Industry-Ready Engineering Skills and Tools for youths of Lower Mekong

= Poe Aung =

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has entered into a partnership with U.S.-based corporation, the National Instruments (NI), to provide hands-on training to aspiring young scientists and engineers in the five member states including Myanmar of the Lower Mekong sub-region and to empower them with technical skills to help enhance the region’s workforce both in quality and quantity.

Over the next five years, USAID and NI will work together to create learning centers at universities and vocational colleges to enable students and professionals of the sub-region get access to NI’s embedded and measurement devices, including software, hardware, training and technical support.

They can also acquire practical science and technology skills and use them to build solutions and, potentially, new companies.

This partnership involves developing curricula, training instructors and supplying lab equipment to these schools, start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Contributing $4.5 million inkind to the partnership, NI commits to provide access to its software and hardware technology platforms, product training materials, virtual and in-country support for multiple regional projects, including the USAID Connecting the Mekong Through Education and Training (USAID COMET) project and the USAID ASEAN Connectivity Through Trade and Investment (USAID ACTI) project.

NI and USAID previously collaborated through the USAID’s Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) science program to support scientists in developing countries. Since announcing the partnership in 2013, both organizations have worked together to bring scientific equipment, training and support to several research projects, which have also translated into knowledge transfer, patents and establishing new start-ups. “Access to technical skills and flexible tools combined with the ideas of the young population in this region will enable them to leverage this talent and generate the local solutions needed to ensure the sustainable development of their countries.

This partnership has been made possible through the Planet NI, a program with a mission of empowering engineers and scientists in emerging countries to achieve sustainable prosperity by providing increased access to NI technology,” said Victor Mieres,NI vice president of sales and marketing, emerging markets.

Two U.S. government projects – USAID COMET and USAID ACTI – will coordinate this partnership. Launched as one of the programs affiliated with the Young Southeast Asia Leadership Initiative (YSEALI) by President Obama in Myanmar in November 2014, USAID COMET plans to help 100 universities and vocational centers increase the number of skilled workers in ASEAN-targeted fields.

Under USAID ACTI, this partnership will focus on providing information and skills development training to SMEs. Emphasis will be on greater economic inclusion of women and young  entrepreneurs to advance regional economic growth in the Mekong sub-region.

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A new income generator

A new income generator

= Poe Aung =

Singapore-based Zochwell Group is close to signing a contract to develop a US$ 1.2 bn casino project in Myanmar’s Myeik Archipelago, reports local newspaper Myanmar Times.

Attempts to legalize casino gambling in Myanmar, which industry experts say is one of the south-east Asia’s major untapped gaming markets, have been delayed repeatedly amid opposition from lawmakers worried about addiction and organized crime.

Strategically located on the border of China, Thailand and India, the largest country in the south-east Asia has been reportedly interested in modifying the current gambling legislation and help the state budget by allowing the establishment of foreigner-only brick-and-mortar casinos.

The land on Salon Island has already been zoned for commercial use, Zochwell’s chief commercial officer Gareth Chin told the Myanmar Times. The firm would have a 50- year lease over the land, with an option to extend the contract twice– each time for a period of 10 years, he added.

“We are going to sign the land lease and the build, operate, transfer terms with the chief minister [of Tanintharyi region] in the next month, as soon as the Attorney General’s Office approves the agreement. After that, we will seek Myanmar Investment Commission approval,” Mr Chin was quoted as saying.

The Myeik Archipelago is a group of more than 800 islands in the Andaman Sea, off the southern tip of Myanmar, in the Tanintharyi Region. Almost untouched by tourism, had five hotels and motels with a total of 196 rooms by the end of 2014, according to data from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

Although opening casinos for foreigners may benefit certain hotels, others question whether it will benefit the tourism industry as a whole.

Aung Kyaw San, an experienced English-German tour guide, said casinos would likely to benefit only the hotels, as well as casino owners and their direct workers, while at the same time increasing criminal cases due to the influence of gambling.

“They (government) shouldn’t allow it. There will be many disadvantages and only a few benefits after opening casinos,” he added.

By allowing the opening of legal and regulated casinos, some of tourism experts believe that this would help Myanmar to attract a new kind of gambling-oriented tourism and the number of tourist could be significantly increased. They also hope that by regulating live gambling.

Also, by regulating live gambling, authorities hope to stop the phenomenon of illegal gambling that has led to the creation of illegal gambling halls in different parts of the country.

Recently, two more major casino resorts in south-east Asia are being proposed, one in the Philippines and another in Myanmar. In the Philippines, combined American and Macau investor groups plan a $650m casino in Lapu-Lapu city on Cebu. The 1,350-room resort would open in 2017 in what will be Mactan Leisure City.

There are pros and cons in every sector, business or activity. But if the benefits will be much higher than the risk we should favor introducing this business as a new thrust towards generating higher income for the people as well as the country.

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Myeik archipelago

Myeik archipelago

As Myeik archipelago in Taninthayi Region has a large area of coral reefs, extension of aqua tourism and promotion of ecosystem maintenance should go hand in hand there, noted Hotels and Tourism Department.

“Beginning 1 April this year, we started conducting coral reef restoration and conservation at the archipelago formed with over 800 islands”, said one of the companies applied for doing hotel and tourism business in the area.

The archipelago is accommodating over 518 species of coral reefs some of which are very rare that they be found only in this area. At the time when some of the countries are facing depletion of coral reefs, most of the Myeik archipelago is still untouched. As coral reefs in Thailand are deteriorating, more and more divers are flocking to Myeik archipelago. “But we too need long-term conservation projects as there are some destruction caused by human activities; especially blast fishing in the area is damaging the age-old coral reefs”, pointed out some of the Kawthoung-based

tour operators. “As we have already began the conservation projects this year, we can have a favorable ecosystem where coral reefs are flourishing in the long run”, predicted the experts, adding, “Coral regeneration normally takes longer than other species.” “Tourists enjoy visiting Myeik archipelago very much because of its large variety of coral species and the flourishing of deep water coral reefs even in its shallow waters, explained the locals.

Although, the archipelago has over 800 islands, only 22 are allowed for foreign visitors. And 16 islands are included in the restricted areas. Islands where foreign guests can visit are Sular Nge, Sular Gyi, Langan- kyun, Makyon-galet, Myauktaw- win, Lanpi, Kyun-zilar, Nyaungwee, Taung-taw-win, 115, Myauk-ni, Hlaing-gu, Nanat-thee, Shwe-kyunnge, Thuye-gaung-kyun, Sagain (Big Ox), Minhla, Tha-htay-kyun, Auk-ni, Myin-kwa-kyun, Salet-galet, and Betel Nut.

The biggest island in the archipelago is Bayin-kyun (King Island) whose surface area is over 44,000 hectares. Most of the islands and islets in the area are rock formations that come out of water.

Some of the islands are formed with hundreds of meters of limestone. As these land masses in the coastal sea can become a main tourist place of Myanmar, long-term conservation projects are being adopted and implemented in Taninthayi Region.

According to the survey of National Geographic Traveler, Myeik archipelago stands at the 11th place in the Best Trips 2015. It is also an emerging tourist destination whose popularity is ever growing worldwide. Currently, work is underway to restore and conserve the coral reefs that are included in the main attractions of Myeik archipelago. Authorities are lending a helping hand in ending blast fishing the major factor destroying the invaluable coral reefs of the area.

The workshops in Kawthoung largely focused on protection and conservation of coral reefs, reformation of garbage management system on the islands, and development of responsible tourism in the area for the benefit of both the leisure industry and the locals. As tourists who normally would be staying in Pukhet are coming to Myeik archipelago en masse for greater adventures, we with the aim of turning this area into a regular haven for foreigner vacations should create an environ that is clean, picturesque, unsoiled and also wonderful. (447)

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" Myeik Archipelago waiting for adventurers and explorers "

" Myeik Archipelago waiting for adventurers and explorers "

= Kan Htoo =

Myeik Archipelago, the newest tourist spot in Myanmar, lies in southernmost part of the country and is in Tanintharyi Region. The archipelago covers approximately 36000 sq km (14000 sq miles)  and consists approximately 800 islands, which vary in size from very small to hundreds of square kilometers.

Of more than 800 islands, 22 are permitted for visit of foreigners and 16 are prohibited.

Some estimates say that there can be as many as 1000 islands in the area. The biggest one is King Island which covers an area of 440000 hectares.

Some islands are of lime and stretches as long as hundreds of meters. Ediblenest swiftlets, whose nests are used to make bird’s nest soup, make those islands their home.

An island in the archipelago produces quality marble stones.

Salons are the only human inhabitants living in the area. They are widely known for their ability to stay underwater for long time and are therefore called sea gypsies. They still practice the same fishing and boat building techniques used for generation.

In February 2014, Salon Festival was held in Lambi Island, one of the largest islands in archipelago. In a Salon Island near Kawthoung is a dolphin breeding station where dolphins are being trained to attract foreign tourists.

Unspoiled areas and uninhabited beaches of the archipelago are waiting for adventurers to explore while the Salon people way of life is a fascinating book to read and witness.

Myanmar receives benefits from its geographical position, standing as a transit trade center on the map of globetrotters. 

The archipelago was opened up for foreign tourism in 1997 and marine tourism has developed since then.

Ministry of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, INGOs, locals and tour operators for sustainable development of the archipelago which has potential to become next tourism hot-spot in Myanmar.

At a recent workshop held in Kawthoung focused on conservation of coral reefs, improving garbage collection at islands, and ensuring benefits from tourism for locals.

At present, Myeik Archipelago receives travelers who drop in there after visiting Phuket Island, a famous island resort in Thailand adjacent to Myanmar waters.

A total of 3 million globetrotters visited Myanmar in 2014 and up to 5 million visitors are expected to come and visit Myanmar in 2015. Standing in splendid isolation, Myeik Archipelago is open for exploration as the new tourism spot in Myanmar waters.

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Myanmar houses larges number of bird species in South East Asia

Myanmar has 1,114 recorded bird species—the amount which is 36.4% of 2,900 bird species in South East Asia and 11% of 9,600 bird species worldwide, making the country topping the list of bird owners in South East Asia.

Possessing vast areas of forests and rich flora and fauna, Myanmar has been focusing on biodiversity conservation, taking such actions as establishing forest reserves, sanctuaries, national parks, enacting forest law and bylaws, wildlife and natural habitat law and bylaws. To ensure effective biodiversity conservation, bodies concerned also take such measures on a regular basis as patrolling around the sanctuaries, compiling the list of wildlife and flora and fauna and making researches.

Before 2009, there were only 2088 bird species in Myanmar. Then, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Myanmar, Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA), Flora and Fauna International (FFI), Myanmar Bird and Environmental Conservation Association, and birdwatchers found 26 more new species between 2009 and 2014.

Seven of those 26 species are never-recorded-before species not only in Myanmar but in South East Asia and 19 others were found for the first time in Myanmar.

Forest Department under Environmental Conservation and Forestry Ministry in collaboration with WCS and National University of Singapore made fi eld trips to Kanpetlet, Mindat and Matupi in Chin State to conduct research on local bird species.

The research team identified 251 species of birds during the research tour and could take the blood sample of 59 species. The team found most species belonging to Parakeet, Barbet and Hill Myna between Bagan and Kanpetlet and found horn bill species in forests between Saw and Kanpetlet. The team even discovered eight of Darkrumped Swift Apusacuticauda, one of only two rare species of swallow at Bongtala Waterfall in Matupi.

The team also discovered birds of rare species which are believed to be on the verge of extinction apart from collar doves and black falcons which only inhabit in tropical zone and a falcon species which make the hilly region their homes.

The team will examine the blood sample through DNA test if the bird species habiting in different in ecological environments in Rakhine and Chin State have genetic links. (447)

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