N980412

THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
( Tuesday, 21 December 1999)

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Regional Workshop on ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Process begins
Minister for Industry-l inspects factories in Mon State
Minister inspects Bago Railway Station
Minister for CPI attends opening of training courses
Passing fair judgments speedily in accord with law essential for firmness of judicial system
16th coord meeting of Attorney-General and State/Division Law Officers held
27 members resign from Taze Township NLD
WEATHER

(1) Regional Workshop on ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Process begins
YANGON, 20 Dec - Regional Workshop on the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Process jointly organized by Directorate of Investment and Companies Administration, ASEAN Secretariat and Hanns Seidel Foundation began at Hotel Equatorial this morning, with an address by Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Brig-Gen Abel.
Also present were Minister for Mines, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador of Germany Dr Marius Haas, Ambassador of Laos Mr Ly Bounkham, Charge d'Affaires ai of Embassy of Singapore Mr William Chik Kam Weng, senior investment officials from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, observers and guests.
Minister Brig-Gen Abel delivered an address. He said:
"It is indeed an honour and a great pleasure for me to say a few words at the opening ceremony of the Regional Workshop on the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Process for the senior investment officials from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam. First of all, on behalf of the Government of the Union of Myanmar and on my own behalf, may I extend my warm welcome to all of you to the Golden Land of Myanmar. I am grateful to have the opportunity to host this auspicious workshop held in Myanmar.
It has come to my knowledge that the Coordinating Committee on Investment (CCI), under its Human Resource Development Programme, is to conduct one workshop for the new Member Countries and another workshop for the other ASEAN Member Countries every year. This is the first of its kind of the new member countries. This is made possible with funding support from Hanns Seidel Foundation (Germany) and I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mr Gunter Renner, Regional Director of Hanns Seidel Foundation Singapore for his keen interest to support the programme.
The prime objective of this particular workshop is to provide investment officials from new Member countries, responsible for the implementation of the AIA Agreement, with better understanding on international investment issues discussed at international fora and to facilitate discussion on how the new member countries could better respond to the ramifications of these international investment issues.
In line with such objective, the topics such as international investment issues and its implications, investment cooperation in ASEAN, and features, commitment and progress in the implementation of the AIA Agreement will be discussed by prominent resource persons. Furthermore, participants will make country presentations and exchange views and experiences.
The Second ASEAN Informal Summit, held in Kuala Lumpur on 15th December 1997, adopted the ASEAN Vision 2020. In order to implement the long-term vision, actions plans are being drawn up. At the Sixth ASEAN Summit held in Hanoi in December 1998, the ASEAN Leaders had adopted the Hanoi Plan of Action aiming at, among others, implementing initiatives to hasten economic recovery. To create a stable, prosperous and highly competitive ASEAN Economic Region in which there is a free flow of goods, services and investments the initiatives such as acceleration of implementing the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and acceleration of the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) were included. Moreover, the bold measures were launched in order to improve the investment climate by extending additional special privileges to qualified ASEAN and on ASEAN investors in the manufacturing sector, for applications received from 1st January 1999 to 31st December 2000 and approved there after.
Furthermore, it was agreed that in order to accelerate the implementation of the AIA Agreement, Temporary Exclusion List (TEL) for the manufacturing sector will be progressively phased out by the year 2003 instead of waiting for 20io as initially agreed. Myanmar will join the first six ASEAN countries to progressively phase out the exclusions by the year 2003 instead of 20is, Vietnam and Laos will excert their best efforts to achieve the early realization of the AIA and shall do so no later than 2010, instead of 2013 and 2015 respectively.
Due to the impact of economic turmoil in the region, FDI flows have slowed down significantly. In this context, discussions of this workshop we aimed at enhancement of the understanding of the investment officials on FDI flows into the region as well as the global FDI trend, pattern and development.
In the light of such circumstances, I would like to urge all participants to focus on the realization of our goal towards the ASEAN Vision 2020. I am confident that by exchanging views and opinions among those who attend the workshop in the spirit of mutual understanding, the outcome of the workshop would he very fruitful and successful.
Before I conclude the statement, may I again express my sincere thanks to Hanns Seidel Foundation for financial support. May I extend my sincere thanks to ASEAN Secretariat for their assistance.
My thanks are also extended to all personnel of Hotel Equatorial for their superb arrangements for the workshop. Last but not least, may I express my deep appreciation to the staffs of Directorate of Investment and Company Administration for their coordinated efforts to mobilize and prepare for the workshop.
Thank you all for your kind attention and wish you a pleasant stay in Myanmar.
Regional Director Mr Gunter Renner of Hanns Seidel Foundation of Singapore branch office made a speech.
Participants led by expert Mr Martin Khor and Senior Officer Ms Maricel Macesar of ASEAN Secretariat discussed investment matters relating to World Trade Organization and impact on member nations, prospects of foreign investment in ASEAN region points on the investment agreement among ASEAN nations and implementation.
The workshop continues tomorrow.

(2) Minister for Industry-l inspects factories in Mon State
YANGON, 20 Dec - Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung and officials met factory manager and service personnel of No 3 Distillery of Myanma Foodstuff Industries in Bilin on 18 December.
The minister discussed boosting production and exceeding targets for 1999-2000 fiscal year, running of factories and manufacturing of quality products .
Managing Director of Myanma Foodstuff Industries reported on arrangements of the distillery, factory manager on production, distribution, supply of raw materials and welfare of service personnel. The minister then gave instructions on future tasks.
The minister and party inspected production process.
The minister, accompanied by Deputy Commander of South-East Command and departmental inspected No 4 Distillery in Mawlamyine.
They also inspected the signboard of the factory. The minister met factory manager and service personnel and gave instructions.
The minister and party inspected ceramic factory and marble slab factory in Mawlamyine.
This morning, the minister inspected Paper Mill in Sittoung. He inspected the machinery, master room, production of caustic sodas production of pulp and paper.
The minister discussed repair of machinery and matters relating to exceeding the targets with officials.

(3) Minister inspects Bago Railway Station
YANGON, 20 Dec - Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung and officials inspected Bago Railway Station on 18 December.
The minister met officials from Myanma Railways, Road Transport, Road Administration Department and Transport Planning Department at Thaton Station.
In the afternoon, the minister inspected construction of Duyinseik Donthamichaung Bridge and approach road.
Yesterday, the minister also met officials of MR, Road Administration Department and Transport Planning Department at MR guest house in Dawei and gave instructions.

(4) Minister for CPI attends opening of training courses
YANGON, 20 Dec - A ceremony to open Postal Accountancy Refresher Course, Computer Network Administration Course, S.S Cable Construction and Maintenance Course and Facsimile Operator Training Course was held at Telecommunication and Postal Training Centre of Myanma Posts and Telecommunications this morning with an address by Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Win Tin.
Also present on the occasion were the director-general of Posts and Telecommunications Department, the general manager and section heads of Myanma Posts and Telecommunications, the principal of the training school, course instructors and trainees.
Myanma Posts and Telecommunications is striving to keep pace, with the improving and changing information age, and all the trainees also need to study, hard at the respective courses.
S.S Cable Construction and Maintenance Course is conducted with the aim of ensuring the emergence of employees who are skilled at systematic cable construction and maintenance; the course will last for three weeks.
Facsimile Operator Training Course is the seventh of its kind and will last for one week; the course is conducted with the aim of enabling employees of MPT and those who are using facsimile; machines on hire to apply and maintain facsimile machines.
Postal Accountancy Refresher Course is being attended by 10 trainees, Computer Network Administration Course by 10, S.S Cable Construction and Maintenance Course by 15 and Facsimile Operator Training-Course by eight.
After the ceremony, the minister went to the General Post Office on Standard Road.
The minister inspected international postal service counters and domestic express postal services and express remittance services, and gave instructions on work.

(5) Passing fair judgments speedily in accord with law essential for firmness of judicial system

YANGON, 20 Dec - The 1 5th work coordination meeting between Supreme Court Justices and State/Division Judges was held this morning in the meeting hall of the Supreme Court, addressed by Chief Justice U Aung Toe.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Justice U Aung Toe said the meeting was held to assess the cases handed down at the courts, to lay down future tasks and to discuss judicial sectors which must be given priority.
In assessing their work and laying down future tasks, judges should work in line with the guidance given by the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council; and they should work collectively for the success of their task.
If the present situation is to be assessed, it can be seen that there is development in judicial functions at the Supreme Court; but in State/Division Courts, the number of pending cases has not decreased significantly yet; in some courts the number of pending cases is rising; this shows that there is weakness at the basic-level courts in carrying out the work in accord with the new system and organizational set-up.
Thorough discussions should be held to find ways for giving close supervision, conducting judicial proceedings and reducing the number of pending cases.
All judges should stay away from bribery and should work with goodwill and fairness in passing judgments. Action has been taken against judicial personnel for their misconduct. Effective measures should be taken to wipe out corruption at the courts.
Passing fair judgments in accord with the law and in a speedy manner is essential for the firmness of the judicial system and the judicial staff to win the people's trust. Flourishing of such a judicial system cannot be done by judges alone: all the respective departments, lawyers and the public should render assistance for the development of a firm and smooth judicial system.
Deputy Chief Justices U Than Oo and U Khin Maung Latt also gave speeches.
The Director-General (Yangon) reported, on the Supreme Court's implementation concerning proposals and suggestions presented at the previous meeting.
The State/Division judges then took part in the, discussions.
The Director-General (Yangon) and the Director-General (Mandalay) looked into their requirements.
The meeting continues on 21 December.

(6) 16th coord meeting of Attorney-General and State/Division Law Officers held
YANGON, 20 Dec - The 16th coordination meeting of the Attorney-General and State Division Law Officers was held at the Attorney-General's Office this morning.
Present were Attorney-General U Tha Tun, Deputy Attorney-General, Director-General of the Attorney-General's Office, Deputy Director-General and officials.
Attorney-General U Tha Tun said it is the last meeting before 2000. He recalled that the Head of State gave guidance on correct and speedy administration of justice.
He said law officers are to assist in administration of justice as their primary duty. Deputy Director-General of the Attorney-General's Branch Office (Mandalay) and State/Division law officers reported on work undertaken.
The meeting continues tomorrow.

(7) 27 members resign from Taze Township NLD
YANGON, 20 Dec - Twenty-seven members resigned from the National League for Democracy of Taze Township, Sagaing Division.
Twenty-seven members of Taze Township NLD, Sagaing Division, of their own volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Township Multiparty Democracy General Election Sub-commission and the party concerned on 25 October 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of NLD.

(8) WEATHER
Maximum temperature on Dec 19 was 31.5 C (89F)
Minimum temperature on Dec 20 was 15.3 C(60F)

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