Weekly
Eleven News 2005
Weekly Eleven News Vol. 1, No. 11 (December 21)
Burma and Thailand had agreed to co-operate on contract farming system under the ACMECS scheme, the director general of the Department of Agriculture Planning said.
Retreat of Global Fund from Burma would not affect the country's programs to combat AIDS as there still were other organisations such as UNICEF, WHO and UNFPA that were providing funds for the program, an assistant director from the Department of Health said. UNFPA also extends its funding for one year till December 2006.
India agreed to provide assistance for establishing English language-training centres in Cambodia Laos, Burma and Vietnam.
ASEAN and China are jointly striving to market the poppy substitute agricultural products to help facilitate the farmers who are growing other crops in place of poppy.
The prices of the variety of bean and pulses noticeably drop as new harvests entered the wholesale market.
Burma's indigenous ornamental fish are popular in international market, and not only freshwater fish but also saltwater fish as well as freshwater shrimps are also exported as ornamental ones.
According to the official figure 18464 tonnes of fuel import stands top among other imported commodities during December 3 and 9.
The inland and water transport fares would remain unchanged even though domestic airfares increased, the respective departments said.
Thailand would grow sugarcanes in 2000 acre lands in Pyay Township under the contract farming system to supply raw material to Nawaddy sugar factory, which is being operated by Myanma Sugarcane Enterprise in collaboration with Thailand's Sutech Engineering Co., Ltd.
More shipping companies are interested in recruiting low-wage Burmese seamen, as their trustworthiness is more reliable than seafarers from other countries.
Seven Burmese students won prizes in South Korean Red Cross Society's poster competition held to mark its centennial.
Government colleges provided more chances to those who wanted to study in UK, U Khin Maung Htay who has studied five years in UK said adding that, some colleges provided 10 to 20 per cent discount to Burmese students.
Hotels in Ngwe Saung Beach in Pathein say they are receiving more local and overseas visitors during this year.
Myanmar Police Force conducted its Crime Free Week program from December 5 to 9 and it is still continuing its efforts on lessening crime rates in Rangoon's townships.
Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise will open two more CNG filling stations in East Dagon and Kyitmyindaing townships during December third and fourth weeks.
Weekly Eleven News Vol. 1, No. 9 (December 7)
Press conference for resuming national convention was held on December 3. Brigadier-General Kyaw Hsan said at a press conference that the declaring of future Burma's capital would be decided only with the constitution. Amendment or modification of national flag and emblem would also be depended on the constitution, he said.
Major-General Khin Aung Myint, joint-secretary 1 of the national convention organising commission denied at the press conference the confining of the government staff who quit their jobs because of their unwillingness to go to Pyinmana. He said the staff could give up their jobs if they didn't want to go to Pyinmana, and further staff recruitment by the government would depend on the job requirement.
Major-General Khin Aung Myint also denied the one-year detention extension of Aung San Suu Kyi by saying that the extension was made only for six months.
A ceremony to mark World AIDS Day was held on December 1 in International Business Centre.
Domestic airlines changed their airfares since December 1 in order to match with the fuel price changes.
There would be no changes in country's hotels and tourism business even though the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism had moved its headquarters to Pyinmana, the Deputy Minister, Brigadier general Aye Myint Kyu said at a co-ordination meeting between the ministry and the businesses.
Burma earned more than US$346.92 millions from 255,780 metric tonnes of fisheries export in 2004-2005 fiscal year, according to the figures released by the Department of Fisheries. The figures showed that though the amount of fisheries export was considerably higher than last fiscal year income of fisheries export was up about nine per cent only.
Ministry of Culture held an exhibition of the ancient buildings in Rakhine State for the first time in Sittwe from November 20 to 29.
Lacquer ware experts from Burma and Japan will together organise a lacquer ware workshop in Rangoon early next year. Japan also offers to provide scholarship to a outstanding trainee from Lacquer ware College in Bagan.
Officials from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, eight Japanese attended a Burma-Japan goodwill tea ceremony held late November in Thiripyisaya Hotel in Bagan to recite well-wishes for everyone who died during the wars.
Myanma Posts and Telecommunications began inviting tenders for constructing auto-exchange buildings in Mandalay Division's Tharsi and Yamethin townships, which still have manual exchange system for using telephones. More than 100 townships in Burma have auto-exchange system for telecommunication so far.
Foreigners who wanted to visit to National Library in Tarmwe Township were required to have permissions from the Ministry of Culture, a director from the library said. More than 46,000 books in English version are available at the library.
One of the protected animals a local bird specie called Dawn Soat Ngat, is being traded in Burma-Thailand border, and Thais are offering attractive amount of money for the birds.
Numbers of tourists who visit to Bago Division increase yearly and there were more than 28,000 tourists visited last fiscal year.
More than 0.1 millions people are working at the Poantawn Poannyar region for crude oil drilling. It is learnt that about 100 barrels crude oils are produced daily in that region
Weekly Eleven News Vol. 1, No. 8 (November 30)
Burma received the international HIV/AIDS funding that was only a small portion of actual costs to combat the disease in the country, an official from UNAIDS said.
Myanma Airways is operating Rangoon-Ayelar (in Pyinmana) daily flights since November 12. The airline operates a returned flight in weekdays and two flights in weekends.
BIMSTEC countries are beginning their collaboration in combating transactional crimes and terrorism among member countries.
Twenty Burmese primary school teachers are participating at a Japanese excursion, held as part of the JICA's technical co-operation program, together with youths from other six ASEAN countries.
The 5th ASEAN ministerial meeting on transactional crimes to be held in Hanoi from November 28 to December 1 will discuss collaboration among member countries on such issues as on illegal drug trafficking, human trafficking and money laundering.
Forest Products Joint Venture Corporation will produce 11,000 tonnes of hardwood and 1,000 tonnes of teak from Bago and Taungoo with the approval of the Ministry of Forest.
The Bandoola transportation service will operate a city bus line in Pyinmana with its 30 buses. The buses will begin operating in late this month. Bandoola will also operate its Rangoon-Pyinmana trip with additional two buses.
Myanmar VES gems company, a joint venture company of Myanma Gems Enterprise and Thailand's VES Group, has between US$ 0.3 and 1.6 millions annual earning.
The Department of Fisheries will confine the companies that breach the regulations on exporting live fish.
The Forest Depart will hold an exhibition on conservation of the botanical gardens in collaboration with London-based BGCI from November 25 to December 11 at Botanical Garden in Pyin Oo Lwin Township.
Weekly Eleven News Vol. 1, No. 7 (November 23)
Emergence of high-rises in line with the civil development of Rangoon has also brought vehicle parking as one of the city's main problems due to unbalancing of the apartment and vehicle parking units in the condominiums.
The situation of the local travel industry is expected to be unchanged compares to the previous years and the Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock) Pagoda in Mon State is likely to be the most crowded destination in this open season, the tourism businesses said.
Teak export earning of US$ 19.6 millions ranked first among earnings gained by exporting ten main commodities during October 2005, according to the information from Customs. Most of the Burma teak went to Vietnam and last fiscal year's teak export accounted for US$ 2.05 million.
Price of Maize grain increases gradually since January this year and the highest price of K11660 per 54 visses reached in August. The price is down to K8700 per 54 visses in early November. More than 115500 tonnes of maize grain are exported during January to August this year.
Six out of 28 rice mills enabled to return their loans by exporting 5121 tonnes of rice. A total of US$3 millions loan is granted from the International Development Association under the rice mills upgrading project.
The Forest Products Joint Venture Corporation imported diesel to provide fuel to the private businesses that are co-operating with the Myanma Timber Enterprise. So far the corporation has sold diesel 2.2 million gallons.
The renowned Strand Hotel in Rangoon stopped renting its main lobby for wedding receptions since November 18. Instead it rented the area to a French company.
Union of Myanmar Economic Holding Co., Ltd will hold its 20th gems emporium in January next year.
Travellers from Rangoon to areas in Ayeyarwaddy Division are relying mostly on ships due to the cost-effectiveness.
An official from Department of Forest said it had warned the animal farms in areas such as Inle Indawgyi and Moeingyi lakes where migratory birds fly over during Burma's winter season as those birds were suspected as the carriers of the bird flu.
Township education offices will inspect at the basic education high schools throughout the country to enhance the learning capability of the students.
The elderly person literacy rate increased about 0.8 per cent in 2005 compares to last year due to the 3R summer training conducted in each state and division as well as in border areas.
The apartment and detached house rentals in South Dagon Township, the outskirts area of Rangoon, is gradually increasing and a resident from that township said more people were interested in staying such wide areas for mental and physical health purposes.
The archaeology Department has completed refurbishing of the ruined parts of Mandalay Palace's city wall and the spire-like roof of Mingalar door in early November.
Mung bean price in Mandalay market falls gradually and the price is downed to K35,000 from K53,500 due to the changes of currency exchange rate in China where most of Burma's mung beans are exported.
The Myawaddy checkpoint in Burma-Thailand border town is receiving increased number of vehicles and people who are passing the checkpoint, according to the township immigration department.
Weekly Eleven News Vol. 1, No. 6 (November 16)
Burma has a good potential of producing oil and gas from its 14 inland and three offshore projects. It is exporting 1000 million cubic-foot of natural gas daily and ranks as the ninth top natural gas exporter in the world.
The UNICEF's country representative said that a strong social welfare system to protect children from abuses and exploitation.
The Greater Mekong Sub-region countries' cross border transport agreement signed at the second GMS summit will be implemented in June 2006, and the trade and investment will be built up in the region.
More than half of investments in Burma are from ASEAN countries which accounts for 51.87 per cent of the total investment US$3964.9 millions. The top investor in Burma is Singapore with $1572.726 millions followed by Britain with $1431.011 millions.
Gold market is normal despite the falling of gold price in the second week of November that reached K290,000 per tical. Previously gold price was above K300,000 per tical.
Rangoon's property market abruptly cools down during November second week and the land prices also decreased notably. Meanwhile vehicle and diamond prices are also falling down.
Ministry of Industry No (1) is building a factory in Chauk, Magway Division since March this year to produce hydrogen peroxide that is to use in paper production.
The Fishery Department is installing quality control equipment at its lab in Thakata Township since November 3 to test the exported fish and shrimp.
Dagon Shopping Centre is receiving more visitors because of its comprehensive security services.
Japanese Daiyuki Foundation donated the diagnostic ultrasound and other hospital equipment to the Ministry of Health on November 8. The foundation has donated more than US$0.9 million worth medical equipment to Burma within six years.
The centennial celebration of the Theingyizay A and B buildings that were built in 1905 will be held in December.
Weekly Eleven News Vol. 1, No. 5 (November 9)
The Privatisation Commission will auction the Ministry of Industry No (1)'s two factories under the privatisation programme. Bids for the auctions are to be submitted by November 24.
The Myanmar Anti-Narcotic Association is constructing a new building in Kamaryut Township with the assistance of a Japanese organisation to support expanding the association's anti-narcotic educating activities.
The Yangon International Airport's taxiways and building expansion project will be completed earlier than the expected date, which is in the end of 2006.
The Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited will import 2000 passenger buses from Japan for All Bus-lines Control Committee and the vehicles will be converted to run on compressed natural gas.
Castor oil seeds grown in Burma are exported to China and Thailand via border checkpoints.
Thailand merchants will visit in December to study the feasibility of buying the mythun mainly being bred in Chin State. Government granted K100 millions loan to expand mythun breeding in 2003 and now the number reaches more than 43,000.
Furniture and household products made with hyacinth are being produced from four local companies and the products are exported to Asian and European markets.
Use of natural dye, made from the tree barks, fruits and leaves, becomes more systematic among local textile businesses.
UNICEF said in its statement that the amount of vitamins included in the meals fed to the children daily is less than necessary and staff of health organisations are educating the parents especially in border areas. UNICEF and other health care organisations feed more than 5 millions kids in Burma vitamin A and the rates of diseases occurred because of the vitamin A deficiency have decreased.
There are 73 deaths and 1067 casualties reported from January to end of October because of the vehicle accidents.
The security office of the Yuzana Plaza is frequently announcing the warnings daily with loud speakers in an attempt to prevent the dangers of shoplifters. Many shop owners in the market have suffered the thefts especially in crowded period.
Police enabled to detain a burglar on October 14 who intruded the house of a foreigner in Kamaryut Township.
The black market's oil prices become close to the official rate and the petrol price is down from K3600 to K2400 and the diesel K4500 to K3000.
The market of construction facilities becomes promising due to re-functioning of construction industry.
Weekly Eleven News Vol. 1, No. 4 (November 2)
Vehicle owners are considering ways to reduce petrol consumption of their vehicles due to the changes in petrol prices. The owners' suggestions include buying the new ones, as used-vehicles are higher repair cost and tend to consume more petrol.
Hlaing Tharyar industrial town, located in a suburban area of Rangoon, is likely to be altered as a prime business town as a result of being linked with the four bridges including the newly opened Pun Hlaing Bridge in October.
The ministries of Health and Livestock and Fishery issued an announcement of the bird flu precaution measures, which includes symptoms of the disease and guidelines for dos and don'ts.
Figures released by the Yangon International Airport showed that more than 30,000 international travellers per month are using the airport. This year's numbers of passengers and operating frequencies are also increased compared to last year.
Traders Hotel is operating its regular functions despite a small explosion occurred close to the hotel, a hotel's staff said.
The domestically assembled Suzuki luxury and light truck vehicles are popular in local market due to the low petrol consumption even though the vehicles cannot be bought with manufacturing prices because of the small-scale production of the vehicles.
The Department of Civil Aviation said the first flight of the Nepal's national carrier Cosmic Air to Rangoon from Khatamadu was not yet approved denying some reports that said the flight to be begun on October 30.
The Myanma Economics Bank is providing money transfer services to 274 townships throughout the country and it has no restriction on transferring amount.
Antique stores in Rangoon are still one of the attractive places for the tourists and more are visiting the places.
The Association for the Conservation and Development of Forest Resources (FREDA?) introduces a new cultivation method that supports local people to have better incomes. The project is conducted with the donation of German Embassy in Burma that contributed US$7450.
The Ministry of Education has opened more classes in 5545 primary schools that provide lectures for Grade five to Grade eight students to facilitate for those whose native are remote from the state-run middle schools.
About 3000 out of 0.6 millions malaria infected people died annually in Burma, WHO's media release said. The organisation is asking assistance from international communities to wipe out the disease in the country. It will also assist for establishing the youth health care centre in Burma to help control the spreading of HIV-AIDS disease among young people.
Weekly Eleven News Vol. 1, No. 3 (October 26)
Information Minister Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan said at a press conference that the collaboration with UN was laid down as Burma's foreign policy and it strongly supported the UN's resolutions. Burma became a member of UN in 1948 and is a member of about 20 other organisations of UN since 1947.
The local drugs market would not be effected seriously despite the strong control on illegally imported and unregistered drugs as the situation encouraged the legal drugs dealers to import more, the general secretary of Myanmar Pharmaceuticals and Medical Equipment Entrepreneurs Association, Dr Saw Hla Tun said.
Burma's PM General Soe Win attended the 2nd Sino-ASEAN Summit held in Nanning. After which Burma and China signed a loan contract for establishing fertiliser plant.
The biggest heroin syndicate was torn down with the combine efforts of China, Burma, Laos and Thailand, a Chinese senior official said.
Burma and India had discussed at a two countries' home affairs meeting held in Rangoon for safety, drugs trafficking, border trade issue, border areas administration and constructing infrastructure projects in Burma.
Information Minister said though bus fares in Rangoon were raised because of the increased petrol prices other transportation charges such as train-fares, ship-fares and air-fares would likely to be unchanged. He also denied the claim of increase of electricity charges.
496 kilo Heroin capturing in September marked the biggest joint triumph of Burma and China, Burma's Police Force's director general, Brid-Gen Khin Yi, said. The incident is the second biggest amount of heroin seizure inside Burma.
Burma and India are interested in exploration of oil and natural gas in collaborative efforts in Hukaung Valley and Chindwin river area, the Indian's Business Standard newspaper was quoted as saying.
Locally produced turmeric would be exported for the first time to Germany during this month.
Country's first fish and shrimp processing zone was open on October 18.
There was less earning despite the larger export amount of materials including wood to Vietnam due to exporting large number of raw materials only.
Airfares of the airlines that link Rangoon and other international destinations were feasible to be changed occasionally on October 1 and April 1 due to the fluctuating oil prices, an aviation source said.
Namataung Resort in Chin State was the most attractive destination among eco-tourism zones for tourists who were interested in eco-tourism, an official from the Forest Department said.
UNFPA said it would emphasise on health-care issue in coming years in Burma.
The hotel industry was being damaged as most hotels were offering their rentals that were less than fixed rates.