Reh Korka is operated since February 22. (February 22 news)    

• Establishing of a 40-acre special economic zone in Southern area of Mae Sot, the major trade city for Burma and Thailand border trade, was approved and construction work would begin during this year, a member of the Burma-Thailand Friendship Association, Mr Yong Yokohama said. (February 17 news)

• The Indonesian president Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would likely to visit Burma in early March, Xinhua news agency reported. (February 17 news)

• The fisheries products processing factories that meet the manufacturing standards only are allowed to export their products, and there are about 30 processing factories this year acknowledged by the Department of Fisheries for meeting the manufacturing standards. Fifty factories were acknowledged last year. So far about 100 processing factories are operating in the country and the rest factories that have fulfilled the requirement for meeting the standards can apply permit for export to EU countries. (February 15 news)

• The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries allowed Burmese exporters to have Japanese Yen account in order to facilitate them for shrimp export to Japan. The Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Brigadier-General Maung Maung Thein said at a regular meeting that exporters could use Yen and Singapore dollar for the transactions as those currencies were allowed to use officially. (February 14)

• Poppy growing dropped about 75 per cent annually due to the poppy-substitute crop plantations, an official from the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control said. (February 13 news) 

• The import of the day-old-chick would resume during this year in order to supply the requirement of the poultry farms, a poultry business owner said. (February 12 news)

• Number of people taking the trains dropped significantly to about 10,000 from about 90,000 per week since last December. The decline is likely the disadvantage of the railway stations that are not easily accessible to the majority. (February 12 news)    

• The United Nations Children's Fund, which opens its Rangoon office in Yangon International Hotel in Ahlone Township, will move to Dusit Inya Lake Hotel in July. (February 10 news)

• The 13^th meeting of the ASEAN sectoral working group on agricultural training co-operative will be held in Burma from July 25 to 27. (February 14 news)

• A French pianist will conduct a piano concert on February 25 in the Strand Hotel. (February 7 news)

• A professor from the Belgian University of Gent conducted the technical workshops in early February in the Agriculture Planning and Forestry departments. (February 2 news)

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 21 (February 17)

• The government will establish a Central Co-ordination Committee to facilitate the activities of the local and international NGOs including the United Nations that were operating in the country, according to the report released by the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development on February 7. The Minister for National Planning and Economic Development, U Soe Thar will head the committee, which will hold regular meetings with the NGOs every other two months. Meanwhile the ministry has also released new operational guidelines for the NGOs in which the humanitarian assistance organisations are required to register at the Ministry of Home Affairs in order to operate in the country. (February 13 news)

• Burma will host the third round Asia championship archery competition in September. (February 13 news)

• The Myanma Posts and Telecommunications will establish 1000 more public telephone stations in Mandalay during 2006. MPT has already established more than 1100 public telephone stations in Mandalay since 2002. (February 8 news)

• The Department of Meteorology and Hydrology received the tidal gauges, which will enable to detect the occurrence of tsunami, distributed from the UNESCO and Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. (February 7 news)     

• A massive death of broilers during the January second week in Mon State's Paung Township was due to disease that causes sore to the rump of the birds not because of the bird flu, a senior official from the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department said. (February 5 news)

• The volume of rice transported from Rangoon to upper Burma including Mandalay, Myingyun and southern Shan State has increased noticeably and the transportation charges are also up from K18 to K 28 per viss. (February 5 news)    

• Sixty-member delegation group from Thailand will meet with the Burmese officials on February 7 for the establishment of bilateral industrial and economics zones. Thailand is accelerating to co-operate the contract farming system with its neighbours in agriculture and fisheries sectors. (February 5 news)      

• Wetland International and Myanmar Birds and Nature Society will jointly conduct a one-month survey for listing the birds inhabited in three areas in the delta region. (February 4 news)

• Figures released by the Department of Fisheries showed that six whales that inhabited in deep-sea areas were stranded and died along the country's offshore during last June to this February. (February 3 news)     

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 20 (February 10)

• Kobe Myanmar All Love Association, a non government organisation in Japan, donated five trap cameras for use in tracking the wildlife habitants in Hukaung wildlife sanctuary. (February 2 news)

• The Pacific congress on marine science and technology-2006 organised by the Myanmar Maritime University, Hawaii University's PACON Myanmar Chapter, PACON International and the Association of Japan Myanmar Mutual Co-operation to be held in Traders Hotel from June 9 to 16 is expected to attract about 100 experts from 25 countries. (February 2 news)

• The Japan International Co-operation Agency is providing K500 daily to patients, who are disabled because of the leprosy, during their three-month hospitalisation offered free by the agency. (February 2 news)        

• World Health Organisation will continue its assistance till 2010 in combating leprosy in Burma. (February 1 news)

• Price of the locally produced cement decrease abruptly since January last week due to the massive import of cement from Thailand. (February 1 news)

• Growth rates of the trade sector and GDP were quite satisfactory and the government would work to reduce the inflation rate to 5 per cent in future, the Minister for National Planning and Economic Development, U Soe Tha said at a meeting. U Soe Tha said Burma had more than US$1,200million trade surplus in trade sector and the GDP also increased from 8 per cent to 12 per cent. (January 30 news)

• In place of pesticide farmers are using icy water that freezes and kills the insects. Observers said the use of icy water reduce the cost as well as the side effect caused by the utilisation of pesticide. (January 28 news)

• The highway passenger buses operating to Ayeyarwaddy Division are to transport the commodities also along with the passengers because they are receiving fewer passengers since early January. (January 28 news)      

• The Xinhua news agency reported that the first tourism investment summit of the greater Mekong Sub-region countries including Burma would be held in Laos from March 28 to 30. (January 26 news)

• Though China was importing massive tonnes of cashew nut from Burma every month the commercial growing of those nuts still did not increase, a merchant from the Burma-China border checkpoint said. (January 24 news)  

• The Myanmar Info-Tech Company plans to open 60 public Internet access centres throughout the country during 2006. Though it has planned to open 40 centres last year about 20 centres only are able to begin their operation. (January 20 news)

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation targets to produce 3.6 million eggs from its three poultry farms in this fiscal year and it has produced 1.7 million eggs till January 6. (January 18 news)

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 19, (February 3)

• Malaysia offered many employment opportunities to overseas general workers, doctors, engineers and computer experts, and any interested Burmese could directly apply to the Malaysian labour agency with email, a director from the Malaysian recruiting agency said. (January 25 news)

• Twenty-one foreigners participated in the 8^th international ballooning event held from January 9 to 19 in Burma's five tourist major cities. (January 25 news)  

• Members of Burma and Malaysian chambers of commerce and industries have met in Traders Hotel on January 24 for business collaboration. (January 25 news)

• Burma targets to produce more than 60,000 tonnes of rubber in this fiscal. It has produced more than 50,000 tonnes last fiscal year. (January 24 news)

• Due to increase consumption Burma import about 20,000 tonnes of milk products annually. (January 22 news)

• The price of the betel leaf rises four times reaching K2,000 per viss in early this year because of the supply shortage. (January 21 news)

• The United Nations Children's Fund planned to spend US$105million for conducting country program for 2006-2019 in Burma. It had $40million fund only and was requiring $65million to conduct the new program, the UNICEF office announced. (January 20 news)

• Thailand animal breeders are interested in resuming importing sheep and goats from Burma after being stopped the import of live-animals since late last year. Thailand cans sheep and mutton, and export to Arab countries and some to Burma. (January 19 news)

• The teaching centre manager at the British Council in Rangoon, Mr Michael Gordon, said the number of Burmese children who were taking Cambridge's international English language examinations increased annually. (January 18 news)

• As a biggest joint health care project of the United Nations Children's Fund and the Ministry of Health to be conducted between 2006 and 2010 total of 18million children will receive measles vaccinations. (January 15 news)

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No.18 (January 26)

• The European Commission has chosen two UN organisations and seven NGOs in collaborating for implementing more than Euro 8 million humanitarian assistance in Burma. (January 17 news)

• The First Myanmar Automotive Company, a joint venture company with Japan that began its operation since 2000, will begin assembling the Isuzu brand trucks in Burma. (January 17 news)

• Only between 2,000 and 3,000 out of more than 10,000 companies that have registered for import and export are operating their businesses. (January 14 news)

• Business matching between Burmese and Malaysian chamber of commerce and industry will be held on January 24 at the Traders Hotel. (January 13 news)

• The Department of Archaeology announced the renovation of the ancient pagodas and temples, which were built in Tagaung era, in Mandalay Division's Thabeikkyin Township, and has asked public for donations. (January 13 news)

• The Pacific Food Industries Limited, a foreign direct investment from Britain, is planning to export its locally produced condensed milk to Singapore and Africa. (January 13 news)

• The representatives of the regional fisheries research association visited Myanmar Fisheries Federation to discuss prospect of eco-labelling issues in Burmese's fisheries products. Only the fisheries products produced from the countries, which have less impact in environment, are allowed to have such labelling. (January 13 news)

• Rubber plant cultivation in more than 55,000 acres till early January is exceeded target plantation set for this year, which is about 45,000 acres. (January 10 news)

• Australia-based Myanmar Atlantic Company, a joint venture company with the Ministry of Mine, produced pearls 14,900 units during last December. (January 10 news)

• The Ministry of Mine will hold Myanmar Pearl Auction-2006 under the international auctioning system. The auction, to be held from February 17 to 19 in Dusit Inya Lake Hotel, is planned to auction more than 0.1million pearls. (January 10 news)

• Crab price in Muse 105^th mile trade zone fluctuated rapidly because of the festivals and holidays. The price went up in previous Christmas and New Year holidays and it is expected to rise up again during Chinese New Year. (January 3 news)

• Hotels and tourism business is successful in Inle, which is one of the famous tourist destinations in Burma, hotels that charged over US$100 per day can only be found in that destination, a tourist who recently visited Inle said. While four and five-star hotels in Rangoon charged around $50 per day there were at least three hotels that charged more than $100, the tourist said.  

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 17 (January 20)

• The Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation will provide boiled milk since January last week to the students in the selected primary schools. (January 17 news)

• While areca nuts (Kwun-thee) are exported to India via border checkpoints their husks are also exported to China through Muse checkpoint. China makes carpet with the areca nut husks and husks 40 tonnes are exported last November. (January 15 news)

• Fish Information Services, one of the world's biggest fisheries information services, will open its branch office for ASEAN countries at the headquarters of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation. (January 10 news)

• The Universities Historical Research Department will publish 24 historical research books during 2006. It has published 68 research books during 1954 and 2004. (January 6 news)

• The Myanma Agriculture Services will upgrade its two farms in Kokant region as the model centres for agricultural education. Buckwheat, maize, sugarcane and other commercial plantations will be cultivated at the model centres. (January 5 news)     

• The Ngapali Beach again is teemed with visitors during this open season though it has faced declined numbers of visitors during the start of the season because of the bad weather conditions. (January 3 news)

• The newly established palm oil research centre in Myeik Township began its operation. The centre is established in Myeik where the country's biggest palm oil plantation projects are located in order to focus research activities on palm oil. (January 2 news)   

Khit Myanmar Vol. 3, No. 16 (January 13)

• The Thailand's PTTEP International Limited, which is jointly exploring oil and gas in the gulf of Moattama offshore with Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise, will drill eight more wells in M-7 and M-9 blocks during the second quarter of this year. (January 3 news)

• The Ministry of Energy announced to build 26 more compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations in addition to its 19 stations and seven under-construction stations. The ministry sells its CNG to more than 5,000 vehicles daily. (January 3 news)

• The Ministry of energy said that more than 70 taxis had already converted to be operated on CNG. (January 3 news)

• Local people were using traditional method that apply mercury to extract gold from the earth and that could seriously harm human being and the environment, a Russian mining engineer who visited gold production area around the country warned. (January 3 news)

• A local company is planning to distribute day-old-chick boiler imported from Denmark. (January 2 news)

• Palm oil consumption dropped more than 50 per cent in upper Burma during this month because people used other edible oils rather than palm oil, which solidified in cold season. (December 30 news) 

• New crops of bean and pulses became entering the Bayintnaung wholesale complex since late December. (December 29 news)

• The Japanese Mitsubishi Corporation awarded FEC10,000 each during this month to 40 outstanding third and fourth years students who are studying at the University of Agriculture in Pyinmana. The corporation began granting those scholarships since 2003-04 academic year. (December 29 news)

• More people are interested in re-exporting business as India and Bangladesh demand commodities from China and Thailand, in addition to Burma products, via Burma's domestic market. (December 27 news)

• Burma exported more than 1,000 tonnes of fruits early December. (December 27 news)

• The Ministry of Commerce said late December that US$0.1million worth 100 tonnes of mutton were exported to Singapore for the first time. (December 27 news)  

• Burma and China will extend collaboration in agriculture and livestock sectors in 2006 in accord with the bilateral agreements made four years ago. A 22-member delegation from China's Yunnan province arrived at Burma on December 25 to discuss for the collaboration. (December 23 news)

• The Department of Agriculture Planning will publish 'Sesame in Myanmar' in early 2006 that will depict comprehensive information on sesame found in Burma. (December 22 news)

Khit Myanmar Vol.3, No.15 (January 6)

• India will fully finance a highway project that will directly link Chin State's Falam Township and India's Mizoram. Both sides have already conducted feasibility survey for the project, which is expected to cost Rupee 6000millions. (January 2 news)

• More numbers of foreign films compared to local ones being shown in cinema halls became challenges for the local film and video industry that could produce only 27 films during 2004, the Minister for Information, Brigadier General Kyaw Hsan said.

• The Myanma Airway International reduces airfares for Rangoon to Bangkok and Singapore routes during January 4 and 24. (December 28 news)

• The guesthouses or inns at the Dagon-Ayeyar highway compound will not accept foreigners because of their lack of facilities. (December 27 news)

• The 8^th ASEAN Insurance Regulators meeting held in Cambodia on November 27 decided to develop uniformity among the member countries' different insurance policies. (December 24 news)

• While the prices of steel roof rise slightly cement prices decrease noticeably during December third week. (December 24 news)

• Sesame market cools down again due to declining purchase from Mandalay as well as little functioning of the sesame oil grinding factories. (December 23 news) 

• The FMI Co., Ltd is planning to establish a project that includes a motor cycle assembling factory in one of the new industrial zones. (December 20 news)

• A local private company is exporting alabaster rock for the first time to Thailand via border trade. Previously value-added alabaster products only are exported to other countries. (December 17 news)

• Improving trade facilities at the Muse 105^th mile trade zone has raised the prices of the black and yellow eels reaching about K2,850 and K3,050 respectively.