Departmental officials to carry out tasks with great care not to have adverse effect on government’s goodwill and loving kindness to the people Prime Minister inspects development work in Mon State

YANGON, 2 April — Prime Minister Lt-Gen Soe Win arrived by helicopter yesterday morning at the project site for construction of Yin Nyein Sluice Gate being implemented by the Construction-6 of the Irrigation Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation near Yin Nyein Creek near Kyonhtaw Village, Paung Township, Thaton District, Mon State. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, Minister for Science and Technology U Thaung, Minister for Education U Than Aung, Minister for Rail Transportation Maj-Gen Aung Min, Minister for Religious Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Mya Oo, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation U Ohn Myint, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office and departmental officials.

The Prime Minister and party on arrival at the project site were welcomed by Mon State PDC Chairman South-East Command Commander Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung, Brig-Gen Myint Soe of Thaton Station, senior military officers, chairmen of township PDCs, members of social organizations and officials.

At the briefing hall, Director of Construction-6 U Hla Myint reported on facts about the project, construction progress up to 31 March and future work and Deputy Minister U Ohn Myint on conditions of Zokkaye Sluice Gate that benefits 20,000 acres of farmland and Kyonhtaw Sluice Gate that benefits 22,000 acres of farmland and construction of Kataik Dam that will benefit 20,000 acres of farmland and implementation of Yin Nyein Sluice Gate project including construction of canals.

The Prime Minister, after fulfilling the needs regarding the reports, gave instructions on timely completion of the project meeting the set standard and minimizing loss and wastage in the project. Next, the Prime Minister inspected the construction of the canals.

The aim of the construction of Yin Nyein Sluice Gate is to carry out the double and mixed cropping and to boost crops cultivation in the region, to prevent 20,000 acres of wet land from floods and sea water in the rainy season and to keep fresh water in late monsoon.

After inspecting the construction of Kataik Dam, the Prime Minister and party proceeded to Ye. They were welcomed there by Col Than Toe of Ye Station and officials. The Prime Minister and party inspected the developing Ye town and Ye river-crossing bridge by car. On arrival at new Ye Railway Station, the Prime Minister oversaw greening tasks and greeted passengers. Afterwards, the Prime Minister and party visited the site for extended construction of wards of township People’s Hospital (50-bed). At the briefing hall, Medical Superintendent Dr Daw Saw Myat Oo reported on health care services for local people and requirements. Construction in charge U Chan Sein reported on extended construction tasks, 34 percent of which have been completed and completion of the project in April 2006. Deputy Minister Dr Mya Oo and Commander Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung also gave supplementary reports. After giving necessary instructions, the Prime Minister inspected the construction work. Later, the Prime Minister met departmental staff at the office of Ye Township PDC. Also present were Commander Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung, the ministers, officials, local authorities and local people.

First, Ye Township PDC Chairman U Thein Zaw, Executive Officer of Lamaing General Administration Department U Kyaw Myint Hlaing and Khawza GAD Executive Officer U Tin Naing reported on data of the township, land utilization, yield of monsoon paddy, cultivation of summer paddy and winter crops, agricultural and livestock breeding tasks, health and education sectors, regional self sufficiency of food, development tasks and requirements. Next, the Prime Minister delivered a speech. He said the ministers and the deputy ministers led by himself inspected development of Ye. He said he was glad to witness the progress in Ye including Ye River Bridge and Ye Railway Station, peace and stability and improvement of living standard of people. He said such progress was made because local people could do their commercial undertakings peacefully and safely. That is why per capita income of the people in Ye is the highest in Mon State. He said Ye is a fertile region for agriculture and fish and meat sectors. Agriculture, cultivation of rubber and production of fresh and sea water fish and prawn increased year after year along with the annual income of the local people. He found that there is local rice sufficiency and its percentage is 102.64. Rapid development was made in the regions as people could do their economic undertakings peacefully. They can now enjoy the results of peace and stability in the country.

Better foundations on administration, economy, education and transport have already been laid in the State and national solidarity have been consolidated. In the region intellectuals and entrepreneurs turned out, he said. With better conditions and opportunities, the National Convention is in session for emergence of a genuine, discipline-flourishing democratic nation after laying down the seven-point Road Map. According to the motto — strength of the nation lies within, he spoke of the need to make concerted efforts for emergence of a new discipline-flourishing democratic nation based on better foundations achieved due to the cooperation of the government, the people and social organizations.

The Prime Minister and party arrived in Mawlamyine by helicopter. They were welcomed by Deputy Commander of South East Command Brig-Gen Myo Hla, senior military officers and officials.

The Prime Minister met departmental officials and members of social organizations at Mon State Hall in Mawlamyine. Present were Chairman of Mon State Peace and Development Council Commander of South East Command Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung, Chairmen of Mawlamyine and Thaton District and Township Peace and Development Councils and members and departmental officials.

Commander Maj-Gen Myint Aung reported on location and data of Mon State, utilization of land, cultivation of 701,600 acres of monsoon paddy in 2004, harvesting of 701,410 acres, production of 47,187,692 baskets of paddy, cultivation of 60,150 acres of summer paddy and harvesting of 21,266 acres, sufficiency of rice, cultivation of over 25,900 acres of groundnut, sesamum and sunflower and 63,807 acres of beans and pulses, cultivation of 14,862 acres of pepper and arrangements for cultivation of another 5,000 acres in 2005-2006, cultivation of 245,805 acres of rubber, production of 33,965 tons of rubber and others.

The commander also reported on dams and sluice gates in Mon State, benefited areas, breeding of fish, production of meat, economic growth and arrangements for realization the projects.

Minister for Education U Than Aung reported on measures undertaken for uplift of education, human resource development and learning of basic and higher education in the whole country.

Next, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt spoke at length on rural development tasks and tasks for ensuring smooth and secure transport.

In response, the Prime Minister said that thanks to the harmonious efforts of the entire people for the national economic development, the first four-year economic plan (1992-93 to 1995-96) achieved annual development by 7.5 per cent, and the second five-year economic plan, by 8.5 per cent.

Similarly, the third five-year economic plan is targeted to achieve progress of 11.3 per cent, and up to the end of the fourth year, the annual growth has been 12.4 per cent. Efforts are to be made with added momentum to increase the development rate up to 12.6 per cent in the last year of the plan. The per capita income of the nation was K 1,940 in 1988-89, K 13,515 in 1995-96, K 50,927 in 2000-2002 and K 165,729 in 2004-2005. The target of the per capita income for this fiscal year has been set to reach K 180,000.

In respect of the GDP, the nation’s agricultural sector represents 50.5 per cent, the industrial sector, 14.6 per cent and the service sector, 34.9 per cent. So, endeavours are to be particularly exerted to ensure significant progress of the industrial sector.

Being convinced that the nation will be an industrialized one only with the industrial development, the government has placed emphasis on further development of the industrial sector. The government will continue to make efforts to achieve greater progress of the electricity sector and the electric power sector needed for better living standard of the people.

Now, all necessary measures have been taken for ensuring food sufficiency for the posterity.

Mon State is blessed with favourable conditions for economic progress. So it has achieved 12.1 per cent growth and accomplished 104.6 per cent performance in implementing the 2004-2005 economic development plan. Mon State stands fourth among the states and divisions in the nation’s GDP.

Now the state has witnessed significant progress in the road and bridge, irrigation facilities, education, and health sectors along with urban development, and especially the 12,500-foot-long Thanlwin River crossing bridge (Mawlamyine) is its most impressive showcase.

Such dramatic progress has resulted from the efforts made by those responsible at all levels to accomplish the objectives laid down for states and divisions by the government since its assumption of the State duties.

In such a time when the government and the people are making combined and harmonious endeavours to ensure national progress, the officials responsible for the administrative and management fields in the interests of the nation and the people are to help the people realize the government’s genuine goodwill and efforts.

Departmental officials are to carry out their tasks with great care in order not to have adverse effect on the government’s goodwill and loving kindness to the people. The departmental officials are to try their best to become ones who win the trust and respect of the people.

National solidarity is indeed the fundamental requirement for the Union. In conclusion, the Prime Minister exhorted the officials concerned to pay special attention to the national unity on the basis of the fact that only when the entire national people are one, can peace and stability be restored well in the nation and will a discipline-flourishing democratic nation emerge.

On arrival at Mawlamyine University, the Prime Minister and party were welcomed by the pro-rector, professors/heads of departments, lecturers and officials of the university.

Later, Pro-rector U Tun Sein reported on the salient points of the university and management on the academic affairs of the training opening at the university, and Minister for Education U Than Aung on discussions of the university, research works and construction of the convocation hall.

After hearing the reports, the Prime Minister attended to the needs and cordially greeted the teachers.

Next, the Prime Minister proceeded to the construction site of the convocation hall of Mawlamyine University and heard the reports on the progress of the construction and measures to be taken, followed by the supplementary reports by Commander Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung and officials.

Afterwards, the Prime Minister looked into the scale model of the convocation hall and progress of constructing the university and gave necessary instructions to the officials.