Information Sheet No.B-1168( I )

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON

Information Sheet
No.B-1168( I )                    1st December 1999

(1) Meeting  on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific Opened
        
        A ceremony to open the 20th  Regular Meeting
of the Executive Committee (EC-20) of the Centre on
Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific
( CIRDAP) was held at the meeting hall of Myanmar
Timber Trade Centre ( MTTC) on  30 November. Present
on the occasion  were delegates of CIRDAP member
nations-- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia,
Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the
Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Fiji. In his
address the Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation
said that "the alleviation of rural poverty in Asia
and the Pacific region has been the prime concern of
CIRDAP. Ever since its establishment, CIRDAP has, with
the tireless efforts and support of member countries
and assistance from donor countries and agencies, made
significant progress towards the cause  of rural 
development  and poverty alleviation in this region.
CIRDAP has not only served as useful forum for
exchange of ideas and experiences in rural development
through research, training and information
dissemination but has also helped  promoting better
understanding and cooperation among member nations. As
an active member country of CIRDAP, Myanmar is
providing its strong support and actively
participating in the centre's development activities.
Thus concerted efforts are being made for rural
development  and poverty eradication through national
programmes. In Myanmar  about 75%  of the total
populace are residing in rural areas and majority of
the rural populace is dependent on agriculture and
other agricultural  related activities for their
living. Rural development  therefore  is crucial in
sense that agricultural sector, which is the principal
production sector of rural area, contributes
relatively to a larger portion of national  economic
development. To be precise 36% of GDP and 35% of total
export earning come from agriculture sector, which
also provides 63% of employment opportunity of the
nation. The importance of agriculture sector is well
reorganized and reflected in four economic objectives
of the State and was clearly made known as
''development of agriculture as the base and all round
development of other sectors of the economy as well''.
Then,  Chairman of the 19th Regular  Meeting of the
Executive Committee of CIRDAP Mr Carlito T Anonuevo
gave a speech. Afterwards, Director-General Dr AVS 
Reddy of CIRDAP made a speech. Next, the
director-general presented a souvenir to Assistant
Secretary of  Agrarian Reform of the Philippines
Chairman of the 19th Regular Meeting of the Executive
committee of  CIRDAP Mr. Carlito T Anonuevo. The
general round of discussions then followed  and
delegates took part in the discussions.

(2) Permission to Retire from Duties

    The State Peace and Development Council has permitted
Minister at the State Peace and Development Council
Chairman?s Office Brig-Gen Maung Maung to retire from
duties with effect from 30 November 1999.

(3) Minister Meets Deputy Minister of commerce of Thailand

    Minister for Commerce met Deputy Minister of Commerce
of Thailand Mr Phaithoon Kaeothong and party who
called at his office at on 30 November.

(4) Myanmar Delegation Leaves for  Singapore

    An 11-member delegation led by Vice-President  of
Myanmar Computer  Federation  and Chairman of Myanmar
Computer Scientist Association left Yangon by air  on
30 November  to attend the annual Conference of South
East Asia Region Computer Confederation (SEARCC) in
Singapore from 1 to 4 December. The delegation 
includes under-17 computer experts Maung Pyi Sone
Htoo, Maung Thet Lwin and Maung Zaw Linn Htaik who
will take part in the International School Software
competition (ISSC) to be sponsored by the National 
University of Singapore. 

(4) Myanmar-China Border Areas Cooperation and Management Meeting Minutes 
Signed

        A ceremony to sign the minutes of the
Myanmar-China Border Areas Cooperation and Management
Meeting  was held at the meeting hall of Myanmar
Police Force of the Ministry of Home Affairs on 30
November. Present on the occasion were leader of
Myanmar side  Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Deputy Minister for Home Affairs and departmental
officials and the Chinese delegation led by Maj-Gen Li
Hang of the  Ministry of Public Security of the
People's  Republic of China.

(5) University of Culture to Hold Convocation
 
    The University of Culture will hold the convocation
for Music, Drama, Painting and Sculpture majors for
1998-99 academic year on 19 December.

(7) 20 Armed Group Members Exchange Arms for Peace in October

    In October, Pvts Soe Lwin (a) Shwe Myint Kyaw and
Maung Aung of Battalion No 2 of Brigade No 1 of  KNU
(Kayin National Union) exchanged arms for peace in the
South-East Command area and Pvt Aung Myaing of Brigade
No 6 also. WOII Soe Tint and his wife Ma Tin Myint of
BCP (Burma Communist Party) exchanged arms for peace
in Coastal Region Command   area, Maj. Saw Aung Chit
Tun, Second-Lt Saw Tu Tu,  Sgt Saw Tin Mya, and  Pvts 
aw Kalo Htook, Saw Kyaw Kyaw, Saw Kyaw Thu and Saw
Kyaw Hee of No 19 Battalion, Brigade No 6, KNU in the
Southern Command area. In the North-West Command area,
Pvt Par Khone and general worker  U Lan of Battalion 2
of NNC Naga armed group and Lyan Ok (a) Andu (a)  Shwe
Mar of CNA Chin armed  group (southern region)
exchanged arms for peace. In the Eastern Command Area
Pvt. Phaw Ka (a)Aik San of SURA (Shan United
Revolution Army) exchanged arms for peace. In Triangle
Region Command area, Aik Daw and Aik Shein of SURA,
exchanged arms for peace. During that period,  a total
of 20 members of remaining armed groups  exchanged
arms for peace, and  they were warmly welcomed by
officials at military units concerned and necessary
provisions were given to them.