Yangon, 18 March - Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe made a tour of inspection in Pantanaw, Ayeyawady Division, this morning and gave guidance on development of the division.

The Senior General, accompanied by Vice-Chairman of the State Peace
and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, Deputy Minister for Health Professor Dr Kyaw Myint, senior military officers and officials, left here for Pantanaw, Ayeya-wady Division, by car.

In the briefing hall of Construction-6 of Irrigation Department in Pantanaw, member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West Command Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann reported to the Senior General and party on the area of Ayeyawady Division, the total acre of cultivable land, arrangements for reclamation of one million acres of land, the granting of permits for reclaimed land, measures taken beginning 1997-98 to increase sown acreage, to boost yield of crops and to extend mixed cropping and other favourable conditions, cultivation of crops with the use of irrigation canal, use of agricultural machinery and high-yield strains, efforts made for the development of the agriculture sector in accord with the guidance of the Senior General, the output and purchase of paddy and other crops, regional sufficiency of rice, measures being taken for the development of prawn, fish and poultry breeding work, arrangements being made for the development of the industrial sector as well as of the agricultural sector, arrangements for the deve-lopment of Ngwehsaung Beach and transport condition of Ayeyawady Division.

Then, the Senior General said that plans are under way to ensure sufficient food for the present population and the future population growth of the State.

In the agriculture sector, Ayeyawady Division, Bago Division and Sagaing Division play a pivotal role, and efforts are to be exerted to make agricultural land valuable.

There were no such
agricultural water supply measures previously in Ayeyawady Division where there are sufficient water and rainfall.

In the time of the present government, agricultural water supply projects have been implemented; arrangements are to be made to extend cultivation of oil crops and cotton on increased acres of cultivable land; on the other hand, coffee plants, which will contribute to the economic progress of the nation, are to be grown as well.

Duty has already been assigned for reclaiming one million acres of fallow and virgin land, and it is required to complete reclamation work during the short-term five-year plan; at the places where cultivation work cannot be done, fish ponds are to be dug systematically.

Measures are to be taken for improving the conditions of motor roads which contribute to regional development, and to accelerate the rate of development of Ayeyawady Division.

Afterwards, Minister Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin reported on the water supply projects being implemented in Ayeyawady Division and tasks to be carried out, and Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun on matters related to roads and bridges.The Senior General gave guidance on the work.Then, the Senior General and party inspected conditions of development of Pantanaw by car.The Senior General and party stopped for a while at the briefing hall near Pantanaw Bridge which was opened on 25 March 2000, and left there for Yangon at 12.45 pm.

Also present on the occasion were Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman’s Office Lt-Gen Min Thein, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Chief of Staff (Navy) Commodore Soe Thein, Chief of Staff (Air) Maj-Gen Myint Swe, senior military officers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, members of social organizations and wellwishers.

Chairman of Myanmar Motion Picture Asiayon U Sein Tin, on behalf of the wellwishers, explained the purpose of the donation.

Then, Myanmar Motion Picture Asiayon presented K 2,061,000, Myanmar Music Asiayon K 1,500,000 and tapes of song "Sunt Hlut Ye Wunt Thu Mya" composed by Accordion U Ohn Kyaw and "Alaungphaya Hnint Bayintnaung Mya" by Hinthada U Myint Ngwe, Myanmar Thabin Asiayon and Myanmar Traditional Artistes and Artisians Asiayon K 300,000 each, Myanmar National Women Affairs Committee K 200,000, members of Yangon Division Union Solidarity ad Development Association K 1,000,000, Ministry of Mines and departments and enterprises under the ministry K 1,400,000, Ministry of Information various kinds of journals worth K 250,000, Information and Public Relations Department various kind of books worth K 45,000, Aye Yar Myae General Services Co Ltd K 3,000,000 and Two Power Co Ltd K 2,000,000 to Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt who accepted the donations and presented certificates of honour to the wellwishers.

Aung Yee Phyo Co Ltd presented K 1,200,000, United Paint Group (UPG) Co Ltd K 1,000,000, U Kyaw Aung (a) U Eidrit family (Maungtaw) 1,000,000, Loi Hein Co Ltd 50 boxes each containing 50 cartoons of cigarettes worth K 1,000,000 to Minister Lt-Gen Min Thein who accepted the donations and presented certificates of honour to the wellwishers.

Thon Tah Co Ltd presented K 100,000 and 50000 sachets of mosquito syrup worth K 500,000, Yathacho Co Ltd 100 boxes of Yum Yum noodles worth K 516,000, Headmaster of No 1 BEHS, Dagon U Kyaw Kyaw and staff K 500,000 and Myanmar Tractors & Trading Co Ltd K 500,000 to Minister Maj-Gen Kyi Aung who accepted the donations ad presented certificates of honour to the wellwishers.

Formula One Plastic Industry Group K 500,000, Pholapyae Co Ltd Scorpion soft drinks worth K 432,000, Residential Representative of YMC Co Ltd Dr Naing Htut Aung K 300,000, Myanmar Consuitancy Co Ltd K 200,000, U Khin Maung Gyi-Daw Hla Hla Than family K 200,000 to Minister Maj-Gen Sein Htwa who accepted the donations and presented certificates for honour to the wellwishers.

U Soe Tint (S/Dagon) presented K 200,000, Aung Thabyay Khaing Co Ltd K 200,000, Treasure Hotel (Mandalay) foodstuff worth K 106,500, Academy U Nay Aung and U Bo Bo (Acmee Tailor) K 100,000 to Chief of Staff (Navy) Commodore Soe Thein who accepted the donations and presented certificates of honour to the donors.

Golden Summon Co Ltd presented K 100,000, U Hla Myint K 100,000, U Sit Hlaing (Vocalist) 200 cassette tapes worth K 70,000, Ambassador of Myanmar to Singapore U Hla Than and embassy staff K 250,000, the Headmaster of No 2 BEHS, Bahan and teachers K 25,000, Kayin State Chambers of Commerce and Industry K 200,000 and Kayah State Chambers of Commerce and Industry K 100,000 to Chief of Staff (Air) Maj-Gen Myint Swe who accepted the donations and presented certificates of honour to the wellwishers.

Then, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt spoke words of thanks to the wellwishers.On behalf of the State and the Tatmadaw, the Secretary-1 thanked wellwishers for donating cash and foodstuff to Tatmadaw members who are discharging duty at far-flung areas and border areas.

He added that those who made donations to the Tatmadaw members today are wellwishers from all strata of life, social organizations, artistes, teachers, the staff of embassies and merchants and businessmen from states, and their donations included cash, foodstuff and even songs which inspire nationalism.

With regard to making donations, the amount of money counts for little, but the goodwill and spirit is of vital importance. That goodwill and spirit is that of loving and safeguarding one’s own nation and people. Therefore, it is of the greatest value.

Whenever it is and wherever they are, the Tatmadaw members are discharging national defence duties with the spirit of sacrifice and at risk to themselves.

The donations made by the people from all walks of life to the Tatmadaw members from forward areas discharging national defence duties are in fact a very efficacious tonic for the Tatmadaw members.

While the Tatmadaw members are performing national defence duties at risk to themselves at far-flung areas, the entire people are giving moral support and material assistance; it amounts to equipping the Tatmadaw members with a very sophisticated weapon.

Today it is encouraging and satisfactory to see that the entire people are supporting the Tatmadaw members from forward areas continuously.

The Secretary-1 and party were welcomed by member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West Command Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Deputy Minister Professor Dr Mya Oo, officials of Known You Seed Co Ltd, donor of the hospital, and officials.

A ceremony to inaugurate the Peasant Hospital was held at the mandat in the compound of the hospital.

Present were the commanders, the ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, members of Division, District and Township Peace and Development Councils, departmental officials, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, officials of Known You Seed Co Ltd, don dance troupe, pom pom dance troupe and local people.

Commander Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann said the Twelve Objectives are being implemented for emergence of a modern developed nation. Among the objectives one of the social objectives uplift of health and fitness and education standards of the entire nation included. In order to realize the objective, it is necessary for the people in rural as well as urban areas to be healthy, he said.

He said Ayeyawady Division is the rice bowl of the nation as well as fish bowl and it produces beans and pulses, oil crops and kitchen crops. If one is healthy, he will do such work more. He believed that the hospital donated by Known You Seed Co Ltd will contribute toward health and fitness of the farmers in Hsarmalauk region and treatment can be given to those in the region.

The commander expressed thanks for Chairman Mr Chen Wen Yu of Known You Seed Co Ltd.

Chairman Mr Chen Wen Yu said his company conducted training course to produce advanced agricultural experts under the agreement of the company and the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation over three years ago. In view of the information given by the agriculturalists who came back to the company, he came up with an idea of building a hospital in Myanmar that would give treatment to farmers free of charge.

After two years, his wish came true and it was his most satisfying happiness in life, he said.

Chairman Mr Chen Wen Yu presented documents related to the hospital and hospital equipment to Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein.

Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein said a Memorandum of Understanding for construction of Peasant Hospital was signed between Known You Seed Co Ltd and the Ministry of Health on 14 September 1999.

The minister expressed his thanks to Known You Seed Co Ltd for donation of the hospital and to Myanmar Victoria Co which undertook construction of the hospital.

He said Myanmar is building a modern developed industrialized nation based on agriculture. About seventy per cent of the population live in rural areas and work for food sufficiency of the State. Promotion of health of rural people means promotion of the health sector of the State.

He also expressed his pleasure for the opening of such a hospital in Hsarmalauk Village in Nyaungdon Township at a time when the government has been improving health care services for rural people in accord with the guidance of the Head of State.

Chairman Mr Chen Wen Yu presented gifts to the Secretary-1. Next, he also presented gifts to Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Commander Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann and Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein.

Commander Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein and Chairman Mr Chen Wen Yu formally opened the main building of the hospital.

The Secretary-1 formally unveiled the plaque of the hospital. The Secretary-1 and party were conducted round the hospital by officials.

The Secretary-1 and party observed various kinds of crops displayed by the company in the compound. The Secretary-1 planted a mahogany tree in the facade of the hospital to mark the success of the inauguration of the hospital.

Commander Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, Minister Maj-Gen Ket Sein and Chairman Mr Chen Wen Yu also planted mahogany plants.The Secretary-1 had photos taken with the commander, the ministers and Chairman Mr Chen Wen Yu.The 20-bed modern hospital located on 11.67 acres of land in Hsarmalauk Village in Nyaung-don Township was built at a cost of over K 200 million. Known You Seed Co Ltd will provide maintenance cost and salary for the staff annually. The hospital comprises a laboratory, an X-ray room, an ultra-sound room and a dental unit, and skilled employees have been appointed.

Yangon, 18 March- Minister for Commerce Brig- Gen Pyi Sone this morning arrived at Defence Services Museum where the exhibition in commemoration of the 56th Anniversary Armed Forces Day will be held.
He inspected displayed of documentary colour photos at the Ministry of Commerce Booth at the National- Building Endeavours Section.

Yangon, 18 March- The 38th Myanma Gems, Jade and Pearl Emporium continued at Myanma Gems Mart on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road this morning.

Lots of pearls were sold through tender system this morning, and 24 lots of pearls fetched US $ 53,637.

Sales of jade, gems and pearls at the Myanma Gems, Jade and Pearl Emporium through tender and competitive bidding systems from 14 March to date amounted to US $ 10,127,055 including 299 lots of jade worth US $ 4,302,239, 60 lots of gems worth US $ 5,742,703, 24 lots of pearls worth US $ 53,637 and jewellery, jade figurines, gems and jade sold at fixed prices worth US $ 28,476.

Yangon, 18 March- Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Central Command Maj-Gen Ye Myint, accompanied by Tactical Operations Commander Col Tun Kyi and departmental officials, inspected ploughing, fertilizing and carrying sanitation work at the feeder canal for cultivation of summer paddy at the field irrigated by Hsedawgyi Dam in Moppale Village, Natyegan Village-tract of Amarapura Township on 17 March.

Arrangements are being made for cultivation of summer paddy in Amarapura Township to exceed targeted 10,174 acres.

Then, the commander and party inspected functions of Yekyipauk Pumped-water Station in Yekyipauk Model Village, Amarapura Township. The Station can irrigated 1,500 acres of land and it is supplying water to 80 acres of summer paddy and 360 acres of summer sesame.

The commander then met members of Union Solidarity and Development Association who will attend the Myanma Affairs and International Affairs Training Course, the International Affairs Course and the Advanced Management Course at Mandalay Division USDA Office.

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( 9 ) Minister inspects rice mill, farms

Yangon 18 March- Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, accompanied by Managing Director U Min Hla Aung of Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading and officials, arrived at No 222 100 ton Rice Mill of MAPT in Kyungale Village of Hlegu Township yesterday morning. In the briefing hall, Factory Manager U Thaung Lwin reported on matters related to the mill.

The minister gave instructions on arrangements for milling to exceed the target, operating of the mill and greening tasks and inspected the rice mill. Then, the minister went to the training hall of Post-harvest Technology Recreation Centre in Hlegu and met trainees of the Basic Management Course No 3f2000 of MAPT. On arrival at the 100acre agriculture and livestock breeding farm for staff welfare programme of MAPI in Wanetgon Village, Managing Director U Min Hla Aung reported on cultivation of summer paddy, green gram, sunflower and perennial crops and breeding of fish, pig and duck and benefits of the farm. Officials also reported on their respective sectors. The minister then inspected the farm and attended to their needs.

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