News Watch 2006

News Watch Vol. 2, No. 2 (November 23)

• More than 34.7million people out of more than 56million population are working in various work sectors, according to the official statistic. There are 22.3million people working in agriculture sector, 4.8million in industrial sector and 7.5million in service sector, the statistic shows.  

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 50 (November 11)

• Rangoon's workforce is growing annually and of which female workers contribute about 60 per cent.

• Cauliflower price drops slightly in Rangoon's Thirimingalar Market. The price went up abruptly earlier this month due to delay supply from Northern Shan State.

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 49 (November 2)

• Burma produces 0.3million tonnes of freshwater fish, the world's sixth biggest amount of such fish production. It also is the top freshwater fish producer in ASEAN region.

• Egg price is stronger because of higher consumption from confectioneries though there is regular supply from delta region to Rangoon market. (October 20 news)

• Construction businesses begin active in this opening season and construction workers also receive increased wages of about K300/K500 per month.  

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 48 (October 26)

• The import-substitute manufacturers will have to pay only 20 per cent of actual import tax on industrial raw materials and such tax-exemption will be allowed till 2008, U Sein Aye, a director from the Internal Revenue Department said.

• Rice prices still remain unchanged though harvest season of new rice is beginning. The price unchanged is due to still lesser supply of new harvest rice and the anticipation of decreased rice production because of recent heavy rain that flooded many paddy plantation areas.

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 47 (October 19)

• The Rangoon City electricity distribution group raises electricity metre-box maintenance fee to K500 from K100 since October. Charge of electricity usage per unit is already increased since the same month to K25 per unit.

• Companies that evade paying taxes or do not follow companies' registration rules will face the penalties of as high as they are being dissolved.

• Some special rice retail shops reduce the price of Grade III rice to K370 per pyi while some shops continue selling with K400 per pyi. The special retail shops are open to help stabilise rice prices.

• Prices of computer peripherals are likely to drop because there are higher supplies in October than that of in September.

• The township peace and development councils in Rangoon Division will grant small loans to households for pig breeding to help earn them extra incomes.

• A Mandalay-based factory will produce Soya bean milk from Soya beans, which are grown as poppy-substitute crop in Wa region.

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 45 (October 5)

• Myanmar Medical Association will conduct Sydromic management training for general practitioners from 10 towns throughout the country in collaboration with Global Fund and the Department of Health. The training will be conducted from September to November.

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 44 (September 28)

• Trading at border checkpoints with Thailand had been normal after a short period slow down, said traders who are regularly exporting commodities via Myawaddy and kawthoung.

• Rangoon authority accepts applications for installing electricity metre boxes in Dala Township. (September 13 news)

• More than US$ 8.1million worth condensed milk and $0.69million milk powder are imported from January to July this year. Import licence rates for powder and condensed milk remain the same while import volume rises compare to the last similar period. (September 11 news) 

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 43 (September 21)

• Ayeyeitmon female orphanage in Mandalay Division's Aungmyaythazan Township accommodates more than 150 orphans and it receives donations 15 days a month only. (September 8 news)   

• The Department of Fisheries will inspect exported crab in three places - in origin of production, Rangoon and Mandalay - in order to tightly control the attempt of smuggling of some crab exporters. (September 6 news)

• Fishery products' warehouses will be established in October in Rakhine State's Maungdaw to help develop bilateral trade with Bangladesh.  

• Commodity inflows from China and Thailand, which drop during September, are expected to become normal next month. There still is small-scale trading in border points and local exporters are now ready to export their goods.

• The Ministry of Health, Myanmar Red Cross Society and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies jointly provide prosthetics to amputees in Mandalay general hospital. Total of 11 amputees in Mandalay will receive artificial limbs in this year. 

Rangoon-based some freight forwarding services temporary stops their operations because of lesser commodity transport to other states.    

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 42 (September 14)

• The Ministry of Finance and Revenue is accepting applications for customs officer posts. The Minister Maj-Gen Maung Oo has said on August 14 press conference that the interrogation on detained customs officials were still in progress. (September 3 news)

• A 668.88 squared mile elephant sanctuary is established in Rakhine State's Thandwe and Toungup. (September 1 news)

• Hnin-zi-gone Home for the Aged plans to expand spaces to accept more elderly people. So far it accommodates 92 male and 141 female. (September 1 news)    

• Inland Water Transport will not reduce operating times of its ferryboats running across Rangoon River despite reduction of fuel quota provided for those boats. (August 29 news)

• Burma becomes a valuable country for ASEAN and BIMSTEC countries as it can greatly support BIMSTEC's energy sector as well enabling to export agriculture and fishery products to some ASEAN countries.   

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 41 (September 7)

• The Department of Forestry distributes about 195million plants for growing at the along sides of Rangoon-Mandalay and other new roads within ten years since 1996.

• A Chinese state-owned mining company plans to operate nickel mining in Burma since next September, Xinhua reported.

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 40 (August 31)

• Almost 600 shops including some that kept K100million worth goods in Tahan market in Sagaing Division's Kalay Township went on fire on August 14. This is the biggest fire in Kalay. (August 22 news)

• Matpe price rises slightly as there is no stock in hand that meets demand from India while mung bean price in China border drops about K1000 per bag because of decreased demand from Chinese side. (August 22 news)   

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 30 (June 15 )

• Chicken production increases again because consumption rises gradually since May due to successful control of the bird flu outbreak in Mandalay and Sagaing Division. (June 8 news)

• Officials from the UNAIDS and Ministry of Health discussed with general practitioners in Pathein Township for combating HIV/AIDS. (June 8 news)

• The United Nations Development Program and Myanmar Medical Association conducted a refresher course on combating malaria in Pathein Township on May 27. (May 30 news)
  
  
  

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 29 (June 8)

• Sales of eight-foot satellite receivers surged nearly 200 per cent shortly after the news of broadcasting world cup football matches from Myawaddy television channel. (May 31 news)

• The Hawaii-based Pacific congress on marine science and technology will hold its conference in Sedona Hotel from June 11 to 15 with the collaboration of the Myanmar Maritime University. (May 23 news)

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 28 (June 1)

• The chairman of Kyoshin Co., Ltd Mr Sadaaki Tachiki donated a 26-seat bus to the Department of Social Welfare in Mandalay for use in deaf school development affairs. The Japanese donor has contributed more than US$227,600, including the bus, within seven years. (May 20 news)

News Watch Vol.1, No. 27 (May 25)

• Top-grade rice price is down about K200 per Pyi (about 2.1kg) while low-grade drops about K50 per Pyi since early April due to efforts of the commodity prices control committee. (May 18 news)

• The 87^th birthday of the well-known author and poet Dagon Tayar was held in his home in Aungpan in Shan State on May 14.

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 26 (May 18)

• There are about 10 orphanages in Chin State and author Ludhu Sein Win donated 300 set of clothes to those orphanages. (May 6 news)

• The higher transportation charges have resulted in the increase of apartment rentals in downtown and nearby areas. (May 2 news)

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 25 (May 11)

• Chilli prices are likely to be changed because cyclone Mala that broke out in late April has torn down the chilli plantation in delta region. (May 2 news)

• International community assisted about US$3million to Burma for conducting preventive measures and controlling H5N1 bird flu virus. (April 25 news)

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 24 (May 4)

• Pearl garment factory in Hlaingthaya Township has lost about K1000 million after a strong windstorm hit the factory at about 10PM on April 28. (April 29 news)

• Businesses from Burma and Chinese Jiangxi Province had signed US$15.65million worth business contracts during bilateral meeting held on April 11 in Traders Hotel. (April 24 news)

• Trade in gold market decreased gradually due to unsteady and rapid price rises in gold market. (April 23 news)

• Under privatisation program government will auction its 11 rice mills and an edible oil-grinding factory in Rakhine State on April 26. (April 21 news)  

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 23 (April 27)

• The Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association will hold a seminar on Intellectual Property rights in May second week. (April 12 news)

• The Traffic Rules Enforcement Supervisor Committee will collaborate with local non-government organisations for safety of pedestrians who cross the road via zebra crossing. The members of the NGOs are trained to assist public using zebra crossing safely. (Local NGOs here meant the UDSA and auxiliary Fire Brigade) (April 10 news)

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 22 (April 6)

 ·         The Mandalay City Development Committee met with the entrepreneurs in late February for opening restaurants, beauty parlours, teashops and other servicing shops in Pyinmana. About 50 businessmen from Mandalay and 100 from Rangoon had also visited Pyinmana for studying business opportunities. MCDC will grant land plots between Pyinmana and Ala for establishing the business. (March 28 news)

·         More than 10,000 tonnes of variety of beans and pulses are exported to India in March. (March 28 news)

·         Mutton demand increases significantly due to the higher consumption. (March 25 news)

A road linking Puta-o and Sangaung in Kachin State is built to facilitate the tourists for visiting 11500-foot Mount Fongunrazi in coming tourist season. The mountain is always capped with snow from November to April and tourists will be allowed for free to visit the Fongunrazi tourism zone. (March 22 news) 

News Watch Vol.1, No. 21 (March 30)

 ·         Fisheries supply to Kyimyindaing Sanpya Fish Market decreased to total of 0.12million viss from 0.2million viss per day. Rangoon’s fish consumption also dropped to 2,500 viss from about 5,000 viss per day. (March 22 news)

·         Rangoon residents could safely consume chicken as authorities concerned had banned in and outflow of chicken and chicken products to Rangoon, an official from the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries said. (March 22 news)

·         The delegate from the Japanese National Police Force and Burmese police in Sagaing held a seminar on March 8 on police activity development with public collaboration. (March 17 news)

A bird flu control committee is established in Meiktila district on March 15. (March 17 news)   

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 20 (March 23)

• An American cruise liner carrying 439 crews and 613 tourists of which majority is the American has arrived in Thilawa port on March 13. It is the biggest cruise ship that visited Burma during 2006 and the passengers went also to Mandalay and Bago. (March 15 news)

• Authorities seized the smuggled 200 rice bags and 30 bushels of beans in Kachin Division's Bhamo region. (March 14 news)

• A group of students from Humboldt University Berlin has arrived in Burma since March first week for study in the Burmese culture and religion

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 19 (March 16)

• Export of the generators and candles to India increase gradually since early this year and Burma has earned total of about US$14,600 from generator export during January 22 to February 4, and $15,600 and $14,700 from candle export in January and February respectively. (March 4 news)

• More construction workers throughout the country are flowing in to the Pyinmana with the expectation of working at the construction sites. (March 4 news) 

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 18 (March 9)

• The official reports said 4million cubic-foot natural gas are produced daily from the two new gas wells in Pauk Township in Magwe Division, which is contributing 14 per cent of the total inland natural gas production. Burma produces 144million cubic-foot natural gas from inland gas wells. (February 27 news)     

• The government's under service employees and retired staff are required to apply annually for the use of electricity with subsidise rate. (February 25 news)

• According to the studies of the Department of Health Planning 75 per cent of water resources in 165 villages were found to have arsenic, a deputy director from the department said. (February 24 news)
  
  
  

• News Watch Vol. 1, No. 17 (March 2)
   The weekly meetings of the Trade Council and Export Import Supervisory Council will be held regularly in Pyinmana, the chairman of the EISC, major general Thein Swe said. He said exporters and importers could apply for licences in the Ministry of Commerce's office in Rangoon. (February 23 news)   

• The Myanma Agriculture and Produce Trading is leasing its warehouses in Kyimyindine, Lamadaw, Mayangone and Mingalataungnyunt townships. (February 20 news)

• The international pearl auction held from February 17 to 19 in Dusit Inya Lake Hotel attracted 30 pearl traders from 20 international pearl companies. (February 18 news)

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 16 (February 23)

• Bridge Asia Japan has built 184 bridges in Northern Rakhine State and it is planning to build more 27 bridges soon. (February 4 news)

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 15 (February 16)

• Burma produces 0.4 tonnes of mangoes annually and mango production accounts for 70 per cent of the country's total fruit production. (February 9 news)

• A local vehicle manufacturing company is exporting new designs of racing cars to Australia since last year. (February 8 news)

• Well-wishers are invited to donate for the No (6) monastic education centre in Bago Township's Myot-twin-gyi quarters. The centre is established since 2003 and it is providing education to about 380 students annually. (February 7 news)

• Under the education supporting programme for offspring of the leprosy patients the Ministry of Health and non-government organisations enabled to help 64 children to attend the school/university since 2000. (February 6 news)

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 14 (February 9)

• Six chartered ships carrying 1536 passengers visited in 2005 while the same number of chartered ships that had carried 1,758 passengers visited in 2004. (February 3 news)

• Burma exports fisheries products to about 40 countries and it has earned US$55.88million in 2004-05 fiscal year from export of 48863.07 metric tonnes of freshwater fisheries products. (February 2 news)

• Entrepreneurs and industrialists are invited to attend the 3^rd Enterprise Asia-2006 to be held in Kuala Lumpur from June 22 to 24. (January  31 news)

• More steamed boilers are used in residences, training centres and monasteries in Mandalay Division due to the scarcity of firewood.  

• UNICEF sets strategies to protect and care for children and women from HIV/AIDS. (January 28 news)

• Burma earned US$0.2421million from export to India during last December and about 56 per cent of such total income are received from exporting areca nut (kyun-thee). (January 27 news)   

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 13 (February)

• A visiting English poet Mr Tony Connor held poem reciting ceremony at the British Council's exam hall on January 13. (January 13 news)

• Department of Forestry will conduct survey on local herbal plants in collaboration with Makino Botanical garden in Japan in areas including Nattma and Popa mountains as part of second phase of the three-year project.

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 11 (January 19)

• The Myanma Airways, which is operating to 30 domestic destinations, did not change its airfares though private airlines have increased their airfares. (January 10 news)

Burma exported mutton, betel leafs, honey and soft drinks last December as the new export commodities. (January 12 news

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 10 (January 12)

• A local sales company claimed that the traditional handicrafts were popular in other countries and the varieties of handicrafts were exported mostly to Britain, French, Japan, China, Singapore and Malaysia. (January 4 news)

• Cement price decreases since early this year due to regular supply from local cement factories. The price is expected to decrease more in future. (January 2 news)

• China is demanding more eggs from Burma, which is still free from bird flu. Burma earned more than US$16,000 by exporting more than 0.3millions eggs to China during November 17 and December 3. Meanwhile Burma also exported cane to China and Bangladesh via border checkpoint. It has earned total of more than US$16000 from exporting more than 280 tonnes of canes during December 4 to 10. Watermelons grown in Rakhine Division are also exported to Bangladesh via border trade. (December 29 news)