( 1 )  Tatmadaw Agriculture Course opens

Yangon, 18 Dec -Tat-madaw Agriculture Course No 44 jointly conducted by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation was opened at Saya San Hall of Myanma Rice Research Centre in Hmawby Township this morning, with an address by Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin. Also present were senior military officers of Hmawby Station, the directors-general and managing directors of departments and enterprises under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, course instructors and trainees. Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin said the ministry is making efforts to conduct double and mixed cropping, to use farm machinery and to supply water. He urged the trainees to disseminate agriculture techniques and knowledge gained at the course among the farmers and participate in food production. The 14-week course is being attended by 120 trainees.

Meeting reviews opium substitution in Wa region

Yangon, 18 Dec - The 6th Steering Committee Meeting of Wa Alternative Development Project was held at the Drug Elimination Museum here this morning. The project is being jointly implemented by Myanmar, the People's Republic of China and UNDCP in Mongpauk region in eastern Shan State. Secretary of Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control Director-General of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Soe Win and Resident Representative of UNDCP Mr Jean Luc Lemahieu gave speeches. The Programme Co-ordinator of UNDCP for Progress of Wa Region Mr Xavier Bouan presented difficulties faced in implementing the project in 2001 and the work to be done in 2002. The participants including representatives of Wa region led by U Wan Kon-yi, CCDAC members, officials and UNDCP officials took part in the discussions. The meeting ended with concluding remarks by MPF director-general.

Myanma Small Loans Enterprise opens Management Course

Yangon, 18 Dec, - A financial management course No 8 of the Myanma Small Loans Enterprise of the Ministry of Finance and Revenue was opened at the meeting hall of MSLE (Head Office) on Pansodan Street, here this afternoon, with an address by Minister for Finance and Revenue U Khin Maung Thein. Also present on the occasion were Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Than Tun, Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar U Kyaw Kyaw Maung, Managing Director of MSLE U Than Nyunt and departmental heads, and course instructors. The minister said financial management and maintenance of insured properties play an important role in MSLE. These tasks are to be undertaken in accord with the procedures and directives. The courses are being conducted for enhancement of qualifications of service personnel, he said. The minister called for applying theory in practical fields. Altogether 51 trainees are attending the three-week course.

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( 2 ) Market Management Course concludes

Yangon, 18 Dec - The concluding ceremony of the market management course No 1/2001, organized by the Ministry of Industry-1, took place at the training hall of the ministry on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road at 8 am today. It was attended by Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung, Deputy Ministers Brig-Gen Thein Tun and Brig-Gen Kyaw Win, the director-general and the managing directors of department and enterprises, course instructors and trainees. Minister U Aung Thaung made a speech on the occasion.

 He said that the ministry is responsible not only for production but also for distribution, and it is also conducting various courses with a view to upgrading ability of the staff and developing the human resources. It is important to produce high-quality goods in large quantities which meet the consumer satisfaction, he added. He also urged the trainees to put their experience and knowledge acquired at the courses into practice. Then, Minister U Aung Thaung presented first prize to Assistant Manager U Khin Maung Than of the Myanma Ceramics Industries, second prize to Manager Daw Nyunt Than of the Myanma Ceramics Industries and third prizes to Division Officer Daw Aye Aye Khine of the Myanma Pharmaceutical Industries and Division Officer U Hla Myint of the No-1 Gas Factory and completion certificates to the course leader. A total of 34 trainees attended the two-month course.

( 3 )  Mayangon Township MCWA gets new labour room

Yangon, 18 Dec - Under the arrangement of Yangon Division Maternal and Child Welfare Association, a ceremony to open new labour room of Mayangon Township Maternal and Child Welfare Association was held at the labour room in Ward 7, Konmyinttha in Mayangon Township this morning. The opening ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Hlaing Win, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen Hsan Hsint of Yangon Command, Chairperson of Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association Prof Daw Kyu Kyu Swe, Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe, Patron of Yangon Division MCWA Supervisory Committee Daw Malar Tint and members of panel of patrons, Chairman of Yangon Division MCWA Supervisory Committee Dr Tin Maung Win and members, wellwishers, invited guests and students. Chairperson Prof Daw Kyu Kyu Swe of MMCWA, Patron Daw Malar Tint and Chairman Dr Tin Maung Win of Yangon Division MCWASC formally opened the labour room.

Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe of MMCWA formally unveiled the signboard of the labour room. Then, the guests looked around the labour room and the pre-primary school and nursery school of the township MCWA, and presented toys to the children. Afterwards, Chairperson Prof Daw Kyu Kyu Swe made a speech and Chairman of Yangon Division West District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Maung Maung Shein explained arrangements for the labour room. Donor of the labour room Managing Director of Ayeyamyae Co Ltd U Thet Oo explained the donation and handed over the documents related to the labour room to Chairman Dr Tin Maung Win who spoke words of thanks to the donor.

Vice-Chairperson Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe of MMCWA presented medical equipment and medicine to Patron Daw Malar Tint of Yangon Division MCWASC. Vice-Chairman Col Maung Maung Shein presented commemorative pennants to mark the opening of the labour room to Prof Daw Kyu Kyu Swe, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe, Daw Malar Tint and U Thet Oo. Then, donor U Thet Oo presented K 16.5 million for construction of the labour room and K 1 million for the trust fund to Daw Malar Tint. Daw Malar Tint, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen Hsan Hsint and Dr Tin Maung Win accepted donations of others and the ceremony came to a close. Today's donations made by the wellwishers were K 3,725,090.

Minister receives Ambassadors

Yangon, 18 Dec - Minister for Culture U Tin Winn received the Ambassador of the Republic of India to the Union of Myanmar Mr Vivek Katju at his office at 10 am today. Also present at the call were Director-General of the Department of Archaeology U Nyunt Han, Director-General of Fine Arts Department U Kyaw Win and officials. Similarly, Minister U Tin Winn also received Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Mr Chung Jung Gum at his office at 11.30 am today. Present on the occasion were Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt and officials.

Minister receives Indian guest

Yangon, 18 Dec - Minister for National Planning and Economic Development U Soe Tha received Mr Sha Shank of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India, accompanied by Ambassador of India to Myanmar Mr Vivek Katju, at his office this afternoon. Also present at the call were official of the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development.

( 4 ) Construction Minister inspects bridge projects

Yangon, 18 Dec - Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun inspected Mann Creek and Shwechaung Creek bridge projects and maintenance of Pathein-Monywa and Yangon-Pyay highways. Accompanied by Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Myint Thein and officials of Public Works, the minister visited Mann Creek Bridge project on Pathein-Monywa Highway on 16 December. The minister looked into the requirements presented by the project officials.

The contractor of the project is No 3 Special Road Construction Division. During inspection of Shwechaung Creek on the highway, the minister stressed the need to implement the project in accord with the set standard and to use quality materials. He then inspected repair of the highway at Padaung-Taungup section (Okeshitpin-Padaung-Pyay). Afterwards, he inspected maintenance of the Yangon-Pyay highway and gave instructions to officials.

Ministers visit Sarsodaw Day commemorative book fair

Yangon, 18 Dec - The Sarsodaw Day (1363 ME) commemorative book fair organized by Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association continued for the fourth day at the building of the Printing and Publishing Enterprise on Pyay Road today. Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing and Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung visited the book fair at 10 am and at 12.20 pm today respectively. Books on different subjects are available at a reasonable price at the book shops opened there. In addition, books of Myanmar Language Com-mision of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs are also available at the bookshop of the News and Periodical Enterprise of the Ministry of Information. Bookworms, monks and people totalling over 17,000 visited the book fair and purchased various kinds of books worth K 962,600 today. The book fair continues till 21 December.

( 5 )  Voyager Cordless Phone System introduced

Yangon, 18 Dec - The Fisca Security & Communication Co held a ceremony to introduce Philip SOPHO is - 3000 Series EPABX System and Voyager Cordless Phone System at Communications and Postal Training Centre on Lower Pazundaung Road here this morning. The ceremony was attended by Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Thein Zaw, the director-general of the Directorate of Telecommunications, officials from the Myanma Posts and Telecommunications and engineers. Experts from the Fisca Security & Communication Co explained standards and uses of electronic exchange and cordless phones in detail, and those present took part in the discussions. Then, the minister and officials viewed the displayed machinery.

YMCA holds thanksgiving ceremony

Yangon, 18 Dec - The thanksgiving ceremony of the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in Yangon was held at M-3 Food Centre in Bahan Township yesterday evening, attended by Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin. Also present on the occasion were Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt, departmental heads, persons from religious and social organizations, presidents of sports federations, the Vice-Chairman of YMCA and executives and guests. General Secretary U Tha Nyan of YMCA acted as emcee, and read out the Bible. Executive Dr Tin Hla asked for God's blessing and those present, in harmony, sang the song " Joy to the world, the Lord is come."

 Vice-Chairman Col Aung Din (Retd) extended greetings, and members of the association sang the song of the association in unity. Then, Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin extended greetings at the cere-mony to mark the birthday of Jesus Christ. Executives Rev U Myint Lwin, Rev U Saw Margeygyi, Archbishop Mahn Sansi Htay and U Tha Aye prayed for the State, shared the good news, blessed those present, and praised the gratitude of God. Afterwards, Daw Thiri Nyo, Ma Yin Lay Mon and Ma Aye Aye Aung sang hymn and those present, in chorus, sang the song Beautiful Myanmar. Dinner was served to the guests and the ceremony came to a close.

Yangon, 18 Dec- A Press briefing on holding the Tiger Myanmar Amateur Open (2002) to be organized by Myanmar Golf Federation and mainly sponsored by Tiger Beer was held at the Traders Hotel on Sule Pagoda Road this afternoon. Present were President of MGF Brig-Gen Win Hlaing, General Secretary U Aung Kyi and executives, General Secretary of Myanmar Professional Golfers' Association Han Golf Master's Pte Ltd Managing Director U Chan Han and members, General Manager of Myanmar Brewery Ltd Mr Koh Tai Hong and officials, Managing Director U Tin Kha of the News and Periodicals Enterprise, Director (News) U Hla Tun and officials of dailies, Deputy Director-General U Thein Aung of Sports and Physical Education Department, Kyodo News Agency correspondent U Sein Win, member correspondents of Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club and officials of periodicals. MGF President Brig-Gen Win Hlaing extended greetings. He said, on behalf of the MGF, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all participants and guests.

 Each year golf fans look forward to this memorable display of golfing skills of the region's best amateurs. The quest to raise the standard of Myanmar Golf has never been better. The Myanmar Golf Federation would like to express its gratitude and thanks especially to main sponsor "Tiger Beer" and to all those responsible for making this event a success. General Manager of Myanmar Brewery Ltd Mr Koh Tai Hong said this year marks the third year in which Tiger Beer is involved with the Myanmar Amateur Open. For three years, we have been slowly nurturing Myanmars' young talents and preparing them for he professional circuit. The Myanmar Amateur Open like any other Amateur Open is a gateway for the inspired and talented professional of tomorrow.

The Tiger Myanmar Amateur Open is a highly intense and competitive event which prepares the individual both physically and mentally for the professional game of tomorrow. Through the Myanmar Amateur Open, MGF have produced some of Myanmars' and Asia's best players like Kyi Hla Han who has won the Myanmar Amateur Open at least three times and Zaw Moe who has also won the Myanmar Amateur Open at least two times. The Myanmar Amateur Open is therefore an important and crucial link for producing some of Myanmars' and Asia's best golfers.

Finally, I would also like to thank some of our sponsor for without whom the event can never be a success, Traders Hotel, Excel International Co Ltd. Then, General Secretary U Aung Kyi reported on invitation, accommodation and prize presentation for the Open. Afterwards, Brig-Gen Win Hlaing, U Aung Kyi and U Chan Han answered the queries. Golfers from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar were invited to participate in the Open. The Golf Open will be held at Yangon Golf Club in Danyingon from 8 to 11 January 2002.