Daewoo poised to launch gas venture: SOUTH Korean industrial giant Daewoo is expected to begin drilling operations for oil and gas at a reserve off Myanmar?s west coast by the end of this year, a senior government official said last week...Gems centre for Yangon: MYANMA Gems Enterprise plans to open what it says will be the country?s first sales centre to offer gems and jade throughout the year... Education a powerful weapon for helping the poor, conference told: EDUCATION and skills development are among the most powerful tools for reducing poverty, former Philippines president Fidel Ramos told a regional conference in Yangon last week... Rural development key to eradicating poverty: FM: RURAL development remained central to poverty eradication efforts in Myanmar, Foreign Minister U Win Aung told a regional conference in Yangon last week.,, Call for action on copyright laws: MEMBERS of the legal profession have called for copyright laws to be updated and more resources devoted to protecting intellectual property... Thai FM?s visit paves way for closer business links: MYANMAR and Thailand have paved the way for increased bilateral trade and investment by signing an agreement on avoiding double taxation... Envoy urges action on investment: MYANMAR has enormous potential for economic development because of its natural and human resources, the South Korean ambassador, Mr Chung Jung-gum, said last week... Karaoke craze sends local video industry soaring: THE rapid growth in the popularity of karaoke has contributed to a boom in Myanmar?s video industry... Merchants groups urged for cotton and sugarcane: COORDINATION is essential for the long-term development of the cotton and sugarcane industries, the Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, Major-General Nyunt Tin, has told a meeting of farmers and traders... Indian software firm offers e-banking solution: TAKING advantage of recent developments in Myanmar?s information technology sector, a foreign computer company has held a seminar to introduce its banking software to local bankers... Strong demand forces MICT Park expansion: EXPANSION plans for Myanmar Information Communication Technology Park in Yangon are moving ahead quickly due to strong demand from the IT sector... Jaggery enjoys sweet success on China market: STEADILY growing demand in China for Myanmar jaggery (palm sugar) has resulted in prices rising by more than 600 per cent over the past three years... Jute industry welcomes jump in export demand: A JUTE industry official has welcomed a surge in demand for the product from China... Ethics and money: Dr Daw Myint Myint Khin, a retired medical specialist, expressed her opinion about making money from pharmaceuticals... Free trade zone backed at Bangladesh meeting: INCREASED cooperation among China, India, Bangladesh and Myanmar ? including a potential free trade zone ? could invigorate the regional economy, officials and experts said at the start of a conference in Dhaka last week... Resort island retreat for Asean foreign ministers: THAILAND will host a two-day retreat for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) foreign ministers in the resort island of Phuket on February 20-21, officials said last Thursday.