Information Sheet No. A-0113(I)

[OKKAR66127@xxxxxxx]

                                   Information Sheet
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No. A-0113(I)                                                date. 3-9-97


(1)		Myanmar-Astra Graphia Co Ltd Heralds New Chapter in 
		Economic Partnership 

		A ceremony to open office of Myanmar-Astra Graphia Co Ltd, an Indonesian
public company and a  subsidiary of Astra International was held at Traders
Hotel on Sule Pagoda Road, on 2 September morning, with an address by
Minister for National Planning and Economic Development Brig-Gen Abel.
Present were Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Ajit Singh, Ambassadors of ASEAN
member nations, heads of departments and guests. In his address, the minister
stated that, ?Astra Graphia is a public company which is majority-owned by
Astra International, engaged in information technology, document services, 
telecommunications systems, consumer electronics, footwear, leather and
garments. Regarding IT business, Astra Graphia is known as a big provider of
solutions in the form of system integration and services for strategic
industries like 
manufacturing, telecommunications, finance and banking in Indonesia.
Currently it is the leading systems integration provider in the
telecommunication industry of Indonesia.? 

		In his address, Dato Ajit Singh said: ?For Astra Graphia, its move into
Myanmar represents its intention to establish a base or centre of excellence
in this part of ASEAN. AG has, as its mission, to bring the benefits of
information technology amongst the newer members of ASEAN, using Myanmar as a
base and taking advantage of her rich endowments in human and natural
resources. Obviously, AG has great confidence in Myanmar?s future and would
like to establish an early lead in the region. 

		This is also important event, both for ASEAN and Myanmar. It shows that the
ASEAN private sector recognizes the growth potential and the 
promising future of one of ASEAN?s newest members. In fact, as figures for 
the last year suggest, investment from the ASEAN countries in Myanmar were
about 45% of her total investments. It is not ASEAN?s policy to have the less
developed members left behind but to do all that is possible to narrow the
gap between the two as quickly as possible.?

(2)		Myanmar, Bangladesh Officials Discuss Civil Aviation
		Myanmar officials led by Director-General U Tin Aye of Department of Civil
Aviation and Bangladesh counterparts led by Chairman Mr. Manzoor Alam of
Department of Civil Aviation of Bangladesh met at DCA on 2 September. They
discussed civil aviation agreement between the two nations and matters of
mutual interest. The meeting continues on 3 September.

(3)		Traditional Medicine Department Official Leaves for Brunei
		Acting Director-General of Traditional Medicine Department Professor Dr.
Kyaw Myint Tun left Yangon on 31 August to attend the 15th meeting on health
and nutrition committee of ASEAN member nations to be held in Bandar Seri
Bagawun, Brunei, from 2 to 5 September. Cooperation in health and nutrition
development among ASEAN member nations in future and laying down of tasks
will be discussed. 

OFFICE CALLS IN YANGON ON 2 SEPTEMBER

(A)		Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission Deputy Prime 
Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin received Secretary-General of ASEAN
Dato Ajit Singh at his office. They discussed plans to extend economic 
cooperation and investment among the ASEAN nations and future programmes.

(B)		Minister for Hotels and Tourism Lt-Gen Kyaw Ba received a 
delegation led by South East Asia Regional Manager Mr. Nobuyuki Baba of Bunka
Orient Co and a 32-member tourism delegation of Thailand led by 
Mr Itthiphon Khemmarat at his office on separate occasion.

(C)		Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Brig-Gen 
Maung Maung received Manager of Special Whisky Group of Companies 
Mr. Phitsanu Phataraprasit at the commission office.

(D)		Secretary of Myanmar Investment Commission Brig-Gen Maung Maung received
President Mr. Zheng Lai Xing of Fujian Overseas Chinese Industrial (Group)
Corporation and party at his office.

(E)		Minister for Commerce Lt-Gen Tun Kyi received Managing Director Mr D D
Gupta of Sineximco Pte Ltd of Singapore and party at his office.

(F)		Minister for Industry-2 Maj-Gen Kyaw Than received Chairman of Daewoo
Group of the Republic of  Korea, Mr Woo Choong Kim and party at his office.

(G)		Minister for Health U Saw Tun received Director-General 
Mr Kook Keun Lee of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and party
at his office.


                                         FOR THE RECORD
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Culprit and Scapegoat
		
		The British Foreign Secretary?s statement criticizing Myanmar on the
involvement in Narcotic Drugs is regarded here as the Century?s Greatest
Hypocritical Statement.

		Whether Mr. Cook is ignorant of the facts or just deliberately trying to
cover up the most irresponsible and unforgivable criminal act Britain had
committed by forcefully introducing opium into Asia is anybody?s guess.

		The drug problem which we are encountering today is the direct result of
Britain colonial strategy of (150) years ago. Today, many nations in the
region are pooling their resources while other countries outside the region
are assisting in many ways to participate in the fight against the menace of
Narcotic Drugs while the No.(1) culprit nation in the world of narcotic drugs
is sitting in  the U.N Security Council and trying again to victimize
countries or a country she has victimized (150) years ago. Britain should
actually be taking the lead in assisting the victim countries clean up the
mess she had originally and intentionally created instead of pointing fingers
at Myanmar to cover up her own fault.

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