Celebration: Independence Day of Myanmar

Myanmar celebrates today its Independence Day, which commemorates the country's freedom in 1948 from British rule. Celebrations usually include a seven-day fair at Kandawgyi Lake in Yangon.

Myanmar is endowed with rich natural resources. It has approximately 250 commercially useful kinds of trees. Mineral deposits include lead, zinc, tin, tungsten, coal, iron ore, natural gas, and petroleum, as well as deposits of precious stones such as rubies and lapis lazuli. The government is opening up its economy, and has intensified its economic cooperation with its ASEAN neighbors, as well as with China and Japan.

Several agreements have been signed by the Philippines and Myanmar. They included a Memorandum of Understanding on a package of Assistance for Human Resource Development for Myanmar, a Memorandum of Understanding on Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports, an Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments, and an Agreement on Cultural Cooperation.

On December 5, 2013, President Thein Sein of Myanmar visited the Philippines and met with Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III. They witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement on Visa Exemption, which grants holders of Philippine passport visa-free entry to Myanmar for tourism and business purposes. During President Sein's visit, several agreements on food security, agriculture, renewable energy, and information cooperation were also signed.

With Myanmar's economic development, some Philippine companies, such as Manila Water, ComWorks, and Universal Robina Corporation, have invested in Myanmar while others such as United Pharma, Liwayway Corporation, Asia Brewery, and Splash Corporation have established their brands in Myanmar.

We congratulate the people and government of Myanmar led by President Thein Sein, on the occasion of its Independence Day.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/celebration-independence-day-of-myanmar/