HOUSE OF THE WEEK

An abundance of space at FMI City

CERTAINLY, space is not a problem in this house – once you get there. Over the Hlaing River, 45 minutes from downtown, there is a large one-storey house in a big compound waiting for someone ready to trade time for space. ...more

Yangon Weather Forecast, Burma

Tourism industry optimistic after strong opening to peak season

TRAVEL industry experts are forecasting a 30 percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals in 2009 following a 2008 season that was crippled by deadly Cyclone Nargis. While Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (MHT) statistics show a more modest 10pc increase from January to October, anecdotal evidence suggests an even sharper rise. U Phyo Wai Yar Zar, managing director of All Asia Exclusive Travel and Tour Company and vice chairman of industry body the Myanmar Marketing Committee (MMC), said his company’s bookings for the current peak season had risen about 50pc. (Volume 26, No. 503)

A bird’s-eye view of Myanmar

A GROUP of foreign tourists is planning to tour Myanmar by hot air balloon this month, with Inle Lake, Loikaw, Mandalay and Bagan included in the itinerary, said a spokesperson from Golden Express Tours and Hotels, which is making arrangements for the trip. U Tint Naung, the managing director of Golden Express, said the 31 foreign tourists, led by Swiss businessman Mr Peter Blaser, will visit the country from January 10 to 25. (Volume 26, No. 504) (Volume 26, No. 504)

Stiglitz advice gets support of business community

THE local business community has thrown its support behind former World Bank chief economist Joseph Stiglitz’s visit to Myanmar, saying expert advice on economic policy is sorely needed. However, they cautioned that significant changes should not be expected from a single, one-day forum. (Volume 26, No. 504)

Tourists uncover our hidden corner

Kayah State, with its vibrant cultural heritage, pristine scenery and lack of development, saw about twice as many tourists last year compared to 2008, said tour guide U Htay Aung, who works out of Minmahaw guesthouse in the capital Loikaw. (Volume 26, No. 504)

Energy exports to drive 8.6pc GDP growth: ADB

ENERGY exports, mining and construction will fuel annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 8.6 percent to 2030, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) report says. Electrification, or the percentage of households connected to the electricity grid, is projected to rise to 80pc over the same period, while primary energy demand will increase by 2.6pc annually.. (Volume 26, No. 504)

Library to hold training programs

THE National Library is planning to host more training courses on library management skills next year, library president U Thein Shwe said last month. U Thein Shwe said the aim of the classes was to increase knowledge about library science and to encourage an interest in the subject. (Volume 26, No. 504)

Sagaing Fault monitoring to start in February

THE Myanmar Earthquake Committee (MEC) and Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) will start a collaborative research project in February 2010 to collect data from southern sections of the Sagaing Fault, which is a major source of earthquakes in lower Myanmar. (Volume 26, No. 504)

Myanmar can do more to tap in to Asian growth: Stiglitz

FORMER World Bank chief economist Professor Joseph Stiglitz last week called on the government to open up Myanmar’s economy and further integrate with its neighbours so the country can “benefit from the economic growth in the region”. (Volume 26, No. 504)

Thukha clinic expands to X-rays

THUKHA healthcare clinic in Yangon’s North Dagon township is planning to set up a free X-ray service in 2010, clinic manager U Aung Maw Nyein said last week. (Volume 26, No. 504)

Myanmar dancers perform in Jakarta

A DANCE troupe from the Ministry of Culture’s Fine Arts Department recently performed a series of traditional and contemporary dances for audiences in the Indonesian capital Jakarta. .(Volume 26, No. 504)

Marionette experts invited to teach in Chiang Mai

SEVEN artists from Myanmar are now teaching at a Master Classes in Asian Puppetry course being held in Chiang Mai. Puppeteers U Daung Yin and Daw Nan Tin and puppet makers U Aung Than Tun and U Khin Maung Htwe, who are all from the Htwe Oo Myanmar traditional marionette troupe, are now participating in the program, as well as poet U Maung Maung Thein, composer Parimi Shunn and Ms Kit Young from Gitameit. (Volume 26, No. 504)

Renewable energy forum held in Yangon

THE FIRST annual Renewable Energy Business Forum was held on December 14 in Yangon. The forum marked the first step in promoting awareness about renewable energy and energy efficiency in Myanmar, according to its organisers. (Volume 26, No. 504)

Unusual rainfall patterns due to climate change: meteorology dept

CLIMATE change has had a significant impact on Myanmar over the past five years and 2009 was no exception, an official from the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH) said last month. (Volume 26, No. 504)

US ignoring progress in human trafficking fight: police force

“We are disappointed the US continually places Myanmar in the third tier in its Annual Trafficking in Persons report,” Police Colonel Sit Aye said in his opening remarks at the launch of MTV EXIT (Myanmar), a documentary made to raise awareness about human trafficking, on December 18. (Volume 26, No. 503)

Local NGO seeks to expand farm schools

LOCAL NGO Mingalar Myanmar is considering expanding its Farmer Field School program but says it is dependent on increased donor support. (Volume 26, No. 503)

Delta project promotes high-quality rice production

A PILOT project now being carried out in Ayeyarwady Division could help Myanmar recover its status as a major world exporter of high-quality rice – a position it last enjoyed in the 1940s. (Volume 26, No. 503)

Three-wheeled tuk-tuk services postponed

A PLAN to offer local transfer services using three-wheeled tuk-tuks in Ngwe Saung has been postponed, said Dr Aung Htay Lin, the joint-secretary (1) of the Ngwe Saung Zone Hoteliers Association. (Volume 26, No. 503)

Monks get human resource training at Hmawbi seminar

BUDDHIST monks need to upgrade their professional skills in order to preach Theravada Buddhism and carry out humanitarian work, a well-known Buddhist monk said. (Volume 26, No. 503)

Brewery to increase blood donations

MYANMAR Brewery Ltd (MBL) plans to organise blood donation ceremonies twice a year starting in 2010, a company official said earlier this month. Since 2006 the company has held five blood donation ceremonies at irregular intervals. (Volume 26, No. 503)

Few major airline developments in 2009

DOMESTIC and foreign airlines serving Yangon International Airport offered some new services and ticket deals in 2009, but the year saw few major developments in the country’s airline industry. (Volume 26, No. 503)

Japan funds shelter construction

THE government of Japan has provided a grant of 581 million yen (US$5.6 million) to build schools that will double as cyclone shelters in the Ayeyarwady delta, according to a statement released by the Japanese embassy in Yangon. (Volume 26, No. 503)

Malaria fight gets funding injection

GOVERNMENT doctors are set to get a boost in their efforts to combat malaria thanks to a US$3.8 million grant from the Global Fund. The money will enable the Quality Diagnosis and Standard Treatment of Malaria project (QDSTM), under the Myanmar Medical Association (MMA), to increase its presence across the country from 170 clinics in 60 townships to 385 clinics in 115 townships, said project president Dr Chit Soe, who is also president of the MMA’s internal medicine society. (Volume 26, No. 503)