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d)
US Sanctions imposed on Myanmar on 19-10-2007
targeted three prominentbusinessmen, namely, U Htay
Myint who is largely involved in Agricultural
sector, U Khin Shwe who is mainly involved in
Construction and FDI businesses and U Tay Za who has
contributed a lot in Travel and Tourism sector. In
Myanmar, there are four most important business
sectors on which the general public relies for their
livelihood: Agriculture, Construction, Travel and
Tourism and Foreign 'Direct Investment. It is
apparent that US Sanctions will mainly impact on the
working population: farmers, construction workers,
restaurants catering to tourists, souvenir shops,
hotel employees, taxi drivers, boatmen, fishermen,
pony-cart riders etc ... and their families.
Thousands of workers and managers employed in
Foreign Direct Investment companies will be
retrenched and their families will suffer, resulting
in many social problems.
e ) Although the sanctions will not have any
consequential effect on the government, it is a
certain thing that they will negatively affect the
Myanmar public, especially the working population,
f) "The sanctions left out those billion
dollar businesses pertaining to their interests and
the interests of their allies. I hereby condemn the
sanctions which were heedlessly imposed and only
hurt the people of Myanmar.
B. Air Bagan's Social Contributions
a) It is common knowledge that Air Bagan and
HGC are always providing necessary
aid and sponsorship in such areas as education,
social welfare, religion, health¬care, and basic
needs. We have awarded over a hundred overseas
scholarships so
far. Air Bagan alone has spent over USD 1.5 million
in overseas training for Myanmar pilots, engineers
and cabin crew. We have sent three Myanmar ladies to
Malaysia to undergo pilot training with the aim of
bringing out the first Myanmar female pilots. On the
religion side, to the delight of Myanmar people, we
were able to build and donate the first ordination
hall for the Buddhist monks in Patna, India,, the
place where Buddhism first .flourished. Time does
not. permit further elaboration and suffice it to
say that we have donated over USD six million over
the past decade. We have provided aid mainly in the
form of schools, hospitals, pagodas and temples,
sponsorships towards Myanmar Athletics Association,
Myanmar Football Association. Golf Tours and
overseas scholarships. Apart from these, HGC has
taken the initiative in environmental preservation,
acting as the main sponsor of Myanmar Development
Foundation, which is vigorously working on the
preservation and maintenance of natural
environment and natural resources.
b) In addition to the above, Air Bagan is
putting aside one dollar from each international air
ticket and K500/- from each domestic air ticket sold
as funds towards social contributions. As is usual
with Air Bagan anniversary celebrations, on this
occasion of our third anniversary we have donated
K25 million and USD 15,000 for North Okkalapa
General Hospital, Pediatrics Hospital, Orphanage,
Home for the Aged, School for the Aurally-Impaired
and MDF. Plans are under way for the development of
two charity hospitals, one for Tuberculosis and the
other for HIV.' AIDS patients. To sink artesian
wells for the needy communities in the arid regions,
of central Myanmar, we have ordered two
truck-mounted drilling rigs from overseas.
3, Air
Bagan's Future Plans
Currently we are confronted with many problems in
the realization of our future objectives. However,
on this special occasion oi Aii Bagan's third
anniversary, I, together with the management of Air
Bagan, hereby give our pledge that despite the
situation which has pushed us a step back, for the
sake of over 14,000 employees of HGC and Air Bagan
who are depending on us, we shall tackle the
sanctions by fair and rightful means, carry on with
our second 5 year plans and forge ahead in the
private sector for the economic development of
Myanmar together with the state
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