( 1 ) Projects launched in Kyaukse Industrial Zone to build import-substitute industries
Need to produce quality goods that ensure consumer satisfaction stressed
General Maung Aye inspects Ayeyawady Bridge (Yadanabon)
Construction Project, factory construction projects in Kyaukse

Yangon, 5 Sept - Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, yesterday morning arrived at Mandalay side of Ayeyawady Bridge (Yada-nabon) Construction Project, which will link Mandalay and Sagaing.

General Maung Aye and party were welcomed there by Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Commander of North-West Command Brig-Gen Soe Naing, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun and officials. At the briefing hall, Minister Maj-Gen Saw Tun reported on designation of the axis and the type of the bridge, and work being done; and Engineer (Project) U Htay Myint, on progress in construction of the approach bridge (Mandalay side), requirements and the obtaining of construction materials.

After fulfilling the requirements, General Maung Aye said that measures were being coordinated for timely arrival of construction materials for the project. He spoke of the need for engineers in-charge of the project to make earnest efforts with self-reliant spirit in carrying out tasks and to strive for producing materials within the country as much as possible through innovative means. Then, General Maung Aye and party inspected the chosen site for construction of the main bridge and construction of the approach bridge (Mandalay bank). The advanced four-lane Ayeyawady Bridge (Yada-nabon) is under construction 2,000 feet upstream Innwa Bridge between Mandalay Khawartaung bank and Sagaing Tagaungyat bank.

General Maung Aye and party went to Hsinmin Cement Plant Construction Project site, eight miles east of Kyaukse, where they were welcomed by Commander of No 99 LID Col Aung Khin Soe, Director of the Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd Col Aung San, Chairman of Kyaukse District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Aung Kyi Shein, Project Director Lt-Col Shwe Moe and officials. At the briefing hall, Maj-Gen Tin Aye reported to General Maung Aye on points of the project, saying that the project being implemented by Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited is located near Nwalekauk limestone hill, eight miles east of Kyaukse.

Of the two cement plants covered by the project, the No 1 plant will produce 400 tons of cement daily through wet process. Test run will begin in the coming October. The No 2 plant will produce 700 tons of cement daily through dry process. Efforts are being made for completion of the plant in December this year. He also explained raw material requirements, water and power supply, staff training programmes and greening of the compounds of the plants.

General Maung Aye spoke of the need to strive for completion of the factories in accord with the schedule and taking environmental conservation and cleaning measures. The General and party then inspected samples of the raw materials and progress in building the No 1 plant. On arrival at Kyaukse Cement Plant Project of the Ministry of Industry-1, the General and party were welcomed by Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Thein Tun and officials. Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung briefed the General and party on points of the ministry's project to build factories in Kyaukse Industrial Zone, saying that the aims of the project are to fulfill local requirements, to produce import-substitute goods, to create job opportunities and to produce new kinds of quality finished goods.

He said out of the industries covered by the project, three factories were commissioned into service on 11 April 2002. The first one is the candy factory which is producing various kinds of soft candies. A chocolate factory will also be built. The second one is a slipper factory which is producing 2,400 various kinds of slippers daily. The third one is a bicycle factory, producing Maung Bamar brand bicycles including the 28-inch bicycles for man, 26-inch bicycles for woman and 28-inch bicycles to carry loads. The project also covers other six industries under construction a cement factory, a fire-brick factory, a plastic factory, a sewing machine factory, a vest factory and a blanket factory. The cement factory will produce 500 tons of cement daily through dry process. It is under test run at present. The ministry plans to build an enamelware factory, a household items factory, a cosmetics factory and a grinding ball factory.

General Maung Aye said the industries under construction at present are import-substitute industries. Efforts should be made to produce quality products to ensure consumer satisfaction. Systematic supervision will have to be made to prevent waste of materials and labour and reduce production cost to the most possible degree. Afterwards, General Maung Aye and party inspected progress of construction of the cement plant of the Ministry of Industry-1. They then proceeded to the sewing machine factory and looked into samples of machine parts to be produced in the forging workshop, and production process at the respective sections of the factory.

Next, General Maung Aye and party inspected production of sewing machines at the workshop (2). They also saw over the paint spraying section and the finishing section. Later, General Maung Aye and party went by helicopter to Mandalay International Airport in TadaU Township. They arrived back here in the evening.

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( 2 ) Minister receives New Zealand Ambassador

Yangon, 5 Sept - Minister for National Planing and Economic Development U Soe Tha received Ambassador of New Zealand to Myanmar Mr Alan Williams at his office this evening.

Mayor receives Italian Ambassador

Yangon, 5 Sept - Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay received Ambassador of Italy to Myanmar Dr Rafaelle Miniero at the city hall this morning.

( 3 ) Courses of PBANRDA conclude

Yangon, 5 Sept - Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt made a speech at the conclusion ceremony of Executive Officer Course No 7 for the Development Affairs Department and International Relations Course 1/2002 held at the central training school of the Education and Training Department, Ministry of PBANRDA in Ward 51, Dagon Myothit (North) Township, this afternoon.

Altogether 30 officials of DADs in states and divisions attended the executive officer course and another 20 of the ministry the international relations course. The minister presented prizes to the outstanding trainees and completion certificates to the course monitor. The central training school has been conducting training courses with a view to promoting the competence of staff, and a total of 146 trainees are attending the clerical courses.

After the ceremony, the minister cordially greeted the trainees and posed for a documentary photo together with them.

( 4 ) Asia Games commemorative flaming torch rests overnight in Bago

Yangon, 5 Sept - A ceremony to light and relay the torch to mark the XIV Asia Games to be held in Busan of the Republic of Korea was held at the football ground of the Youths Training Centre in Thuwunna this morning.

Chairman of Myanmar Olympic Committee Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint made a speech on the occasion. Then, accompanied by MPF band troupe, selected Myanmar athletes sang the song titled Asia Myanmar. Next, Latha Township No 2 BEHS band troupe and Tambourine dance troupe, Tamway Township No 4 BEHS band troupe and pom pom troupe, and youth athletes of MTF presented skill demonstrations.

Then, Minister Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint lit the torch on the stage of the football ground, and handed over to the leader of Myanmar Sepak Takraw Federation flaming torch conveying group. After that, selected Myanmar Sepak Takraw athletes conveyed the torch to Pyithaya junction along Waizayanda Road, selected Myanmar volleyball athletes, from the top of Thitsar Street to Zaga Street. On arrival at Pyay Road, Myanmar Football Federation conveyed the flaming torch from 8th Mile Junction to A-1 Street. During the relay along the route, the flaming torch was accorded a rousing welcome by members of Township Maternal and Child Welfare Associations, students, members of band troupes and people waving the State flags and clapping.

Then, the flaming torch was conveyed by car to Bago. On arrival at Bago Shwemawdaw Pagoda junction, the torch was welcomed by division level departmental officials, selected Myanmar athletes, officials of social organizations of Bago Division, students and members of band troupes totaling over 5,000. After that, selected Myanmar athletes handed over the torch to Director-General of the Sports and Physical Education Department U Thaung Htaik.

The director-general then conveyed the torch to Bago Division Gymnasium and handed over it to Police Col Aung Gyi, who put it on the stage of the hall. The flaming torch will be conveyed back to Yangon along Bago-Yangon Road by car starting at 7.30 am tomorrow.