THE Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement organized a multiplier course to encourage the volunteers who are fighting against COVID-19 yesterday.

During the meeting, Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye emphasized the role, diligence and altruism of volunteers in COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities and the aims of training to offer systematic services with communication skills, safety and mental supports in accordance with the age group, sector and position and to bring mindfulness to avoid the risk of infection with COVID-19 as the disease has fast infection rate.

The Union Minister also appreciated the spirit of volunteering in COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment activities and requested the volunteers to discuss the challenges and the needs while serving as volunteers to make better preventive measures. Permanent Secretary Dr Ko Ko Naing, Director-General for Social Welfare the Department and other officials from the relevant departments and organizations and the volunteers from Nay Pyi Taw Council and Yangon Region attended the event.

MNA

(Translated by Khine Thazin Han)

Photo: MNA

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A total of 289 Myanmar citizens stranded in foreign countries because of the suspension of commercial flights returned home by relief flights yesterday.

Myanmar Embassy in Seoul and Crew Change Supporting Committee-Myanmar jointly organized the relief flight of Myanmar Airways International to bring back 121 Myanmar citizens home – 62 from the Republic of Korea, 25 from Japan, 13 from Malaysia, 3 from the United Arab Emirates, 3 from Bangladesh, 1 from Qatar, 12 from Singapore, 1 from the United States and 1 from France.

The flight that brought the citizens from Incheon International Airport landed at Yangon International Airport in the late evening.

Myanmar Embassy in Riyadh also organized the relief of Myanmar Airways International to repatriate 168 Myanmar nationals– 3 from Bahrain, 1 from Oman, 86 from the UAE, 2 from Kuwait, 1 from Japan, 2 from Iran, 4 from Bangladesh, 10 from Egypt, 2 from Congo, 6 from Sudan, 18 from Panama, 6 from South Africa, 10 from Israel, 2 from Pakistan, 4 from Azerbaijan, 4 from Norway, 5 from Singapore, 1 from Turkey and 1 from Somalia.

The flight bringing the citizens from Dubai landed at Yangon International Airport in the late evening.

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

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been working with Myanmar embassies in foreign countries, local ministries and shipping companies/organizations to bring back Myanmar citizens stranded abroad in accordance with the guidance of the National-Level Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19.

MNA (Translated by Kyaw Zin Tun)

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Union Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry U Soe Win held a videoconference with Ms Mariam Sherman, the World Bank Country Director for Myanmar, and officials yesterday.

At the meeting, the country director discussed the approval of World Bank on 13 October to give US$12 billion additional financing aid to Myanmar for purchasing COVID-19 vaccine under the Global COVID-19 Multiphase Programmatic Approach (MPA), possible means to acquire the vaccine, $60 million for Myanmar under the IDA 19, and 3 ways to receive the vaccine for 20 per cent of the country’s population.

The Union Minister raised queries to the discussions.

Deputy Minister U Sett Aung and Dr Min Ye Paing Hein, the permanent secretary and officials took part in the discussions.

MNA (Translated by Aung Khin)

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THE Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement held ceremony to mark 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence via videoconferencing yesterday morning.

The ceremony was attended by Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye, Deputy Minister U Soe Aung, Chairpersons of the Women and Children Affairs Committee of Pyithu and Amyotha Hluttaws, Deputy Chairman and members of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator Mr Ola Almgren, Myanmar National Committee for Women’s Affairs, chairpersons of women committees from Nay Pyi Taw, States and Regions, the Directors-General, Deputy Directors-General and officials of the department concerned, country representatives of UN organizations, INGOs, NGOs and the civilian organizations.

During the ceremony, the Union Minister said the ceremony for 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence has been holding in Myanamar since 2018, and the country reports 51.81 per cent of the female population and so the measures to prevent the violence against women have postive impacts on the development and protections for all citizens.

The Union Minister discussed the membership of UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, ASEAN Committee on Women Affairs, ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Children, implementation of ASEAN Regional Plan of Action of Elimination on Violence against Women like other ASEAN regions between 2016 and 2019, 4 policies and 12 working plans of MNCWA, National Strategic Plan (2013-2022) for women advancement and drafting phase (2) as the strategic plan will expire in 2022.

He also talked about the formation of the national committee and the working committee on prevention and addressing conflict-related sexual violence, setting up of 24hours Help Line service in 2016, cash assistance and arrangement for the accommodation of the victims, the establishment of One-Stop Wom en Support Centres in Yangon, Mandalay, Mawlamyine, Lashio, Kayah and Monywa, the appointment of 250 Case Managers and this year’s theme “Orange the World: Fund, Response, Prevent, Collect.”

He also stressed the concerted efforts to do in line with the theme like collecting data and fund-raising to provide more cash assistance in preventing gender-based violence as it can be supposed the numbers of domestic violence are increasing, the statement of Union Accord of the Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong Conference including gender equality, policy to prevent gender based violence in building the federal democratic union, amendment and revise of law if necessary, drafting of law for Protection and Prevention of Violence against Women, 30 per cent of women participation according to Union Accord for gender equality and further cooperation for the development of all women including the ones from border areas.

Then, UN Resident Coordinator Mr Ola Almgren made a greeting speech and then video clip of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence was played.

MNA

PHOTO: MNA

(Translated by Khine Thazin Han)

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THE Ministry of Construction held a ceremony to mark 134 years of Public Works Department in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning in accordance with the health rules of National-Level Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 and the Ministry of Health and Sports.

Union Minister U Han Zaw, Deputy Minister Dr Kyaw Linn, Permanent Secretary U Shwe Lay, the Directors-General and Deputy Directors-General, invited guests and other officials, Chief Engineers and Directors of department joined the ceremony online from their respective regions and states.

During the ceremony, Union Minister U Han Zaw congratulated on 134th ceremony of Public Works Department (PWD) which fulfilled the needs of roads, bridges, housings and apartments for the public and discussed the reorganization of the Ministry of Construction with Department of Building, Department of Highway, Department of Bridge, Department of Urban Housing and Development and Department of Rural Road Development in 2017, the important role of these departments in implementing the basic infrastructure for the development of the country, appreciation those who serve dutifully under the ministry to date, plans to stand as the outstanding ministry which constructs quality roads, bridges and buildings across the nation and serves for the development of engineering sector including researches, innovation and technology, efforts of ministry in providing technology and machines to develop the socio-economic status of public according to the objectives of the ministry.

Then, Deputy Minister Dr Kyaw Linn briefed the activities of ministry while the five departments under the ministry respectively presented their one-year performance in 2019-2020 via videos.

The Union Minister, Deputy Minister and other officials awarded the outstanding trainees, staff who serve dutifully for the ministry, students who passed the matriculation examination with distinctions in 2019-2020 academic year and presented certificates of honour to the retired senior officers.

Then, the Union Minister and party inspected the structural model of bridges, including Pathein Bridge (2).

MNA

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(Translated by Khine Thazin Han)

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THE COVAX National Coordinating Committee under the Ministry of Health and Sports held its first meeting via videoconferencing yesterday.

During the meeting, Union Minister Dr Myint Htwe discussed the systematic immunization plan for the target priority groups when the COVID-19 vaccine is available, formation of COVAX National Coordinating Committee (CNCC), COVAX National Technical Working Group (CTWG) and National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), efforts of Gavi-the Vaccine Alliance to access the vaccine at low price or free via COVAX Facility for 20 per cent of the country’s population, negotiations with Gavi-the Vaccine Alliance and WHO to receive vaccine Myanmar, the duties of public to follow the health rules, procurement of vaccine with the government’s budget, cash assistance of Gavi-the Vaccine Alliance and World Bank loan, plans to allow private hospitals and clinics for vaccination, cooperation works with Ministry of Home Affairs and Customs Department to prevent from receiving substandard vaccine, programmes to use only the vaccine recognized by WHO and FDA, plans to ban other vaccine without any guarantee for quality, advices of NITAG regarding Adverse event following immunization (AEFI), transport system, effectiveness, numbers of vaccination and immune response.

He also talked about the arrangement for ultra-cold storage as some of the vaccines are needed to be kept at minus 70 degrees C, the experience of ministry in immunization campaign especially in the expanded programme on immunization, first priority groups depending on the age and regions where have high infection rate, message to the Gavi-the Vaccine Alliance to send the vaccine no later than 7 December of this year and the importance of cooperation works for this process.

Then, the health officials including Deputy Minister Dr Mya Lay Sein, Permanent Secretary Prof Dr Thet Khaing Win and NITAG Chairman Dr Soe Lwin Nyein respectively briefed the plans and arrangement regarding the procurement of vaccine, ultra-cold storage system, digital system and target groups for vaccination and role of media for information.

The Union Minister concluded the meeting after saying the importance of information, communication and digitalization for all health plans, vaccine-related diploma courses and online capacity building classes.

MNA

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(Translated by Khine Thazin Han)

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THE 18th ASEAN-Japan Transport Ministers Meeting and the 11th ASEAN- Republic of Korea Transport Ministers Meeting were held through video conferencing yesterday morning.

Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung, the Permanent Secretary, senior officials and departmental officials of the Ministry along with the transport ministers from the respective countries, officials and the ASEAN Secretary-General participated in the meetings.

The 18th ATM+ Japan Meeting discussed the development of tourist cruises with good service to be implemented by 2021 as a priority of the 27 ASEAN-Japan Transport Cooperation projects; establishing the necessary business guidelines for the improvement of ASEAN regional waterways and safe navigation of regional vessels; development of necessary guidelines for enhancing the capacity of container handling ports and the safe operation of small vessels in the ASEAN region as a new initiative between ASEAN and Japan; The meeting also discussed and approved the New Action Plan on Environmental Improvement to reduce the environmental impact of the transport sector.

At the 11th ATM+ROK Meeting, they discussed the projects to be implemented from 2021 to 2025 according to the ASEAN-Korea Transport Cooperation Roadmap, the feasibility study for the upgrade of the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway and the Yangon-Pathein-Ngayotekaung Road according to the ASEAN-Korea cooperation to Myanmar, and the feasibility study for the construction of the War-Tayar Bridge.

MNA

PHOTO : MNA

(Translated by Ei Phyu Phyu Aung)

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MYANMAR Investment Commission (MIC) held its regular meeting (15/2020) via videoconferencing system, yesterday morning. Chairman of the MIC, Union Minister U Thaung Tun and members of the Commission participated in the meeting.

The meeting approved six new projects in the agriculture, livestock and fisheries, manufacturing and other services sector as well as additional investment in five existing projects. The approved projects amounted to USD (73.820) million, Kyats (673.200) million and (3,300) job opportunities are expected to be created.

By the end of October 2020, the countries with the largest investments in Myanmar are Singapore, People's Republic of China and Thailand. The power sector accounted for 26.14%. This was followed by the oil and gas sector, accounting for 26.05 % and the manufacturing sector, accounting for 14.56 % of the total permitted amount of foreign investment.

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THE Second Foreign Office Consultations between the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Republic of Korea was held on 25 November 2020 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw. The meeting was co-chaired by U Chan Aye, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar and Mr Kim Gunn, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.

At the meeting, they discussed matters on promotion of friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries, cooperation in the sectors of infrastructure, human resources development and socio-economic development of Myanmar, Korea’s support to Myanmar in the fight against COVID-19, situation in Rakhine State and peace process of Myanmar and cooperation in regional and multilateral arenas. They also deliberated on strengthening relations between ASEAN countries and the Republic of Korea in line with its New Southern Policy Plus and further cooperation related matters to dispatch Myanmar workers to ROK under EPS system.

Permanent Secretary U Chan Aye hosted the working dinner to the Korean delegation at the Park Royal Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw.

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A combined team arrested the fishermen who did illegal electrofishing to prevent the Ayeyawady dolphins from extinction, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Myanmar.

Under the one-year Ayeyawady dolphin conservation patrolling plan, the joint team conducted the patrolling from 1 to 15 November.

The patrolling was conducted near Nyaung Bin Thar village in Singu Township, Mandalay Region on 3 November, near Pauk Gone village on 10 November and near Sei Thae Taung village on 12 November. The team confiscated the illegal electrofishing equipment and the accessories as well as three motored fishing boats and handed them all over to the Singu Township Fisheries Department. Besides, the team has also confiscated the illegal electrofishing equipment and the accessories as well as one motored fishing boat near Nga Pak Chaung village in Wetlet Township on 13 November and handed them all over to the Shwebo District Fisheries Department.

The electrofishing equipment and the accessories, four motored fishing boats, and four batteries were seized on the first 15 days of the third month under annual Ayeyawady dolphin conservation patrolling plan.

The combined team comprised of the employees from the Fisheries Department, Environment and Endangered Aquatic Species Conservation Department, Madaya Township Fisheries Department, Singu Township Fisheries Department, Kanbalu Township Fisheries Department, No. 1 Mandalay Region’s Marine Administration Department and the local Ayeyawady Dolphin Conservation Team.

By Nyein Nyein

Translated by Hay Mar

PHOTO: WCS MYANMAR

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