[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

Investment Seminar Bombs



A seminar on investment opportunities in Burma was held in Tokyo on Oct. 13.
The seminar featured lectures by SLORC's ambassador to Japan, U Soe Win, as
well as several Japanese Burma specialists.  Entrance was limited to 40
people at a cost of 12,000 yen (about US$120) per person.  An inside source
informed us that only 16 people turned up for the seminar, whom he regarded
as folks who understood both sides of the investment issue (as opposed to
hardcore constructive engagementists).  Our source added that the
ambassador's speech was "boring" -- quite a distinction in a country like
Japan, where school principals and company presidents have perfected the art
of the prose lullaby.  The handful of Burma Youth Volunteer Association and
Burmese Relief Center--Japan members who turned up to distribute
anti-investment leaflets, while happy about the seminar's low turnout,
regretted having spent so much money on unneeded copies!