The working force in Myanmar has reached 34.7 million, compared with 1988 when it registered over 16 million, the local Myanmar-language Newsweek journal reported Tuesday.

The working force accounts for over 60 percent of the present total population of over 56 million, an official statistics was quoted as saying.

The increase of the working force was attributed to the development of the country's agricultural sector and extensive setting up of industrial zones and state-owned factories, creating more job opportunities during the two decades, experts in the industrial zones said.

According to the report, there are now 792 state-owned factories in Myanmar and about 80,000 factories in 18 local industrial zones with about 22.3 million people working in the sector of agriculture, 4.8 million in industry and 7.5 million in service sector.

Some factories in the industrial zones have produced goods that meet the standard for export, said officials in the industrial zones, stressing the need to attract more foreign investment for creating more job opportunities.

Meanwhile, Myanmar is planning to develop the country's central part through extensively setting up more industrial zones in cities along the Ayeyawaddy River, according to an earlier report of the Yangon Times which said on establishment of these zones, the application of the Ayeyawaddy River by vessels will become more and cities along the river could be developed as port cities.

The existing local industrial zones, which comprise small, medium and heavy industries, were established across the country in the early stage as part of Myanmar's plan of industrial development, according to industry sources.

With Nay Pyi Taw being developed as a new administrative capital, Myanmar has also designated a 210,060-square-meter land plot there to make way for establishing similar industrial zone which is likely to include a cattle breeding zone to be aided by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Meanwhile, Myanmar will enact a special economic zone (SEZ) law this year, aiming to absorb inflow of more foreign investment into the country to promote its economic development, official sources disclosed.

It is predicted that once the new special economic zone law is promulgated, 200,000 job opportunities will be created.

Besides, establishment of three other Thai-proposed special industrial zones, located in Myawaddy and Hpa-an in southeastern Kayin state and Mawlamyine in southern Mon state is also underway. The project, which constitutes part of the Ayeyawaddy-Chao Phraya- Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) agreed by the four countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand in November 2003, the three Thai-proposed industrial zone projects are estimated to start later this year.

According to official statistics, Myanmar's industrial sector contributed 17.5 percent to the gross domestic product of the nation in the fiscal year 2005-06 which ended in March and a 19- percent contribution is targeted for 2006-07.

Private sector's contribution to the industrial sector stands 92.36 percent, statistics also show.

Other official statistics indicate that contracted foreign investment in Myanmar has reached 13.917 billion U.S. dollars in 402 projects up to now since the country opened to such investment in late 1988.

Source: Xinhua