Myanmar Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin met with US Secretary of State John Kerry and delivered a speech to the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York earlier this month, noting Myanmar's democratic and economic progress.

"Myanmar has made notable progress in poverty and hunger reduction, eliminating gender disparity in basic education, reduction of the child mortality rate, improving maternal health, and advancing global partnership for development," he said. He added in closing that it is, "important to highlight that Myanmar's democratic reform process is gaining momentum and moving in the right direction...We shall remain fully committed and relentless in our effort [for] peace, democracy and inclusive socio-economic development for the people of Myanmar."

In addition to his address during the General Assembly, Minister Lwin recently met with senior Congressional leadership, the Council on Foreign Relations and attended the Partnership Group Meeting on Peace, Development and Democracy in Myanmar.

The first modern industrial park in Myanmar has begun partial operations. Forty seven companies from Japan, the U.S., China and 10 other countries have decided to operate in the Thilawa industrial park on the outskirts of Yangon. Koyo Radiator, based in Nagoya in the central Japan prefecture of Aichi, on Wednesday started running its plant. Nearby, workers were constructing factories for more than 10 other companies.

Myanmar is set to receive $400 million from the World Bank Group to provide financing and technical assistance for Myanmar's National Electrification Plan (NEP). The six-year project is expected to benefit over 6.2 million people by bringing electricity to more than 1.2 million households in Myanmar by 2021.

Myanmar is looking to build a slew of new oil storage terminals and jetties near its former capital Yangon as its small and ageing refineries cannot keep up with rapidly rising demand for refined products.The lifting of several international sanctions in 2012 has led to a sharp rise in cars being imported and sold in the country.

The Myawaddy-Thinggan Kawkareik section of the Asian Superhighway, starting from Manipur is set to open later in November of this year. The first 26.5 km stretch will bring the travel time down to one hour from the previous journey time. The road's construction began in 2012 and runs from Moreh in India to Thailand's Maesot via Tamu, Mandalay and Myawaddy in Myanmar.

Myanmar is inviting more foreign direct investment (FDI) to boost growth in the country says U Zay Yar Aung, chairman of the Myanmar Investment Commission. Chairman Zay Yar Aung, who is also the minister of energy, told the Myanmar Global Investment Forum that the country needs large infrastructure investments in power generation, transportation, special economic zones, and resource development, as well as other supporting infrastructure to realize its long-term growth and development.

Myanmar's state-owned Myanma Petroleum Products Enterprise (MPPE) has agreed to a joint venture with Puma Energy Group to distribute jet fuel. Under the agreement, the two firms will set up National Energy Puma Aviation Services Co Ltd and MPPE will receive $20 million from Puma Energy as a signature bonus.

The Myanmar Mingala Association in cooperation with Four Paws International (FPI) will set up an elephant sanctuary and several rehabilitation camps in the Bago Mountains in southern Myanmar. The forest, covering an area of 145 hectares, will provide a sanctuary for other wild animals and vegetation.

Myanmar and China will effectively cooperate in addressing the issue of illegal timber production, Myanmar Environmental Conservation and Forest Minister U Win Tun told a consultation workshop on Myanmar-China Timber Trade Stakeholders in Nay Pyi Taw.

The Daily Mail recently featured the Golden Rock in Myanmar, which appears to defy gravity dangling precariously over the edge of a cliff. Instead of giving the teetering boulder a wide berth, the sacred monument is a major pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists.