Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe accepts credentials of Ambassador of Belgium

YANGON 13 May— Mr Jan Matthysen, newly accredited Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to the Union of Myanmar, presented his credentials to Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, at Zeyathiri Beikman, Konmyinttha at 10.30 am today.

Also present on the occasion were Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Thu and U Maung Myint and Director-General Thura U Aung Htet of the Protocol Department.

Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm/
 

Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe accepts Canadian Ambassador’s credentials

YANGON 13 May— Mr Denis Comeau, newly accredited Ambassador of Canada to the Union of Myanmar, presented his credentials to Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, at Zeyathiri Beikman, Konmyinttha at 10.00 am today.

Also present on the occasion were Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Thein Sein, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Nyan Win, Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs U Kyaw Thu and U Maung Myint and Director-General Thura U Aung Htet of the Protocol Department.

Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm/
 

Encouragement is to be given to make more ornaments such as figurines, paintings and other household items in addition to production of jewelry Secretary-1 addresses coord meeting on development of Myanma gems industry

YANGON, 13 May — The coordination meeting on the development of Myanma gems industries was held at the meeting hall 1 of the Ministry of Mines at 3.30 pm today with an address by the State Peace and Development Council Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein.

Also present on the occasion were ministers, the Chief Justice, the Auditory-General, the Deputy Minister for Mines, members of Gems Supervisory Central Committee and officials at the SPDC Office.

Chairman of the Leading Committee for the Development of Myanma gems industries, the State Peace and Development Council Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein delivered an address.

He said the leading committee is to take measures for mining and trading of gems in accord with the rules and regulations laid down by the State. The Head of State gave guidance that attention was to be paid to the development of gems industry, and environmental conservation.

Myanmar is rich in natural resources including precious stones. Only if these resources are systematically harnessed, will they be continuously extracted in the long run, and it will help improve the nation’s economy, the Secretary-1 noted.

If gems are not tapped systematically posterity will not be able to enjoy their benefits, leading to the deforestation and environmental degradation in the country. That’s why, he said, it is necessary to systematically supervise the task for mining of gems in line with the rules and regulations without causing environmental deterioration.

He said the country is earning foreign exchange through the sectors of agriculture, fish and meat, forest, minerals and energy. So, earnest efforts are to be made to meet the targets of the mineral sector in which gems are included. Globally, jade is in great demand and it generates much foreign exchange. That is why arrangements are to be made for boosting production of jade by extending new jade mining blocks, the Secretary-1 added.

As Myanmar is a land of precious stones such as jade, ruby, and sapphire, the main market of these gems should be Myanmar, he noted. Therefore, more efforts are to be made for making the nation globally known for its valuable gems.

With the cutting edge of technology, it is better to sell finished products of gems than sell them in raw. Encouragement is to be given to make more ornaments such as figurines, paintings and other household items in addition to production of jewelry.

The Secretary-1 urged officials to endeavor for the mining of diamond and platinum as deposits of them can be found in the country.
Next, Mines Minister Brig-Gen Ohn Myint reported on the matters related to sales of gems in gem shows, the earning of State’s income from Myanma gems industries and jade and gems blocks.

Later, Deputy Mines Minister reported on duties and responsibilities of Gems Supervisory Central Committee, finding mining blocks and vacant blocks and mining in jade and gems blocks in accord with Myanma Gems Law. After hearing the reports, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Thein Sein made a general round of discussions and attended to the needs.

Source: "The New Light Of Myanmar", www.myanmar.com/nlm/

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