Information Sheet No.B-1178(I)

[OKKAR66129@xxxxxxx]

MYANMAR INFORMATION COMMITTEE
YANGON

Information  Sheet
No.B-1178(I)                         10th December 1999

(1) International Fashionwear, Cosmetics & Consumer Products Exhibition Opened

    The International Fashionwear, Cosmetics & Consumer Products Exhibition 
'99 opened at the Tatmadaw Convention Hall on 9 December. The aim of the
Exhibition is to widely and directly inform the people of the quality goods 
manufactured by the respective
companies, to share and exchange experiences and
technologies between local and foreign entrepreneurs,
to acquire advanced international production and
packaging methods and firmer markets, to enable local
entrepreneurs to produce new types of advanced goods
and to gain good foundations for the market oriented
economic system in building a new nation. Seventy
local and foreign companies are displaying various
brands of textiles and clothing, cosmetics, medicines,
electronic appliances, office automation and other
products at the 120 booths. The exhibition is
sponsored by Quratz International Co Ltd. The
exhibition opens daily from 9 am to 6 pm till 12
December. Admission is free.

(2) Myanmar Mayflower Bank Opens 18th Branch in Meiktila

    Myanmar Mayflower Bank Ltd. opened its 18th branch in
Meiktila, Mandalay Division, on 9 December.  Myanmar
Mayflower Bank Ltd. will open altogether 20 branches
by the end of 1999. The 18th branch, of Myanmar
Mayflower Bank Ltd. in Meiktila is the fourth in
Mandalay Division. Altogether 978 customers deposited
over K 15 million at the branch on the first day.

(3) Ambassador of Japan Hosts Buckwheat Dinner

    Ambassador of Japan Mr. Kazuo Asakai hosted a
buckwheat dinner at his residence on 9 December. The
opium substitute buckwheat project has been
implemented for three years through bilateral
cooperation. In Kokang region of the northern Shan
State, buckwheat was cultivated on four acres of land
in 1997 and on 200 acres in 1998; this year, buckwheat
was cultivated on 2,000 acres, and buckwheat on some
acres have been harvested.  Noodles made from the
already-harvested buckwheat were served at the dinner.
Also present at the dinner were Director-General of
the Policy Research Council of LDP of Japan Mr.
Tomomitsu Iwakura, Professor of Japan Buckwheat Dr.
Arkiyo Yugihara, Chairman of Japanese Noodle
Entrepreneurs Association Mr. Chogiro Ginda and 12
buckwheat merchants .

(4) Bangladesh Delegation Concludes Study Visit

    The study delegation led by Maj-Gen A.M Mansur Ahmed
of Defence Services Command and Staff College of
Bangladesh left Yangon by air on 9 December at the end of its visit.

(5) PRC Delegation Visits Agricultural Camps

    Vice-Chairman of Jiangsu Province People's Congress
Mr. Ywekyin Kyan and visiting goodwill delegation of
the People's Republic of China visited Kyainn
Agricultural Camp in Taikkyi Township on 9 December.
After visiting Alebaho Agricultural Camp, the guests
proceeded to the Golf Club Construction Project.

(6) Year 2000 Welcoming Festivities Begin

    Preliminary festivities welcoming the year 2000 began
on 9 December at Myakyuntha Park in Yangon. Minister
for Hotels and Tourism and Managing Director of
Padonma Gems Mining Company formally opened the
festivities. Daw Mya Yadana Moe of Padonma Gems Mining
Company explained holding of the lighting festival to
mark the year 2000.

(7) Myanmar Ready for Y2K Problem

    The National Committee for Supervising Y2K Problem
announced that it has already cleared off the Y2K
problem in Myanmar. With the cooperation of the
Japanese experts and the respective ministries, the
committee and its three subordinate bodies have solved
all the Y2K problems and declared '' Ready for Y2K ''
with the announcement dated 30 November.