Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,
MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2^nd Storey, Singapore 179369
Tel: 837-9666

25 May 2001

The 4^th Singapore � Myanmar Joint Ministerial Working Committee was held on 25 May 2001 in Singapore. It was preceded by the 4^th Senior Officials Working Group Meeting on 23^rd May. The meeting was co-chaired by Minister George Yeo and BG David Abel, Minister, Office of the Chairman of State Peace and Development Council, Union of Myanmar.

The meeting was updated on the status of bilateral co-operation projects arising from the 3^rd JMWC meetings. These focussed primarily on training programs covering a wide range of topics, including tourism, agri-business and commerce related issues.

The 4^th JMWC endorsed 22 new initiatives. These new initiatives focussed on human resource development and capacity building for sustained economic growth in Myanmar. A list of these initiatives is at Annex A. Funding these initiatives would be through the Myanmar Technical Assistance Fund.

Singapore and Myanmar have also agreed to begin negotiations for a bilateral investment guarantee agreement. Singapore is currently the largest foreign investor in Myanmar with cumulative investments at US$1.54 billion as at March 2001. The agreement would encourage greater investor interest not only from Singaporean businesses but also, foreign companies based in Singapore wishing to invest in Myanmar.

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Issued by Ministry of Trade & Industry

For press inquiry, please contacts:

Ms Sophia Leong, Senior Trade Officer

Corporate Communications Division, Trade Development Board

DID: 433 4942 Fax: 337 8136

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