News
Government is planning to loosen tie on fuel import procedureIt means that the permission for fuel import would be allowed to organizations and private businesses to apply to the Trade Council. But other organizations must seek an approval from the Trade Council. If approval is granted, the organization has to reveal the amount of fuel and why it is needed in the application. The private sectors that would be given permission are the mining, gems, forestry, fishery and livestock sectors. [Source: Myanmar times]
Legal experts are expecting Trademark act
Legal experts last week said Acts must be put in action to protect trademarks if the country is going to attract the foreign investment. it is also an important task to educate the people about the trademark act. Enacting a trademark act will bring benefits for both businesses and the state. If companies want to register their property, they have to report and work with the Yangon Registration Office of the settlements and Land Records Department. [Source:Myanmar times]
The Rich Gems Jewellery Show
Recent Myanmar Gems News from Pala Gems International
This month, the sheer immensity of devastation in southern Burma and Sichuan, China—on the heels of the flooding in Merelani, Tanzania—gives us pause.
Please give generously to the Burma relief organization we highlight belo
See the follow-up report on the tanzanite miners
See a list of China charities—here and here—or consider Nobel Peace Prize recipients Doctors Without Borders And see this Mindat.org list for an idea of the mineral richness of Sichuan, which is known for its plenitude in so many ways, and now finds itself so much in need
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The following news items pertaining to Burma were published since our last Gem News.
• Burma to Grant More Jade Mining Blocks to Local Businesses: Burma will grant 319 mining blocks to local entrepreneurs, People’s Daily Online reported May 4. Each block measures one acre and will be leased for three years. • Te Za Begins Mining in Phakant: Burma tycoon Te Za has begun jade mining operations in Phakant, in the Kachin State of northern Burma, Burma News International preported May 1. The area was confiscated with the help of the Phakant-based military junta, displacing “over 30 households in each mine area.” The households received compensation. • Burma Forms First Gem Merchants Association: Burma’s largest business organization and the Ministry of Mines are facilitating formation of the country’s first rough-gem merchants association, the Myanmar Gem Merchants’ Association, Rapaport reported April 15...more
Burma Developments of Interest
• Bush to Hold First Summit with ASEAN Leaders in Singapore, from Agence France-Presse, May 4 • ASEAN Aims to Ink Free Trade Pact with Japan, from AP, May 3 • Burma–Thai Bilateral Trade Up Over 50% in 2006–07, fromXinhua, April 30
● Pearl auction underway in Myanmar A three-day pearl auction, sponsored by the state-run Myanmar Pearl Enterprise (MPE), is underway, attracting dozens of foreign pearl traders. A total of 515 pearl lots and 94,…. http://english.people.com.cn/200702/23/eng20070223_352056.html (2007.02.23)
● Myanmar to hold pearl auction in February Myanmar will hold a pearl auction in February with the aim of boosting foreign exchange earning, a local weekly reported Friday. During the three-day Myanmarhttp://english.people.com.cn/200701/19/eng20070119_342827.html (2007.01.19)
● Myanmar to hold gems show in March Myanmar will hold an annual gems show From March 8 to 20 to draw foreign merchants in a bid to earn more foreign exchange, according to an announcement of…. http://english.people.com.cn/200701/06/eng20070106_338740.html (2007.01.06)
● Myanmar to hold gems exhibition in March Myanmar will hold a gems exhibition in March next year targeting mainly at merchants abroad, state-run media reported on Saturday. Domestically produced …. http://english.people.com.cn/200612/30/eng20061230_337172.html (2006.12.30)
● Myanmar leader meets Sri Lankan PM Vice-Chairman of the Myanmar State Peace and Development Council Vice-Senior General Maung Aye met Wednesday with visiting Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka in …. http://english.people.com.cn/200612/21/eng20061221_334541.html (2006.12.21)
● Sri Lankan PM to visit Myanmar Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka will pay a working visit to Myanmar in the near future, an official announcement said here Friday without giving the date of t…. http://english.people.com.cn/200612/15/eng20061215_332859.html (2006.12.15)
● Myanmar to further develop finished gem industry Myanmar leader Lieutenant-General Thein Sein has stressed the need to develop finished gem industry to pave way for exporting value-added products. Thein Sein, first secretary …. http://english.people.com.cn/200612/05/eng20061205_328604.html (2006.12.05)
● Myanmar to grant new gem mining blocks for local investors in 2007 Myanmar will grant 215 more new gem mining blocks for local investors in 2007 to promote gems and jade production, said a report of Sunday’s http://english.people.com.cn/200611/27/eng20061127_325342.html (2006.11.27)
● Myanmar agrees to establish direct trade links with Sri Lanka Myanmar has agreed with Sri Lanka to establish direct air and sea links to effectively boost their bilateral trade ties, the local weekly Myanmar Times re…. http://english.people.com.cn/200611/06/eng20061106_318785.html (2006.11.06)
● Mid-year gems emporium begins in Myanmar A mid-year Myanmar gems emporium kicked off in Yangon Thursday, putting the country’s quality gems, jade, pearl and jewelry worth over 75 million U.S. dol…. http://english.people.com.cn/200610/19/eng20061019_313505.html (2006.10.19)
● Myanmar to hold mid-year gems emporium later this month Myanmar will hold a mid-year gems emporium later this month to encourage national gem traders to sell more quality gems, jade, pear…. http://english.people.com.cn/200610/03/eng20061003_308522.html (2006.10.03)
• Unrivalled, jade remains a yardstick for gem industry By May Thandar Win
MYANMAR jade, unrivalled in quality around the world, fills its country with pride. The English word ‘jade’ is derived from ijada, Spanish for ‘the stone that cures kidney diseases’. The Chinese word for jade is yu, a general term for any stone that humans utilise for their own purposes.
News by Myanmar Times
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• Myanmar Gems special Exhibition in July Yangon : 23.April.2007 : Myanmar Gems Special Exhibition and Auction will be held in July, 2007. This annual event has been held since 1964 and mid-year Myanmar Gem exhibition was held since 1992. Selling of raw jade, ruby and other precious stones fetched Myanmar over 600 million dollars yearly.
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• Pearl auction underway in Myanmar
A three-day pearl auction, sponsored by the state-run Myanmar Pearl Enterprise (MPE), is underway, attracting dozens of foreign pearl traders.
A total of 515 pearl lots and 94,319 pearls weighing 56,188.55 mommis are being sold through tender system at the Myanmar Pearl Auction-2007 which began on Thursday, said sources with the MPE under the Ministry of Mines.
Source: Xinhua
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• Myanmar Gems Emporium “Biggest Ever”
On March 20, the 44th Myanma Gems Emporium wrapped up. As reported by the official New Light of Myanmar (NLM) website, a total of 3,652 lots of jade, gems, and pearls were sold, both through bidding and tender. NLM kept a running total of lots sold throughout the sale, March 8–20.
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• Pearl Sale and Pearl Production Stats
Xinhua General News Service reported on a three-day pearl sale in Yangon, Burma. The article contains some updates on pearl production statistics:
• Production: 200,000 mommes produced in 2006 (up 30% from 2006)
• Production Area: 25,600 square km.
• Pearl Producers Nationwide: 6
• Investment of Burma–Japan Partnership: $8.47 million
• Year Production Began: 1956
• Myanma Gems Emporium selling quality jade, gem, pearl lots
YANGON, 30 March — The 42nd Myanma Gems Emporium will sell a large number of quality jade, gem and pearl lots through tender and auction systems, said Deputy Minister for Mines U Myint Thein today.
Deputy Minister U Myint Thein, Chairman of Myanma Gems Emporium Central Committee, was speaking to local and foreign journalist led by Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen Aung Thein, member of Information Committee of the State Peace and Development Council, at the auction hall of Myanma Gems Mart in Yangon.
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• The 43rd Myanma Gems Emporium
Quality golden pearls produced from Myanmar to be displayed at the emporium.
YANGON, 15 March — Gems and jade products, ornaments, jade figurines, private shops, and mosaics to be sold at fixed price on the ground floor, imperial jade, commercial jade, utility jade, and uncut jade stones at the environs of the hall, and gems lots and pearl lots to be sold through competitive bidding system, as per the press release from the organizers. According to the Deputy Minister Myint Thein, the quality jade, gems and pearl lots will be sold through tender and auction systems at the 43rd Myanma Gems Emporium this year. . .
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• Myanmar Gems and Jade Auction (2006)
21st Myanmar Gems and Jade Auction will be held from 28th August to September 1st at Myanmar Convention Center. Inspections will start from 28th to 30th August and Bargain and Auction will commence on 31st August to 1st September.
Buyers can register from 26th August and private sector sellers can send their gems, jewelry, raw and finished jade from 1st August 2006.