THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
(Wednesday, 3 February 1999)
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  1. Myanmar Sigma Cable Co Ltd opens factory to produce 4.560 metric tons of cables yearly
  2. Secretary-1 inspects, construction of Pan Hlaing Golf Course, Housing Project in Hlinethaya
  3. National entrepreneurs should consider setting up labour villages for work stability
  4. Development of Coco, Hainggyi Islands coordinated
  5. Namtu Township NLD dissolved
  6. Minister for Culture inspects ancient pagodas in Kayin State
  7. 50 members resign from Natmauk Township NLD
  8. Minister meets Joint-Executive Director of ADB
  9. Minister meets Chairman of Itochu Corporation
  10. 136 manuscripts entries received for Sarpay Beikman Manuscript awards
  11. New Toshiba electronic products introduced to the market
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(1)  Myanmar Sigma Cable Co Ltd opens factory to produce 4.560 metric tons of cables yearly

YANGON, 2 Feb - Myanmar Sigma Cable Co Ltd opened a cable factory at Hlinethaya Industrial Zone 3, Hlinethaya Township, Yangon Division, this morning.

Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended the ceremony and unveiled the factory's signboard.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun said the State Peace and Development Council has laid down the political, economic and social objectives and is striving with greater momentum from all sectors for emergence of a modern and developed nation.

Public Works of the Ministry of Construction is engaged in building roads, bridges and other structures for the State while Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development is involved in setting up new towns, upgrading wards and enhancing social environments for urban development in the collective endeavours of the respective ministries for national progress.

In order to boost production, generate job opportunities and offer work experiences to the public, DHSHD has also set up industrial zones for local and foreign industrialists in Shwepyitha, Hlinethlaya, Dagon Myothit, Shwepaukkan, Mingaladon and Thanlyin-Kyauktan regions.

Local and foreign industrialists have established factories and are manufacturing goods and especially in Hlinethaya Industrial Zone production of goods is in progress as plants have already been set up. More industries are being built in the zones.

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(2)  Secretary-1 inspects, construction of Pan Hlaing Golf Course, Housing Project in Hlinethaya

YANGON, 2 Feb - Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, accompanied by member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, the ministers, the deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads and officials, arrived at the site of Pan Hlaing Golf Course of internal Project in Hlinethaya Township this morning.

The Secretary-1 and party were welcomed by Chairman of FMI Co Group Mr Serge Pun (a) U Thein Wai and officials.

The Secretary-1 and party were conducted round the site of the golf course and housing project by officials.

Director-General of Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development U Arnt Kyaw reported on construction of 18-hole golf course of international standard, apartment and single unit housing project and other facilities and Mr Serge Pun on construction of Pan Hlaing Golf Course of international standard.

The Secretary-1 then gave instructions on work.

The golf course and housing project will be implemented by Pan Hlaing River Golf and Country Club Co Ltd jointly formed with Yangon Nominees Ltd of FMI Co Group in cooperation with DHSHD.

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(3)  National entrepreneurs should consider setting up labour villages for work stability

YANGON, 2 Feb - A meeting was held this afternoon at the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation to attend to the needs in reclamation of wetlands and vacant, virgin and fallow lands, with an address by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo.

The Secretary-2 said national entrepreneurs are starting cultivation on tamed wetlands in Ayeyawady and Yangon Divisions and reclaimed vacant, virgin and fallow lands in Magway Division.

Though the entrepreneurs are, utilizing large and small machinery in reclaiming thousands of acres, a large number of manpower is also required. Seasonal mobilization of workers will not assure labour stability.

Setting up of labour villages in accord with the long-term prospects plot-wise should be considered for the benefit of farm workers and the farms.

Workers and tractors will be provided to farms as much as possible, he said.

Member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than explained conditions relating to availability of farm workers and their welfare.

National entrepreneurs presented requirements sector wise.

Deputy ministers and officials attended to their needs.

The meeting ended with concluding remarks by the Secretary-2.

Also present on the occasion were Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Deputy Ministers for Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung.

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(4)  Development of Coco, Hainggyi Islands coordinated

YANGON, 2 Feb - A coordination meeting on development of Coco Island in Yangon Division and Hainggyi Island in Ayeyawady Division was held at Ministry of Transport this evening, attended by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo.

Present on the occasion were Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe, Deputy Ministers Brig-Gen Kyaw Myint and U Pe Than, Commander of Panmawady Naval Region Command Headquarters Commodore Myint Swe and officials.

Minister Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe reported on progress of work on development including construction of Yezin Bridge in Coco Island, work to be done and requirements.

Chairmen of respective District Peace and Development Councils and officials reported on requirements for development.

The Secretary-2 said the region is difficult of access and has weather constraints. He urged officials to undertake work most needed in the area during the open season.

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(5)  Namtu Township NLD dissolved

YANGON, 2 Feb - All the Executive Committee members of Namtu Township National League for Democracy, Shan State (North), tendered their resignations and dissolved the Township NLD of their own volition on 24 January 1999.

Namtu Township NLD was first formed on 2 October 1990 with 15 EC members. The four remaining EC members of the Township NLD resigned from the party membership of their own volition since they no longer wished to continue to take part in NLD's party politics. They notified the office of Namtu Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the chairman of the party concerned and dissolved the Township NLD on their own volition on 24 January 1999.

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(6)  Minister for Culture inspects ancient pagodas in Kayin State

YANGON, 2 Feb - Minister for Culture U Win Sein, accompanied by Deputy Director-General of Archaeology Department U Kyaw Win, Deputy Director-General of Department of Cultural Institute U Khin Maung Tin and officials, inspected ancient pagodas in Thaton, historic caves in Hpa-an, Shwemyin-wun Pagoda in Myawady and Kayin State Cultural Museum from 29 January to 2 February.

The minister inspected ancient historic Shwesaryan Pagoda built by King Thuriya Sanda of Thuwunnabumi, 596 stone inscriptions of Tri Pitaka at Shwesaryan Pagoda, Kalyarni Theindawgyi and Buddha images in Thaton.

The minister gave instructions on preservation of ancient pagodas, Theindawgyi and stone inscriptions, construction of shelter for ruined stone inscriptions and durability.

The minister then inspected Bayinnyinaung Yadana Cave built 900 years ago on west bank of Thanlwin and new Bridge in Hpa-an. The minister paid respects to Sayadaw U Panavamsa and presented offertories to the Sayadaw. He also paid obeisance to ancient Buddha images in the cave.

On 30 January, the minister inspected historic Kawtgon Cave near Phakat Village and gave instructions on systematic preservation of ancient objects and Buddha images in the cave.

Minister U Win Sein paid respects to Kawtgon Theinkyaung Sayadaw U Kovida and presented offertories to the Sayadaw.

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(7)  50 members resign from Natmauk Township NLD

YANGON, 2 Feb - Fifty members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Natmauk Township, Magway Division, on 12 and 17 January 1999.

Thirty-nine members of Natmauk Township NLD, Magway Division, of their own volition, tendered their resignations by sending letters of resignation to Natmauk Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission Office and the party concerned on 12 January and eleven members followed suit on 17 January as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.

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(8)  Minister meets Joint-Executive Director of ADB

YANGON, 2 Feb - Minister for Finance and Revenue U Khin Maung Thein met Joint-Executive Director of Asian Development Bank Mr Sim Cheng Huat who called at his office at 10 am today.

They discussed matters related to monetary affairs and bilateral cooperation.

Also present at the call were Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar U Kyaw Kyaw Maung and Director-General U Soe Lin of Foreign Economic Relations Department.

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(9)  Minister meets Chairman of Itochu Corporation

YANGON, 2 Feb - Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Brig-Gen Abel met Chairman of Itochu Corporation Mr Uichiro Niwa and party who called at his office at 4 pm today.

They discussed matters related to bilateral economic cooperation.

Present at the call were officials of the departments concerned.

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(10)  136 manuscripts entries received for Sarpay Beikman Manuscript awards

YANGON, 2 Feb - The Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Scrutiny Committee invited 12 genres to participate in the manuscript awards and received 136 manuscripts in 11 categories except translation genre till 31 December 1998, the last date.

The committee received 10 manuscripts in novel genre, 20 in collected short stories, 37 in collected poems, 16 in general knowledge (arts), 12 in general knowledge (science), 12 in belles-letters, nine in Myanmar culture and arts, nine in children's literature, six in youth literature, three in dramatic literature and two in political literature.

First, second third prize-winners will be announced before Sarsodaw Day, 1st Waxing of Nadaw, 1361 ME, and prizes will be presented on Sarsodaw Day.

The committee will present to the winners K 50,000, K 40,000 and K 30,000 to first, second and third prize winners respectively.

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(11)  New Toshiba electronic products introduced to the market

YANGON, 2 Feb - The introduction of Toshiba Convention "99" co-sponsored by Toshiba Singapore Pte Ltd and Golden Glory Co of Singapore was held at Hotel Equatorial yesterday evening. Chairman of Golden Glory Co Singapore Mr Low Kim Yong gave a speech.

Senior Managers of Toshiba Service Centre U Thein Aung and U Soe Myint and Marketing Officer U Saw Win demonstrated the use of Toshiba's new products.

The sponsors hosted dinner in honour of the guests and sales agents and organized lucky draws programme.

The new products were Bomba 29-inch and 21-inch TVS, VCD player TVD 910K and GR-Y refrigerator.

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