Tourism, Driving Engine for Economic Growth
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Volume I, Number 119 8th Waxing Day of Tabodwe 1376 ME Tuesday, 27 January, 2015 Tourism, driving engine for economic growth President U Thein Sein delivers speech at opening of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2015.—MNA NAY PYI TAW, 26 Jan tion and officials. ship and hosted the 24th and nomic reforms, there have of three Pyu ancient cities AN Economic Community — President U Thein Sein The president delivered 25th ASEAN Summits and been remarkable progresses namely, Hanlin, Beikth- which will be celebrated at attended the opening of the an address at the opening Related Summits in Nay Pyi in the respective sectors of ano and Sri Kestra onto the the end of this year. ASEAN Tourism Forum ceremony. He said: I am Taw. Myanmar has worked the country. In particular, World heritage List, as an This year’s theme for 2015 at Myanmar Interna- delighted to officiate the together with other member the tourism and the tele- outcome of the 30th Session the ASEAN Tourism Fo- tional Convention Centre-II, opening of the 34th ASEAN countries and dialogue part- communication sector have of the UNESCO’s World rum “ASEAN: Tourism here, on Monday evening. Tourism Forum which is the ners towards the realization achieved significant pro- Heritage Committee held in towards Peace, Prosperity Before the opening most important annual meet- of a politically cohesive, gress. Doha, Qatar. and Partnership”, captures ceremony, the President ing in the context of tourism economically integrated and In the same year, My- The ASEAN Tourism the important elements that received tourism ministers cooperation of ASEAN. socially responsible ASE- anmar has attained a new Forum 2015 takes place at the ASEAN Tourism Sector from ASEAN countries, the In the last year, 2014, AN Community. milestone in its cultur- an important juncture as the can bring in for the ASEAN secretary general of the UN Myanmar had successfully During this period of al identity and history by year 2015 marks an impor- Economic Community. World Tourism Organiza- taken ASEAN Chairman- strategic political and eco- succeeding with its entry tant milestone for the ASE- (See page 3) Poor farmers in Ayeyawady Delta see dawn of better life INSIDE By Aye Min Soe may have found a silver bers of her lending group. that she would pay back in accordance with fund Vice President Dr lining freeing themselves About 50 other wom- K27,000 every two weeks rules. Sai Mauk Kham KYEE CHAUNG (Ay- from the poverty trap. en at the meeting of the to the fund until she set- According to the fund, eyawady Delta), 26 Jan “I want to borrow members of the fund unan- tles the agricultural loan out of 585 villages in 86 attends reception — Poor farmers from 450,000 kyat to grow a imously agreed to grant the in a year. village-tracts in rural areas, to mark 66th Kyee Chaung Village in further 300 betel plants,” proposed loan to Daw Ohn It means she agreed to and 10 wards in urban in Bogale Township in the Daw Ohn Myint Kyi, 57, Myint Kyi when the loan borrow money to do busi- Bogale in the Ayeyawady Anniversary of Ayeyawady Delta who told a loan officer of Pact officer sought agreements ness from the fund with Delta, credit components Republic Day of suffered from under the Global Microfinance Fund from them in three votes. an interest rate of 2.5 per of the fund have reached onslaught of Cyclone Nar- (PGMF) as she stood along- Daw Ohn Myint Kyi cent a month or 30 per cent to 429 villages, attracting India gis more than six years ago side the four other mem- guaranteed the loan officer a year. 33,086 clients and 18,132 PAGE-3 The interest rate for active borrowers. social affairs loans is 2 per So far, the fund has Senior General cent per month from the already loaned more than fund, which is very low K10 million to women in Min Aung Hlaing compared to the interest the village of Kyee Chaung, delivers speech rate they paid to private said Khaing Khaing Oo, a money lenders, according loan officer for the fund. at Tatmadaw to local farmers. While PGMF is supported Central some well-to-do families by the multi-donor Liveli- and those who were most- hoods and Food Security Organizing ly unaffected by Nargis can Trust Fund (LIFT), which Committee avoid borrowing from the works in Myanmar to alle- fund, 52 women from the viate poverty and hunger. PAGE-9 124 households in Kyee Before and after Nar- Chaung Village have reg- gis, the villagers, includ- ASEAN plus istered as members of the ing Daw Ohn Myint Kyi, 3 Tourism microfinance fund and they had no ways to do business are divided in groups com- as they had no capital and Ministers prising five to six members were burdened with debt. Meeting held in so they can guarantee each When the rice harvest Nay Pyi Taw Daw Ohn Myint Kyi nurtures betel plants at her farm established with the use of other when a member bor- is low due to disease and loans from the Pact Global Microfinance Fund.—PHOTO: AYE MIN SOE rows money from the fund (See page 9) PAGE-3 2 Tuesday, 27 January, 2015 PARLIAMENT Pyidaungsu Hluttaw discusses Pyidaungsu Hluttaw 2016 fiscal year, based on tee, Office of Auditor-gen- 2015 Union Budget Bill incomes of union-level de- eral of the Union, Ministry mitted 2015 Union Budget partments, as well as for- of National Planning and Bill that emphasized on eign grants and loans. Economic Development, taxation policy. He discussed salary World Bank, International The proposed bill sug- increment for government Monetary Fund, and Asia gested to promote tax-to- staff and K37.492 billion Development Bank, as well GDP ratio, expansion of for free medical treatment as development partner or- basic tax, systematic scru- for them, with suggestion ganizations from the Unit- tinizing on tax exemption of K2901.763 billion for ed States, the United King- and tax reduction process- the salaries of civil service dom, Japan and Australia. es. employees in 2015-2016 National Planning Bill Regarding govern- fiscal year for 2015-2016 fiscal year, ment expense policy, the The bill also elaborat- including projects and bill mentioned increasing ed macroeconomic situa- budgets under 2015 Union expenses in education and tions of the State for 2015- Budget Bill were discussed education, prioritizing the 2016 fiscal year, targeted by officials from Presi- immediate effective pro- rates for national produc- dent’s Office, Union Gov- jects for public, system- tion and service sectors, ernment’ Office, Office Pyidaungsu Hluttaw representatives focusing Union Budget bill.—MNA atic appointment of civil economic development, of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, service staff, suspension inflation, export volume, Office of Amyotha Hlut- NAY PYI TAW, 26 Jan— President U Thein Rural Development, Min- of less-effective projects, import volume, total trade taw, Ministry of Defence Pyidaungsu Hluttaw con- Sein’s message to Py- istry of Construction, Man- salary increment for gov- volume, trade deficit and Services, Union Election vened its fifth-day meeting idaungsu Hluutaw included dalay region government, ernment employees, rural exchange rates. Commission, Office of Au- Monday, with keeping re- the use of K12.044 billion and Rakhine region gov- development programmes, The chapter of Public ditor-general of the Union, cords on separate funds of from separate funds for ernment; together with two power supply and water for Finance and Management Office of Union Civil Ser- development projects in the 12 projects— each one by projects of Shan state gov- households and agriculture. Reform System explained vices Board, Nay Pyi Taw message sent by President Ministry of Home Affairs, ernment and three projects Finance minister also collaborations among Min- Council and Nay Pyi Taw under 2014 Union Budget Ministry of Border Affairs, of Ayeyawaddy region submitted the estimated istry of Finance, Hluttaw Development Committee. Bill, and discussing 2015 Ministry of Agriculture government. Union Budget for 2015- Public Accounts Commit- MNA Union Budget Bill submit- and Irrigation, Ministry of U Win Shein, Union ted by Ministry of Finance. Livestock, Fisheries and Minister for Finance, sub- Amyotha Hluttaw Pyithu Hluttaw Amyotha Hluttaw divided on Plan to improve Myanmar religious conversion bill Agricultural Development Bank Law NAY PYI TAW, 26 Jan— Representative Lt-Col Thein Amotha Hluttaw represent- whether or not there is whether there is plan to Lwin believed that the bill is atives were divided on the a plan to disburse medi- ease disciplines of applica- in accordance with the state religious conversion bill um-term and long-term tion. The deputy minister constitution and meets the on its sixth day session on agricultural loans to the replied that anybody may international legal standards Monday, with Representa- farmers for mortgaging apply for farming rights without preventing freedom tive U Khin Maung Latt of farming rights certificate at on less than 10 acres of va- of religious conversion. He Rakhine State Constituency any bank. Deputy Minister cant and virgin lands on a said the bill systematize the (6) saying enacting the bill for Agriculture and Irriga- manageable scale at region conversion of religion. will contribute to reduc- tion U Ohn Than replied or state vacant land man- Representatives U tion of conflicts, stability that Myanma Agricultural agement work committee. Nyan Lin of Ayeyawady and national interests while U J Yaw Wu of Kachin Development Bank dis- The disciplines are aimed Region Constituency (3) Representative U Aung Kyi State Constituency bursed loans to farmers at scrutinizing the financial and U Phone Myint Aung Nyunt of Magway Region (12).—MNA in Bago Region by tak- situation of entrepreneurs of Yangon Region Constitu- Constituency (4) was of the ing original certificates of to do cultivation on over 50 of worship.