THE Ministry of Health and Sports organized the opening ceremony of 49th Myanmar Health Research Congress via videoconferencing yesterday morning.

Followed by the opening remark by Professor Dr Zaw Than Tun, Director-General of Department of Medical Research, Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe delivered a speech and explained the reason of congress which will be held until 21 January under the theme of ‘Fighting Together against COVID-19’.

The congress will share medical experiences in relation to the COVID-19 and will exchange views on the betterment of existing strategies and working processes in handling this pandemic.

The Union Minister advises the Department of Medical Research to hold online discussions among researchers of new medical generations, departmental officials and experts from universities, while the Department of Public Health is organizing the regular ‘Friday Health Talk’ every Friday evening.

He also highlighted some considerable success of the Department of Medical Research during the term of incumbent government from April 2016 to now.

The National Health Research Plan was adopted in 2017 based on the changing trend of Myanmar healthcare sector, research development, outbreak of various diseases and global situations.

The government has budgeted K4.696 billion for setting up the Training Centre for Research Capacity Building, and it is expected to be complete in September this year.

The Union Minister also suggested designing research curricula in the courses of 16 universities and 53 nursing and midwives training schools.

The ‘Lesson Learnt from COVID-19 Pandemic Symposium’ was presided by the Union Minister and the Director-General, and senior medical officials presented their topics in relation to medical treatments in COVID-19.

During the congress from 18 to 21 January, 28 basic research papers, 32 applied research papers, 29 healthcare system research papers and 75 research posters will be discussed.

The best research papers at the congress will be given the awards of K1 million, K800,000 and K600,000.

MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

Photo: MNA

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UNION Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe presided over the meeting via videoconferencing to conduct the year-end review on the EU Myan Ku Fund for garment sector in relation to COVID-19 and the future plans yesterday.

The meeting was also taken part by Deputy Minister U Myint Kyaing, the directors-general and officials, EU Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Ranieri Sabatucci, Director of UNOPS Mr Andrew Kirkwood, Executive Director Dr Zaw Oo from the Centre for Economic and Social Development, employers’ agents and employees representatives.

In his speech, the Union Minister expressed thanks for Euro 5 million contributions of the European Union for rapid financial assistance to garment sector workers laid off amid the recent economic fallout from the COVID-19 epidemic, and over K4 billion cash assistance through EU Myan Ku Fund for over 60,000 workers in garment, footwear and textile industries.

The government is implementing the Overcoming as One: COVID-19 Economic Relief PlanCERP with the participation of ministries and working to adopt the Myanmar Economic Recovery and Reform Plan (MERRP), while putting emphasis on the social protection for the workers.

The ministry has given out more than K65 billion to over 1.5 million insured workers from the suspended businesses from 20 April 2020 to 12 January 2021 during the first wave and the second wave of COVID-19.

The European Union has planned to provide an additional Euro5 million for the unemployed workers, while the Myanmar government is struggling to contain of the pandemic and economic recovery of the country simultaneously.

The EU Ambassador explained the financial assistance; the Director of UNOPS talked about the Myan Ku Fund, and the Executive Director of CESD presented the salient points in research findings on the workers who experienced the negative impacts of COVID-19 outbreak.

The employers’ agents and employee representatives also discussed their problems during the pandemic.

MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

Photo: MNA

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THE National ICT Awards 2019 (Educational Project & Skills Competitions) Award Ceremony, jointly organized by the Ministry of Education and the Myanmar Computer Federation (MCF), was held online yesterday morning.

During the ceremony, Union Minister for Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi said that the National ICT Award (Educational Project) competitions had been held since 2004 and the Skills Competitions were included since the 2016-2017 academic year.

The competitions are held at various levels: primary school level, middle school level, high school level, teacher-level and professional-level.

The competitions are aimed at promoting ICT skills of students and teachers, according to the Union Minister, who called on the teachers to use the award-winning projects as teaching aids. He said that the teachers and students should study the projects well and make the best use of ICT.

He said that the competitions would enhance students’ 21-century competencies, skills and abilities. In the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Award Ceremony 2019, a Myanmar team organized by the MCF won the Merit Award in the Junior Student Category, said the Union Minister.

He urged the contestants of the National ICT Awards 2019 to try their best not to miss the opportunity to advance to the international level. He continued that the MCF, education officials and teachers made great contributions to hold the competitions in order to promote students' 21st-century skills and their creativity.

The MCF Chairperson U Min Zeyar Hlaing also delivered a speech at the ceremony.

During the ceremony, a documentary featuring the National ICT Awards 2019 (Educational Project & Skills Competition) was shown, and the winners were awarded online. During the event, the MCF’s Capacity Building Committee Chairperson Daw Aye Aye Thin explained the competitions, and Director-General U Ko Lay Win from the Department of Basic Education expressed thanks to all stakeholders.

MNA

Photo: MNA

(Translated by Maung Maung Swe)

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A press conference on the status of initial implementations of the Dawei Special Economic Zone (Dawei SEZ) Project was held yesterday morning at the Ministry of Electricity and Energy in Nay Pyi Taw.

During the ceremony, Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy Dr Tun Naing, in his capacity as Chairperson of the Dawei SEZ Management Committee, explained the SEZ project implementations, a summary of project background, agreements signed for the undertaking, and cooperation with Thailand and Japan for the project.

The committee has sent a letter of notification to the company formerly permitted to build the initial project, informing the company about the termination of the permit-contracts.

The Italian-Thai Development, which was initially awarded the right to build the project, repeatedly delayed it, failed to fulfil contractual financial obligations, and failed to submit financial documents for the project.

As a result, the Dawei SEZ Management Committee terminated all nine initial project contracts (2015) signed with the Italian-Thai company by sending the letter of notification on 30 December last year about the termination of all contracts.

MNA

(Translated by Maung Maung Swe)

Photo: MNA

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A total of 128 Myanmar seamen arrived back home by an MAI relief flight organized by Myanmar Embassy in Seoul and the Crew Change Supporting Committee (CCSC) via Incheon International Airport yesterday evening.

The group of Myanmar seamen included 103 from the ROK, 18 from Japan, 2 from Indonesia and 5 from Singapore.

The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, the Ministry of Health and Sports and the Yangon Region government arranged 14-day quarantine at specific places or designated hotels, followed by the 7-day home quarantine.

To bring back the Myanmar citizens and Myanmar seamen who are stranded in foreign countries by relief flights and chartered flights in accordance with the instructions from National-Level Central Committee on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cooperated with the relevant ministries, companies and Myanmar embassies from respective countries.

MNA

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1. The National-Level Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on 30-12-2020 formed a Fund Management Sub-committee on the Purchase of COVID-19 Vaccines. The sub-committee has opened the COVID-19 Vaccination Fund at the Myanma Economic Bank in Nay Pyi Taw as follows:

(a) Fund for purchase of COVID-19 vaccines (Foreign Currency Account No. EDC 600012). The bank account will be initially deposited with USD250 million, equivalent to about K338 billion from State-funding.

(b) Fund for purchase of COVID-19 vaccines (Myanmar Currency Account No. OA 013733). The bank account is initially deposited K1 billion (K1,000 million) from State-funding.

2. Therefore, organizations and people (local/ foreign countries) who want to contribute cash donation for the purchase of vaccines, can donate any type of foreign currency to the COVID-19 Vaccination Fund (Foreign Currency Account No. EDC 600012) at the Myanma Economic Bank (Nay Pyi Taw), and can donate Myanmar Kyat to the COVID-19 Vaccination Fund (Myanmar Currency Account No. OA 013733).

3. The potential well-wishers can contact the following phone numbers: Director-General (067 3410156) Treasury Department (067 3410158)

Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry

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1. The contribution of cash for COVID-19 Vaccination Fund can be made via the website of the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry (http://www.mopfi.gov.mm) in the following ways.

(a) MPU Debit/Credit Card of local banks

(b) Visa/Master Credit of local banks

(c) Visa/Master Debit & Credit Card of foreign banks

(d) Mobile Wallets such as CB-pay, KBZ-pay, OK$ through QR Code (more mobile wallets will be available)

(e) Internet/mobile banking App of KBZ, CB, AYA, UAB and MAB (more internet/mobile banking Apps will be available)

(f) Over-the-counter at Supermarkets such as City Mart, Marketplace, Sein Gay Har, Aeon, Orange; mini-marts and convenience stores such as Denko Mini Market, Fun Fun Mart, ABC and Oasis; Mobile Wallet agents such as M-Pitesan, True Money and MyTelPay; Mobile Phone shops such as Any Call, e-City, Lu Gyi Min and My Fone; Wai Yan Electronics Sale Centre; the shops available Near Me logo.

2. Therefore, cash contribution can be made at the above-mentioned platforms electronically, in addition to the branches of Myanma Economic Bank and Myanma Agricultural Development Bank and other local private banks.

Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry

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AN official ceremony marking a collective donation for the Childcare Centre for Orphans (Nay Pyi Taw) was held in the childcare centre, Wunna Theikdi ward in the city yesterday morning.

The ceremony, held in accordance with COVID-19 preventive guidelines, was attended by Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye, Deputy Minister U Soe Aung, Nay Pyi Taw Council member U Aung Myin Tun, the Association for Prevention, Care and Protection of Abandoned Children Chairperson Daw May Yin Tun, APCPAC members, the Permanent Secretary Directors General of the ministry, and other relevant officials.

During the ceremony, the Union Minister said that the government, charity organizations and civil society organizations have been working cooperatively to look after of orphans.

The Union Minister said that the ministry enacted the Child Rights Law in July 2019 in accordance with the situations of the modern period and the Early Childhood Development (Amendment) Law was enacted in 2018.

He continued that the Department of Social Welfare has established a total of seven childcare centres in Yangon, Mandalay Magway, Mawlamyine, Kengtung, Pathein and Sittway, and each of the child care centres can accommodate up to 100 children. Now, financed by the APCPAC (Myanmar), a new childcare centre has been built in Nay Pyi Taw and it will be opened soon as the eighth childcare centre in Myanmar, according to the Union Minister.

The childcare centres accept orphans from 3 months to 8 years old. When the children become over 8 years old, they can continue their education in three youth training schools and two women’s training schools in Yangon, two youth training schools and one women’s training school in Mandalay, and a youth training school in each of Mawlamyine, Labutta and Lashio.

Childcare and protection standards for these childcare centres and youth training schools have been set since 2017, said the Union Minister who expressed thanks to the APCPAC (Myanmar) for financing to build the Childcare Centre for Orphans (Nay Pyi Taw), which will be opened soon. He also expressed thanks to other donors, officials and the Myanmar Women’s Committee for their contributions.

In the ceremony, the Union Minister gave the APCPAC (Myanmar) and other donors certificates of honor.

During the ceremony, individual donors, through the APCPAC (Myanmar), donated necessary materials (worth K5,381.94 billions) for the childcare centre; and the Diplomatic and International Golfers’ Affiliation of Yangon (DIGAY), ambassadors, diplomats, Min Tun Company Limited, Daw Ama Wai (supporting member), APCPAC (Central), and Camera Baby World Company Limited collectively donated child accessories (wroth K569.97 billions).

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Maung Maung Swe)

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THE National Skills Standards Authority of Myanmar presented the national-level skill certificates through the virtual system at the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.

Union Minister U Thein Swe, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Central Body for Employment and Skill Development, made a speech at the event.

The certificates were awarded via online to 1,165 skilled workers, 11 Accredited Assessment Centres, 9 Accredited Assessors and 22 Accredited Inspectors as they passed the NSSA exams in 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 financial years.

The NSSA has issued a total of 16,519 skill certificates for 30 types of employments since 2014.

The Union Minister talked about requirements for the development of new skills, participation of employers and employees in the skill development programmes.

An analysis report of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population released in December on the cause of increasing domestic migrant workers to Yangon has said the majority of local migrant workers to the industrial zones in Yangon region were from Ayeyawady, Bago and Magway regions. Women contributed about 50 per cent in this migrant population. Most of them finished only primary and middle schools and are working in garment and textile industries.

He also advised harmonious collaboration among employees, employers, development partners and relevant ministries to make readiness for more employment opportunities that will emerge together with the Myanmar Economic Recovery and Reform Plan.

The Union Minister suggested ‘green skills’, which can support the ‘green economy’, employments for modern digital technology age, jobs in foreign investment, and identifying skill gaps by conducting research in respective sectors.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

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MYANMAR Engineering Council organized the International Conference on Engineering Education Association (ICEEA 2021 Myanmar) online at the Ministry of Electricity and Energy yesterday.

Union Minister U Win Khaing, in his capacity as Patron of the council, highlighted the establishment of Engineering Department at the University of Yangon in 1923, engineering degrees granted by RIT in 1964 to date and efforts of engineering degree holders in the very sector of the country.

The Union Minister also said the infrastructure plays a key role in the developing countries and so the engineers mainly implement such procedures.

The government accelerates their plans for transportation, electrification and access to clean drinking water.

Therefore, the engineering subject is crucial to produce qualified engineers.
The Union Minister then stressed the important role of engineers not only in government sector but also in private industries together with the developed market-oriented economic system and cooperation work between the council and ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organization (AFEO) and Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and Pacific (FEIAP).

He also expressed words of thanks to partner organizations such as FEIAP, IEET, UNSW, BEM, WFEO and IEA for their cooperation and supports.

He also discussed the significant development in every sector during the new government term and the increase of nationwide electricity access from 34 per cent to 57 per cent including 40 per cent power generation from hydropower, 14 per cent from solar energy, 34 per cent from Domestic Gas and 11 per cent from LNG.

He stressed the efforts of the ministry to meet 75 per cent of the country’s electricity need by 2025 and its 2030 goal of full electrification.

He then highlighted the need to carry out in accordance with the international criteria to improve the quality of engineering subjects and engineering degree holders as well as for the development of the country.

The ICEEA 2021 Myanmar will be held until 16 January and the representatives of international and regional engineering organizations including Myanmar Engineering Council, the Rectors and Professors of Yangon Technological University, Mandalay Technological University will read the papers.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Khine Thazin Han)

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