Myanmar Transparency News - English Edition

100,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine, syringes donated by Thailand for children arrive in Yangon

22 October 2022

A total of 100,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine and syringes for children arrived at the Yangon International airport by air yesterday morning. These vaccines and syringes were donated by Thailand via the Myanmar Red Cross Society for Myanmar’s control and treatment measures for Covid-19 disease.

Officials from the Yangon Region Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health, officials from MRCS and representatives from the Thai embassy to Myanmar accepted the vaccines.

Thanks to cooperation between MoH and relevant departments, 94.35 per cent of basic education students and 7.89 per cent of out-of-school children were fully vaccinated. A plan is underway to vaccinate Pfizer vaccines to unvaccinated basic education children aged between five to 11 and out-of-school children.

Over 170 lots of pearl sold out on third day of 2022 Mid-Year Gems Emporium

THE third day of the 2022 MidYear Gems Emporium continued at the Maniradana Jade Hall in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

Pearl lots, jade lots, gem lots and uncut jade lots are displayed at designated areas inside and outside the hall and the emporium is packed with local and foreign gem dealers since morning.

Local and foreign gem merchants viewed pearl lots (from No 201 to No 400) prepared for sale at the emporium, and put bids in tender boxes.

Officials announced the bids at 1 pm and 5 pm separately and proclaimed that a total of 173 pearl lots were sold in addition to five remaining pearl lots.
Gem lots (from No 1 to No 120) will be exhibited on the fourth day of the emporium for sale through an open tender system.

The 2022 Mid-Year Gems Emporium is being held at the Maniradana Jade Hall between 19 and 25 October and a total of 362 out of 400 pearl lots were sold. One hundred and twenty gem lots and 2,150 jade lots will be sold through an open tender system.

It is reported that gem traders can make a payment in USD, Euro, Yuan, Baht and Kyat currencies.

MR will operate Nay Pyi Taw-Yangon-Mandalay special trains during public holidays
21 October 2022
The Myanma Railways (MR) will operate special trains on Nay Pyi Taw-Yangon-Mandalay route today for the convenience of passengers during the public holidays, according to the MR.
MR is regularly operating one express train, one local train, two airbag trains per week on Yangon-Mandalay route; two trains a day on Yangon-Pyay route; one train daily on Yangon-Mawlamyine route.
The special train on Nay Pyi Taw-Yangon route will start running at 6.30 pm on 21 October and the special train on Yangon-Mandalay route on 24 October.
As October 21 is Friday as well as October 24 (Monday) is Diwali day, MR provides train service during three consecutive days of holidays. Moreover, MR will arrange to run the special trains during Tazaungdaing holidays.
“The MR will provide special trains for the civil servants in Nay Pyi Taw who are going to return Yangon, and we arrange to operate the trains for those who want to return Yangon during three consecutive days of holidays,” an official of MR said.
The upper class ticket price for Nay Pyi Taw-Yangon is Ks-9300, the ordinary class, Ks-4700; and the upper class ticket price for Yangon-Mandalay is Ks-15450, the ordinary class, Ks-7750.

SAC Chairman accepts Credentials of Belarusian Ambassador and Nepalese Ambassador
21 October 2022
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing accepted the Credentials from newly-accredited Belarusian Ambassador to Myanmar and newly-accredited Nepalese Ambassador to Myanmar on 20 October.
Firstly, Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing accepted the Credential from newly- accredited Belarusian Ambassador to Myanmar H.E. Mr. Uladzimir Baravikou at the Credential Hall of the Office of the SAC Chairman in Nay Pyi Taw at 10 am.
Afterwards, both side discussions focused on enhancement of diplomatic relations between the two countries, exchange of goodwill visits, trade promotion measures, cooperation in science and technology, and further cooperation in defence sector.
Then, Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing accepted the Credential from newly- accredited Nepalese Ambassador to Myanmar H.E. Mr. Harishchandra Ghimire at 10.45 am.
They frankly discussed matters related to diplomatic relations and friendship, promotion of commerce and trade and tourism between the two countries.

Illegal timbers, edible oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, industrial materials, computer accessories, auto parts and vehicles confiscated
UNDER the supervision of the Anti-Illegal Trade Steering Committee, effective action is being taken to curb illegal trade under the law.
21 October 2022
A combined team led by the Kawthoung Township Customs Department and the Anti-Illegal Trade Task Force under the supervision of the Taninthayi Region Anti-Illegal Trade Task Force made unexpected inspections on 18 October.

Officials captured K24,532,000 worth of foodstuffs including 182 cartons of edible oil (made in Thailand) and 12 motorbikes worth K32,720,000 without official documents from a vehicle (estimated value of K50 million) at the bus station compound of Kawthoung township. The action was taken under the Customs Procedures.

Afterwards, a combined team led by Myanmar Police Force nabbed an unregistered Toyota Crown(approximately K3 million) near the Yadanabon Bridge in Sagaing township. The action was taken under the Export and Import Law.

In addition, a total of 2.1028 tonnes of illegal timbers worth K1,387,848 at the 3/2 Milepost on the Katha-Indaw Road was seized and the action was taken under the Forest Law.


On 18 October, an inspection team led by the Bago Township Customs Department seized K20,987,600 worth of sports accessories, cables, dolls, and car parts without official documents from an Isuzu car (estimated value of K50 million) heading from Myawady to Yangon. The action was taken under the Customs Procedures.

Similarly, a combined team captured a total of 11.9738 tonnes of illegal teak in the Kabaung forest reserve of Toungoo district on 20 October and the action was taken under the Forest Law. On 19 October, the Asia World Terminal Container Checkpoint confiscated K79,697,500 worth of waving machine, edge film tape and computer accessories that did not match the Import Declaration (ID) from three containers. The action was taken under the Customs Procedures.

A total of 3.0880 tonnes of illegal teak worth K881,580 was seized in Lewe township of Nay Pyi Taw and the action was taken under the Forest Law.

Therefore, 21 arrests estimated at K268,215,136 were made on three consecutive days from 18 to 20 October, according to the Anti-Illegal Trade Steering Committee.

SAC Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing accepts Credentials of Belarusian Ambassador to Myanmar
21 October 2022
CHAIRMAN of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing accepted the Credentials from newly accredited Belarusian Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Uladzimir Baravikou at the Credentials Hall of the Office of the SAC Chairman in Nay Pyi Taw at 10 am yes¬terday.

Both sides focused on the enhancement of diplomatic relations between the two countries, exchange of goodwill visits, trade promotion measures, cooperation in science and technology, and further cooperation in the defence sector.
After the ceremony, the Senior General and the newly accredited Belarusian Ambassador to Myanmar posed for documentary photos.

The ceremony was also attended by Joint Secretary of the Council Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Wunna Maung Lwin and Director-General of the Protocol Department U Wunna Han.

MoIP Union Minister receives Chinese Ambassador
21 October 2022
UNION Minister for Immigration and Population U Myint Kyaing received Chinese Ambassador Mr Chen Hai and party at the Ministry of Immigration and Population in Nay Pyi Taw at 2 pm yesterday.

At the meeting, they cordially exchanged views on the cooperation in economic development between the two countries, the arranging and handling of matters related to the visa and residence permit of Chinese nationals entering Myanmar for various reasons in accordance with the rules and regulations, China’s provision of COVID-19 vaccines and medical goods.

In addition, they cordially discussed matters in connexion with China’s assistance in repatriating the people who left for Bangladesh, helping the Myanmar Chinese Chamber of Commerce and people of Chinese origin under the law and cooperation in immigration activities, including border areas.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister U Htay Hlaing and officials.

Chinese Language Training Course and Capacity Building Workshop, coordination meeting on promoting cooperation of Tourism Industry between Myanmar-Russia were held
19 October 2022
Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism Dr Htay Aung attended the Chinese Language Training Course and Capacity Building Workshop jointly held by ASEAN-China Centre based in Beijing, People's Republic of China and Ministry of Hotels and Tourism this morning; and the coordination meeting on promoting cooperation of Tourism Industry between Myanmar-Russia in the afternoon.
At the workshop, the Union Minister said that the ministry has conducted cooperative issues on the development of tourism industry with ASEAN-China Centre since 2011, and he expected that Myanmar attracts more Chinese visitors starting from the open season.
The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism with the help of China has implemented the tourism industry research project and bakery training courses project for the development of human resources according to the Mekong-Lancang cooperation framework, he added.
Then, Secretary General of ASEAN-China Centre H.E.Mr. Shi Zhongjun addressed the workshop, and trainees asked for what they wanted to know after subject-wise professionals from China lectured them.

In addition, the Union Minister also attended the coordination meeting on promoting cooperation of Tourism Industry between Myanmar-Russia in the afternoon.
In addition, the Union Minister also attended the coordination meeting on promoting cooperation of Tourism Industry between Myanmar-Russia in the afternoon. Also present at the meeting were officials from Russia and Myanmar.
The Union Minister said that Myanmar government allowed one-year visa exemption for Russian travellers since July, 2022 with the aim of seeking to visit more Russian citizens to Myanmar; and his wish to carry out more cooperation in the tourism sector for the improvement of socio-economic benefits between Russia and Myanmar.
Afterward, Vice Chairman of Saint Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development Ms. Nana Margushevna Gvichia reported on bilateral cooperation issues for tourism industry after showing video which presents the tour regions of Saint Pertersburg. After that, Chairman of Myanmar Tourism Federation U Yan Win explained on the tourism programs of private sector.

Union Minister for Home Affairs inspects Insein prison, gives cash assistance to injured people
19 October 2022
Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt.Gen Soe Htut inspected the Insein prison, at which bombs exploded on the morning of 19 October, and gave cash assistance to the injured people.
Terrorists exploded parcel bombs inside and outside of the parcel reception office near the main iron gate of Insein prison in Yangon on the morning of 19 October, killing three prison staff and five visitors, totaling eight people. Eighteen other people, including five prison staff and 13 civilians, were injured.
The Union Minister met and comforted the injured prison staff and the bereaved families, and gave cash assistance to them.
Moreover, the Union Minister encouraged and gave material assistance to the injured prison staff and civilians who are receiving treatments at Insein People’s Hospital.

Electricity temporarily Cut off in Several townships

Due to the System Error, There were electricity temporarily Cut off in some townships in Yangon City , YESC announced.

Therefore, YESC ( Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation) issued the statement that they are trying to restore the electricity as soon as possible.

MT News
Ref#YESC