NEWS AND VIEWS FROM MYANMAR ( Vol.1

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

Subject: NEWS AND VIEWS FROM MYANMAR ( Vol.1 , No.48 )

NEWS AND VIEWS FROM MYANMAR ( Vol.1 , No.48 )
*****************************************************************
INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS
Endeavours for developing border areas

FOREIGN RELATIONS
Myanmar and Jamaica establish diplomatic relations 
12th Governing Council Meeting of CIRDAP

ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Myanmar-Japan Joint Economic Conference held
Thailand Exhibition' 99 held
Seminar on Bank Management into New Millennium

----------------

INTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS

Endeavours for developing border areas

    Since the assumption of State responsibilities, the State Peace and 
Development Council has been making great efforts to build the country as a 
new modern, developed one. For more than four decades, the nation had to face 
the problem of armed insurgency, which had laid great hindrance in developing 
the country. However, with successful negotiations with armed groups, peace 
was restored to the country following the return of 17 armed groups to the 
legal fold. Today, Myanmar enjoys unprecedented peace and tranquillity, 
enabling the Government to engage in development activities in previously 
inaccessible areas.

    One of the aspirations of the Government is to narrow the differences 
between the urban, the rural and the border areas as much as possible. 
Projects for development of border areas and national races were accordingly 
laid down and implemented. Endeavours have also been made for the progress of 
education, health, transport and economic sectors of national races. Apart 
from expenditure spent by respective ministries for development tasks in 
border areas, K 17.439 billion have been used exclusively for the development 
of national races and border areas, over K 10 billion of which have been used 
for building of roads and bridges.

    In the education sector, altogether 351 primary schools, 46 middle 
schools and fourteen high schools have been opened in the border areas. 
Training schools for development of youths from border areas and colleges for 
efficiency development of the national youths of the Union have also been 
opened and the national youths from border areas are given education to be 
able to discharge the duties related to education, health and administration 
in their respective border areas.

    Efforts for peace and development of border areas are the outstanding 
feat of the Government, which has been giving special priority to further 
strengthening and flourishing of national solidarity and  Union spirit.


FOREIGN RELATIONS

Myanmar and Jamaica establish diplomatic relations 

    The Union of Myanmar has steadfastly adhered to the policy of maintaining 
friendly ties with all nations of the world in accordance with its 
independent and active foreign policy. Myanmar has maintained diplomatic and 
consular relations with 78 countries in all five continents of the world.

    Recently, since the Governments of the Union of Myanmar and Jamaica, 
guided by the principles of sovereignty and mutual respect, have, in 
accordance with the principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter and 
the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, established diplomatic 
relations at the Ambassadorial level from 6 December 1999 as both governments 
are desirous of promoting and strengthening the already existing friendly 
relations between the two countries and their peoples, and of promoting 
better understanding and cooperation.

12th Governing Council Meeting of CIRDAP

    The 12th Governing Council Meeting of the Centre of Integrated Rural 
Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) was opened at the International 
Business Centre on 3 December 1999. 

    Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt 
in his opening address, pointed out that the development of the country could 
be achieved only with the advancement in the daily lives of the rural 
inhabitants.

    He said in all the member countries of CIRDAP, the overwhelming majority 
of the population live in rural areas, and poverty, low standard of living, 
lack of infrastructure, inadequate economic and social facilities including 
education and health facilities, and insufficiency of opportunities for 
meaningful employment are some of the issues that all shared. He also said, 
these are issues, which must be tackled if we want our nations to develop. 
Development of the country can be achieved only with the advancement in the 
daily lives of the rural inhabitants.
        
    The Secretary-1 stressed that as a member of ASEAN, Myanmar is committed 
to building a socially cohesive and caring society as set out in ASEAN Vision 
2020; and together with other member states, Myanmar fully supports building 
social safety nets for the protection of the poor and most vulnerable 
segments of the society. 

    He also stressed that it becomes imperative that the developing nations 
should work extra hard in order not to be marginalized since while 
globalization will bring many benefits and possibilities, it will also result 
in daunting challenges to many countries, particularly to the developing 
countries. 


ECONOMIC COOPERATION

Myanmar-Japan Joint Economic Conference held

    The Third Myanmar-Japan Joint Economic Conference was held at the 
International Business Centre, Yangon, on 6 and 7 December attended by high 
dignitaries and officials concerned and entrepreneurs of the two countries. 
Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office 
Brig-Gen. Abel and Chairman of Myanmar-Japan Joint Economic Conference Mr. 
Iwao Toriumi made the opening speeches.

    Then, papers on 'Aftermath of ASEAN Financial Crisis' and on 'Japanese 
Response to the Financial Crisis' were presented by Vice-Governor of the 
Central Bank of Myanmar U Than Lwin and Counsellor Mr. Endo of Mitsui Company 
respectively. Afterwards, General Secretary U Zaw Min Win of the Union of 
Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry presented a paper on 
investment analysis of FDI in Myanmar, followed by a general round of 
discussions.

    On the second day, Adviser Dr. Kyaw Htin of the Ministry of Industry-2 
submitted the paper on 'Myanmar Industrialization' and Dr. Chan Nyein of 
Ministry of Science and Technology presented the paper on 'Human Resource 
Development'.

    The conference ended with  concluding remarks by Minister Brig-Gen. Abel 
and Mr. Iwao Toriumi.
Thailand Exhibition' 99 held

    Under the programme for promotion of bilateral economic cooperation 
between Myanmar and Thailand, Thailand Exhibition' 99 was held at the 
Tatmadaw Convention Hall from 1 to 4 December. The exhibition was organized 
by the Department of Export Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand 
in collaboration with the Board of Trade, Thai Chamber of Commerce and the 
Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon. 

    Myanmar has hosted in the past few years quite a number of trade fairs, 
single country trade exhibitions and specialized exhibitions on construction 
materials, packaging and small scale machinery from India, Bangladesh, 
Malaysia, People's Republic of China and Singapore. Myanmar has also 
participated in  international trade fairs occasionally and organized Myanmar 
Trade Fairs in Yangon inviting exhibitors from abroad. Thailand Exhibition 
'99 was the second exhibition of its kind, following the one held at the same 
venue in 1998. With the objective of presenting a cross-section outlook of 
Thai products and services to  individuals and potential businessmen from the 
Union of Myanmar, more than one hundred Thai companies are participating in 
this exhibition, displaying quite a wide range of products including 
construction materials, textiles, chemicals, electrical products, furniture 
and household products, cosmetics, food items amongst others.

Seminar on Bank Management into New Millennium

    Seminar on Bank Management into New Millennium co-organized by the 
Central Bank of Myanmar and Deutsche Bank of Germany was held at CBM on 7 
December. Minister for Finance and Revenue U Khin Maung Thein in his opening 
speech, said banking methods to be experienced in the new year which will 
fall in a few weeks would be discussed at that seminar. 

    He said in endeavouring for economic development of the nation, the 
State's banking system will be reformed as required in accordance with the 
changing and developing international banking; at a time when efforts are 
being made for recovery of economic undertakings in Asia after the economic 
crisis, special attention is to be paid to banking systems, and urged the 
participants to apply experience and knowledge gained from the seminar in 
development of the financial business in future.

******