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(1) Secretary-1 attends World Food Day Commemorative Ceremony
YANGON, 16 Oct - A ceremony to commemorate 1998 World Food Day was held at Myaypadethagyun of Myanma Agriculture Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in Bahan Township this morning, and Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended it and presented prizes to townships for outstanding results in monsoon and summer paddy farming.
Also present were Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin and ministers, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, deputy ministers, directors-general, managing directors and officials, Resident Representative of FAO Mr Francis Rinville and resident representatives of UN agencies, ambassadors of foreign embassies, representatives from townships which won prizes for their outstanding performance in agriculture and livestock breeding and guests.
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(2) Forest products joint ventures urged to promote standard of wood-based industries, boost production of value added items, cooperate in the government's forest management programmes
YANGON, 16 Oct - The Fifth Annual General Meeting of the Forest Products Joint Venture Corporation was held at Tawwin Hall of the Forest Department on Bayintnayung Road, Gyogon, Insein Township, this morning, with an address by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Also present at the meeting were Minister for Commerce Maj-Gen Kyaw Than, Ministers at the Office of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Brig-Gen Abel, Lt-Gen Min Thein and Brig-Gen Maung Maung, Minister for Forestry U Aung Phone, Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung, Minister for Transport Lt-Gen Tin Ngwe, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, Deputy Minister for Forestry Brig-Gen Soe Myint, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads of the Ministry of Forestry, the Chairman and members of the Board of Directors of the Forest Products Joint Venture Corporation, share holders and guests.
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(3) Mid-Year Gems Emporium displays 1,386 lots at reserve price $ 11.37m
YANGON, 16 Oct - A total of 1,386 gems lots at a reserve price of $ 11.37 million are on display at Mid-Year Myanma Gems Emporium, said Deputy Minister for Mines U Myint Thein today at a Press Conference.
The emporium displays 962 jade lots at a reserve price of $ 5.96 million, 254 gem lots at $ 3.5 million and 170 pearl lots at $ 1.91 million, he added.
Sponsored by Myanma Gems Emporium Central Committee, it will be held from 16 to 22 October.
The deputy minister, who is chairman of MGECC, estimated that over 300 merchants of 51 companies from 13 countries will attend the emporium to be held at Myanma Gems Mart, adding invitations were sent to 787 companies of 28 countries.
More quality stones and lots are included in this emporium than in the previous sales as the State is providing assistance to gems miners such as rendering advanced cash and loans and speedy foreign currency services and curbing smuggling gems abroad, he noted.
The reserve prices for the tots are lower than in the past sales due to currency devaluation and economic instability in international scene, he said.
Over 50 new merchants from Canton and Yunnan provinces of the People's Republic of China are expected to attend the emporium, he said, adding coordinations are under way to sell jade blocks to Yunnan by land.
Member of Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein also spoke.
U Myint Thein and Secretary of MGECC Managing Director of Myanma Gems Enterprise U Khin Oo replied to questions raised by foreign and local journalists.
Led by Brig-Gen Aung Thein, officials and journalists including Managing Director of News and Periodicals Enterprise U Tin Kha, Director-General of Myanma Radio and TV U Khin Maung Htay, Director-General of Information and Public Relations Department U Chit Naing, Director (News) of NPE U Hla Tun, Patron of Foreign Correspondents Club U Sein Win and Chairman U Sao Kai Hpa previewed the display and visited shops at the mart.
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(4) Cash donation for MMA Women Chapter (Yangon)
YANGON, 16 Oct - A ceremony to present certificate and cash donation by Myanmar Medical Association Women Chapter (Yangon) was held at MMA Hall at 2 pm today.
Present were Patrons of MMA Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe, Dr May May Yi, Dr Daw Nu and invited guests.
Chairperson of MMA Women Chapter Dr Yi Yi Hla explained to those present the aims of the association and social tasks.
Patron Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe presented certificates and gifts to U Zaw Min, proprietor of Thamada cinema hall, owner of "Tathettahtawara" film U Khin Soe, owner of "Kyundaw Kyamadoethi" film U Wunna-Daw Cho Yi, owner of "Thukyunmakhanbyi"film U Than Aung and owner of "Mar-yar-ya-hta" film Daw Ei Ei Khaing who provided assistance for the fund-raiser show of the association.
Then, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe accepted K 217,000 and medicines donated by well-wishers including K 100,000 by Agga Maha Thirithudhamma Daw Hse and presented certificates of honour to them.
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(5) Minister receives ICRC, Red Crescent officials
YANGON, 16 Oct - Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing received Head of Office of South-East Asia and East Asia Regional Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Federation Dr Johan Schaar and International Federation of Red Cross Representative to Myanmar Red Cross Society Mr Floyd Barnaby at his office at 8 am today.
Present were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Soe Win, Secretary of MRCS Dr Ko Ko Gyi and Head of Office U Yan Myo Aung Thein.
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(6) Minister inspects power production in Kyunhla, Shwebo, Mandalay
YANGON, 16 Oct - Minister for Electric Power Maj-Gen Tin Htut, accompanied by Deputy Chief Engineer U Tin Aung, Assistant Chief Engineer U Aung Koe Shwe and Sagaing Division Engineer U Than Win, arrived at Thaphanseik Hydroelectric Power Plant in Kyunhla Township, Sagaing Division, on 12 October.
In the hall, Project Manager U Ngwe Tun and officials of Irrigation Department briefed the minister on their respective tasks.
The minister gave instructions and inspected the site chosen for construction of the plant.
Minister Maj-Gen Tin Htut and party proceeded to Shwebo Township and met members of District, Township and Ward Peace and Development Councils, entrepreneurs and residents of Shwebo and Wetlet Townships at Pyi Shwe Bo guest house. He explained to them the production of electric power, difficulties and situation of power supply.
On 13 October morning the minister met service personnel at the office of Mandalay Division Engineer.
The minister and party inspected Kinta Hydroelectric Power Plant. The minister then inspected the site of Paunglaung Hydroelectric Power Plant and gave instructions.
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(7) Diplomats visit Mid-Year Myanma Gems Emporium
YANGON, 16 Oct - Ambassadors, diplomats and military attaches from Foreign Embassies and officials of UN agencies visited Mid-Year Myanma Gems Emporium a; Myanma Gems Hall on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road today.
The Mid-Year Myanma Gems Emporium was sponsored by Myanma Gems Emporium Central Committee.
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(8) Local company to mine gold at Phayaungtaung
YANGON, 16 Oct - Myanmar Golden Point Family Co Ltd has agreed with No 2 Mining Enterprise today to mine gold on production-sharing basis at Phayaungtaung, Patheingyi Township, Mandalay Division.
The contract permits Myanmar experts to mine gold at areas including the 13 blocks allotted by the Ministry of Mines for the third time, said Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint.
The ministry is cooperating with foreign firms in mining gold, copper, zinc and platinum, allotting 16 plots in the first assignment and 11 in the second time, he said.
Managing Director of No 2 ME U Tin Win and Managing Director of the company U Maung Ko signed the contract at the ministry.
The two officials also made speeches.
Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Minister at State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Brig-Gen Maung Maung presented MIC permit to U Maung Ko and Minister Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, the work permit.
Deputy Minister for Mines U Myint Thein and officials were also present.
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(9) Over 2 Kilos of opium seized
YANGON, 16 Oct - A combined group including members of Defence Services Intelligence Unit and Myitkyina Special Anti-Drug Squad, acting on a tip-off, raided the house of Htay Win Aung in Hsahmaw Village, Moegaung Township, on 26 October afternoon.
They seized one packet of opium in a box kept in bed-room and one packet of opium on the lawn behind the house. Total weigh is 2.401 kilos.
Action is taken against house owner Htay Win Aung, 26, son of U Myint Aung of Hsahmaw Village, Moegaung Township, and opium owner Tin Hlaing, 44, son of U San Maung of Moebye Ward, Phekhon Township, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Law.
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(10) MIC Secretary receives MD of Myanmar Sampoerna Tobacco
YANGON, 16 Oct - Minister at the Office of Chairman of State Peace and Development Council Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Brig-Gen Maung Maung received Managing Director Mr Bambang Sulistyo of Myanmar Sampoerna Tobacco Co Ltd at the commission office at 11 am today.
Present were officials of Directorate of Investment and Companies Administration.