The Myanmar Radio and Television has completed the Broadcasting Equipment Installation with the official development assistance grants of the Japan International Cooperation Agency – JICA yesterday.

The launching ceremony on completion of broadcasting equipment in MRTV was held at Studio 1 of MRTV on Pyay Road in Yangon yesterday morning. The ceremony was attended by Union Minister for Information Dr Pe Myint, Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Deputy Minister U Aung Hla Tun, departmental heads of MoI and officials from NHK Technologies Inc., Sumitomo Corporation, Toda Corporation, NEC Corporation and Panasonic Corporation, which contributed in the ODA grants of JICA.

In his welcoming remark, Union Minister Dr Pe Myint appraised the years-long friendly relationship and broadcast media cooperation among other various important sectors between Myanmar and Japan.

He also said the assistance contained not only transmitter and broadcasting equipment, but also studio facility, while Japan is the first and the most important partner country for Myanmar in the area of TV broadcasting.

Myanmar could start colour television transmission in 1980 with the assistance of Japanese Sasakawa Foundation and official development assistance grant of JICA.

The second was the cultural grant aid allotted by the Japanese government to MRTV to broadcast 383 programmes of NHK. The third project was the technical cooperation assistance which included training programmes for enabling MRTV staff to develop their programme production skills and to enhance the quality of the broadcast content of MRTV.

The fourth project was the expansion of MRTV’s broadcasting equipment which has been installed and in operation.

The Union Minister also expressed thanks to the Japan and its people for their generous contribution to the improvement of MRTV in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw.

He also remarked the project is very significant contribution to produce a wide variety of programmes in good quality.

In conclusion, he wished for further cooperation that can support friendly ties between the two countries and that will be beneficial for both countries.

Mr. Kazuyuki Takimi, the Counsellor and Head of Economic and Development Assistance Section at the Embassy of Japan, and Mr. Masayuki Karasawa, Chief Representative of JICA Myanmar Office extended their greetings, and explained their contribution in public service project of Myanmar.

Then, a video clip on the installation and expansion of equipment was shown.

Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein and Deputy Minister U Aung Hla Tun presented gifts to the officials from NHK Technologies Inc., Sumitomo Corporation, Toda Corporation, NEC Corporation, and Panasonic Corporation that contributed in the project together with JICA.

Then, the use of visual studio system equipment was demonstrated before MoI ‘s Permanent Secretary U Myo Myint Maung received the project document presented by Mr. Kazuyuki TAKIMI and Mr. Masayuki KARASAWA.

The demonstration of live broadcast was conducted among MRTV’s studio in Yangon, the headquarters in Nay Pyi Taw (Tatkon) and the People’s Park in Yangon.

The newly installed equipment in this project are similar to the system, quality and design of the NHK studio in Japan. The expansion included content transmission, three vans for Digital Satellite News Gathering (DSNG) vans, also known as outside broadcast (OB) van, upgrading the studio and the installation of world standard broadcasting equipment with advanced security system, totally worth of 2,263 million yen.

The new system will help MRTV to broadcast additional 110 programmes in 110 hours of airtime per week.

MNA
(Translated by Aung Khin)