Myanmar Prime Minister General Soe Win has stressed the development of private industries through establishment of industrial zones which are foundation of the development.

Soe Win, who is also Chairman of the Industrial Development Committee, made the remarks in a recent inspection tour to some industrial zones in northern part of the country, the official newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Thursday.

"Only when private industries improve, will industries of the state develop with greater momentum and will the nation lead to a modern and developed one," Soe Win said.

Noting that there are good prospects in three industrial zones of Monywa, Mandalay and Ayethaya, he emphasized the need to introduce modern machines to produce parts of high standard and good quality.

He called for cooperation between the state and the private sectors for the progress of the indusrtries.

According to statistics, there are 19 industrial zones in total across Myanmar. The industrial sector represents the second largest contributor to the gross domestic product after agriculture with 10.7 percent in 2004-05 and its GDP grew 24 percent annually in the past four fiscal years of 2001-02 to 2004- 05.

The achievement of the sector's production value was attributed to the establishment of these industrial zones across the country.

With over 11,800 industrial enterprises having been established over 10 years' period from 1995 to 2005, the production value increased from 31,843 million Kyats ( 35.38 million dollars) in 2001-02 to 285,736 million kyats ( 317.48 million dollars) plus 556 million dollars in March 2005.

With a working force of over 152,000 in the industrial sector, further development of private industries, especially small and medium-sized ones, is being stressed.

Source: Xinhua