Shan drums thrive in Myanmar’s musical instrument market
saceditor
News Image
SHAN long and short drums are selling well in the market, according to the Myanmar musical instrument sources. Shan drums are among the most popular instruments as this season is full of festivals. “The best-selling instruments at this time are Shan long and short drums. Shan drums are ordered by Shan drum groups. Some villages buy them for fun and entertainment. Their sales are always active. It is the festival season, so they sell more for playing at festivals,” said an official at the Myo Chit Bamar Musical Instrument Shop in Mandalay. Other Myanmar musical instruments that used to rule the fields in the past include bronze gong, iron gong, bronze bell, big drum, alms bowl, various lacquerware and Byaw drum, while Shan long and short drums among them are currently the most popular. — Thit Taw/ZN
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing expressed his confidence that the successful economic discussions held together with Belarus would lead to greater future collaboration and an enhanced partnership between the two countries.Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing delivered a speech at the opening of the Myanmar-Belarus Business Forum at the Hotel President in Minsk on the evening of 6 March.In his speech, the Senior General said that Myanmar established diplomatic relations with partner countries and has overcome various challenges together through cooperation.Similarly, Myanmar initiated diplomatic relations with Belarus in 1999 and has successfully built strong mutual trust and understanding.At present, he continued, mutual trust will be further strengthened through the implementation of people-to-people relations, business-to-business relations, intergovernmental departmental relations, and government-to-government relations between the two countries.The Senior General expressed his confidence that the successful economic discussions held together would lead to greater future collaboration and an enhanced partnership between the two countries. He underlined that economic cooperation, trade, and investment-related connections lead to the starting point for stepping toward a shared future.He recounted that more than a decade ago, a draft agreement was sent from Belarus regarding commitments for investment cooperation, to which Myanmar responded with interest. At this moment, Myanmar has been making efforts to revive its commitment to investment cooperation in alignment with the renewed interest of Belarus.Currently, he underscored that although a joint commission has not yet been established between the two countries to define and outline areas of cooperation, discussions between the two nations have reached a certain level of progress in the time of the State Administration Council. Efforts are being made to strengthen friendly relations between the two governments, enhance bilateral cooperation and diplomatic relations, and promote progress in trade and investment sectors.He noted that it is gratifying to learn that discussions have begun on enhancing cooperation between Myanmar and Belarus in the fields of education, agriculture, livestock, pharmaceuticals, industry, and tourism, as well as on sending students to Belarus to study science and modern technologies. The Senior General expressed his thanks to Belarus for Belarus’s consideration and support for Myanmar.The Senior General highlighted that Myanmar will have the opportunity to closely observe and learn from Belarus’s efforts and experiences in private sector development for its path to progress through such ceremonies.He underscored that Myanmar is keen to study ways to develop the manufacturing sector, create more job opportunities and income for the people, reduce poverty, and enhance food security. By sharing your valuable experiences, both countries can also strengthen trade and investment cooperation.He emphasized that the bilateral trade has been progressing to a certain extent. In particular, Belarus is recognized as a leading country in the production of fertilizers, which are essential for an agricultural nation.Being an agriculture-based country, he spotted that Myanmar aims to primarily enhance the importation of fertilizers. The Senior General invited business partners from Belarus to invest in Myanmar’s fertilizer production sector, which is one of its prioritized investment areas.He unveiled that Myanmar, due to its favourable natural conditions for land and water, has elevated agriculture and livestock-based industries as the country’s main production sectors. Myanmar wishes to cooperate closely with Belarus, which has reached the forefront in terms of information and technology, in order to produce value-added products and to upgrade its agricultural production to Smart Agriculture through a mechanized farming system.He added that Myanmar is providing job opportunities in relevant areas and is making efforts to develop human resources. Thanks to the support and modern technology from its partner country Belarus, the capabilities of the workforce in Myanmar will improve, and it will help strengthen the cooperation between both sides, leading to a more sustainable and productive partnership.The Senior General recounted that on 10 January 2025, during the Myanmar-Belarus Business Forum, officials from both countries shared the potential of various sectors, including the energy sector, automotive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, higher education, agriculture and livestock, veterinary medicine, food products, and water extraction industries.The Senior General expressed his deep honour and pleasure to have the opportunity to share information about the potential cooperation and investment opportunities between the two countries. He said he believes that the signing of trade and investment agreements, particularly the draft investment agreement, is an important step. Both sides need to re-initiate this draft agreement of investment. There will be numerous opportunities for mutual benefits and positive outcomes for both sides in the future.The Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus extended greetings, saying that the Republic of Belarus is engaged in agricultural-based production industries and that it is important to collaborate on technologies to enhance agricultural production. He emphasized that hosting the Myanmar-Belarus Business Forum will bring significant benefits to both nations.The president of UMFCCI and officials from the Republic of Belarus participated in the discussions in the first session of the forum. In the second forum, led by Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations Dr Kan Zaw, officials of both countries discussed relevant sectors.Union Minister Dr Kan Zaw and the President of the Belarusian Chambers of Commerce and Industry extended greetings. The Myanmar Ambassador to Belarus, Myanmar businesspersons and officials of the Republic of Belarus signed Myanmar-Belarus economic cooperation agreements and exchanged notes.The forum was also attended by SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, Council Member General Nyo Saw, Union Ministers, Myanmar Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus U Thit Linn Ohn and senior officers of the delegation, Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Mr Yuri Shuleiko, senior officers of the Belarusian Cabinet and guests. — MNA/TTASource: The Global New Light of Myanmar
SHAN long and short drums are selling well in the market, according to the Myanmar musical instrument sources.Shan drums are among the most popular instruments as this season is full of festivals. “The best-selling instruments at this time are Shan long and short drums. Shan drums are ordered by Shan drum groups. Some villages buy them for fun and entertainment. Their sales are always active. It is the festival season, so they sell more for playing at festivals,” said an official at the Myo Chit Bamar Musical Instrument Shop in Mandalay.Other Myanmar musical instruments that used to rule the fields in the past include bronze gong, iron gong, bronze bell, big drum, alms bowl, various lacquerware and Byaw drum, while Shan long and short drums among them are currently the most popular. — Thit Taw/ZNSource: The Global New Light of Myanmar
THE Consumer Affairs Department under the Ministry of Commerce stated that reasonable market prices of rice for March 2025 were issued, and non-compliance with the set prices is subject to legal action.The Ministry of Commerce issued reasonable prices for all varieties; K68,000-K80,000 per 108-pound bag of non-premium rice (Aemahta, Ngasein, Sinthukha, Ngasein Yakyaw, Kayinma, Yadanatoe, Tunpu, GW-11, Sawshoke 747, Theepu, Shweman, and Hnankauk among others), K82,000 per bag of rice varieties (Zeeya, Ngwetoe, Minaya, Hnankauk, Shweman) that are consumed locally and exported, K94,000 to K99,000 to Shwethwe, Anyatha, Pakan, Hmawby -2,3, 90-day short matured rice, Manaw Thukha, Sinthuka, Byawtun, Ayeyapadetha and Ayeyamin produced from Ayeyawady, Yangon and Bago regions, K90,000-K150,000 to moderate quality rice including Magyantaw, Ayeyamin and Ayeyapadetha produced from Mandalay, Magway, Sagaing, Nay Pyi Taw and upper Myanmar regions, and premium Pawsan rice ( Ayeyawady Pawsan and Shwebo Pawsan). The retailers are not entitled to make more than eight per cent of the set reasonable market prices, the ministry announced.The ministry determined reasonable market prices by considering the following factors: fair profit for farmers, millers and distributors, reasonable prices for consumers, last year’s market price, global market prices and other commodities prices. There are separate prices for modern trade with consumer packaging at mini-marts and supermarkets.If individuals have difficulty buying rice, they are urged to contact the Myanmar Rice Federation. The buyers can complain about overpricing to the Consumer Affairs Department and MRF.MRF warned that overpricing, sales with inaccurate measurement and quality and non-compliance with directives are subjected to fines, taxation and prosecution under Section 5 of the Essential Supplies and Services Law. Thus, rice millers, rice shops, traders and merchants are encouraged to follow the rules. — NN/KKSource: https://www.mdn.gov.mm/en
Paungde, 6 MarchThe Township Land Records Department has reported that 42,078 acres of winter mung beans were planted in Paungde Township, located in Nattalin District, Bago Region, during the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Farmers in the area have been harvesting and threshing the beans since the last week of February.In this region, farmers typically begin planting mung beans in October, following the monsoon paddy harvest. The most commonly used variety is TBL-9. Farmers employ a seeding method suited to their land, planting approximately 6 to 7 bushels per acre. The input cost for this amounts to about Ks 700,000 per acre.Currently, mung beans are being threshed, and the expected yield is an average of 14 to 18 bushels per acre. It is known that the average yield for model plantations is around 30 bushels per acre. Farmers in need of immediate funds have already started selling their beans to local markets, where the beans are being purchased at a market price of Ks 95,000 per bushel.– Shwe Thar (IPRD)Translated by JTSource: https://www.mdn.gov.mm/en
THE rental market in Yangon has continued to rise without a decline, according to real estate agents and tenants.Rents of apartments and houses in Yangon have not declined due to office workers, families moving from other cities, and people coming to attend training.“The rental market is still active. Once vacant, there comes another tenant. There is no difference between low and high-rise rooms, houses and apartments. People with large families rent houses. Employees and friends to share living rent apartments. Rental activity is active in almost every township,” said Daw Soe Soe, a real estate agent in Kyimyindine.Rents are booming, and rental prices are high, with more rooms being rented on contracts and deposit systems. “Rental prices are higher than before. And there are almost no monthly rentals.There are many rentals on six-month, three-month contracts, and deposit systems,” said a tenant.Recent buyers are more likely to be people who need to live than investors, according to the real estate community.— MT/ZNSource: The Global New Light of Myanmar
State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, currently in the Russian Federation, received a delegation led by Russia-ASEAN Economic Commission Chairman Mr Ivan Polyakov at the meeting room of Hotel Radisson Collection in Moscow on the evening of 4 March.At the meeting, both sides cordially discussed the functions of the commission, the development of cooperation in the agricultural sector between Myanmar and the Russian Federation, prospects to export watermelon, mango and other fruits of Myanmar to the Russian Federation, plans to recycle waste, cooperation in aerospace and technology, and economic cooperation between the two countries.The meeting was attended together with the Senior General by SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo, Council Member General Nyo Saw, Union Ministers, the Myanmar Ambassador to the Russian Federation and officials. The Russia-ASEAN Economic Commission Chairman was accompanied by commission officials. — MNA/TTASource: The Global New Light of Myanmar
