Logistics

Myanmar’s Department of Meteorology and Hydrology (DMH), under the Ministry of Transport and Communication, is hosting the ninth session of the South Asian Climate Outlook Forum (SASCOF-9) on 27-28 September 2016 and the second session of the Climate Services Users Forum for Agriculture (CSUF-Ag2) on 28-29 September 2016, in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia (RIMES) are supporting the event, with assistance from the Government of Canada.

SASCOF-9 is aimed at bringing together national, regional and global experts, for facilitating the generation of consensus-based climate outlook for the ensuing winter season. The consensus-based climate outlook will then be presented to agriculture departments from South Asian countries and Myanmar, through the CSUF-Ag2 during the joint session on 28 September 2016, for potential integration into seasonal plans and decisions.

National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) from South Asian countries (i.e. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and Myanmar shall convene in the SASCOF 9. Technical inputs, for generating consensus-based seasonal climate outlook, will be provided by WMO’s Regional Climate Centers (RCCs) and participating Global Producing Centers (GPCs).

The resulting consensus-based climate outlook from SASCOF-9, for the 2016-2017 winter season, shall be shared to representatives from agriculture departments/sector of the same countries, in the subsequent CSUF-Ag2.

It should be noted that SASCOF-9 integrates into CSUF-Ag2, though a joint session on 28 September 2016.

The meeting agenda will be shared, through your email address, by DMH/RIMES.

The meeting will be in English; no arrangement for translation will be provided.

Both the SASCOF-9 and the CSUF-Ag2 will be hosted by DMH at Royal Ace Hotel, Block 15/16, Taw Win Yadanar Road, National Guest House Compound, Dekhinathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. Royal Ace Hotel can be contacted through Telephone No.: +95-67-8106022. More information can obtained via http://thehotelroyalace.com.

The meeting hall details will be provided, as soon as you register, in the hotel.

Participants in SASCOF-9 should register with the Registration Committee, in the morning of 27 September 2016. On the other hand, participants in CSUF-Ag2 should register in the morning of 28 September 2016.

Nay Pyi Taw, the new capital of Myanmar, is around 300 kilometers north of the country’s previous capital, Yangon. A young capital (established in 2006) in the forefront of Myanmar’s changing economic landscape, Nay Pyi Taw has seen fast infrastructure development in recent years.

Myanmar Standard Time (MST) is UTC+06:30.

Rainfall in Nay Pyi Taw and in surrounding areas peak in July and August. Rainfall in September is around 190 mm, distributed over an average of 19 rainfall days. Average minimum temperature is around 24°C while average maximum temperature is around 32°C.

Entry Visa to Myanmar

Nationals from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, regardless of the type of passport used, can enter Myanmar visa-free, depending on the length of stay (not more than 30 days for Singapore nationals; not more than 14 days for nationals of other countries).

Nationals of Bangladesh, Belarus, Brazil, China, India, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, and Russia, holding diplomatic or official passports can enter Myanmar visa-free, subject to required documentary support (refer to http://www.mofa.gov.mm/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/List-of-Countries-Having-Bilateral-Visa-Exemption-Agreements-with-Myanmar.pdf)

To ensure, however, the ease of your entry to Myanmar, your entry visa is being facilitated by DMH, regardless of the passport type you will be using. You will be receiving the following visa application support, from DMH:

Official invitation letter from Dr. Hrin Nei Thiam, Director General, DMH
Request from the Ministry of Transport to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to grant/approve your entry visa (in Myanmar language)

If you are applying for visa ahead of your travel to Myanmar, you are to print these visa support documents, and submit your visa application, together with other visa application requirements (i.e. completed visa application form, 2 passport size photos with white background, and travel itinerary) to the Myanmar Embassy in your country.

If you are applying for visa upon your arrival in Nay Pyi Taw or Yangon, be sure that you are carrying the said visa application support documents from DMH, together with completed visa application form, 2 passport size photos with white background, and printed copy of your flight ticket. Visa application form is attached with this Information Note Visa on Arrival application, and also available upon your arrival either in Nay Pyi Taw or Yangon Airport.

You can apply for entry/business visa which allows you to stay in Myanmar up to 28 days. Visa fee is USD 40; please prepare the exact amount.

You may indicate the following details, when asked of the contact person in Myanmar, when applying for visa:

Dr. Hrin Nei Thiam
Director General
Department of Meteorology and Hydrology
Ministry of Transport and Communication
Telephone No.: +95-67-411031
Email Address: dg.dmh1@gmail.com

As DMH/Ministry of Transport and Communication takes charge of the visa approval process, through institutional procedures with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there is NO need for you to apply for visa online.

For sponsored participants, your flight details and other travel arrangements (including local transportation in Myanmar) are arranged by Ms. Dusadee Moya, Human Resource and Administrative Officer, RIMES. For related concerns, please contact directly Ms. Dusadee Moya through email ID: dusadee@rimes.int or telephone no.: +662 516 5900.

For participants whose port of entry to Myanmar is Nay Pyi Taw, Nay Pyi Taw International Airport is about 20 kilometers from Nay Pyi Taw City, where Royal Ace Hotel is located. Airport transfer for sponsored participants has been arranged by DMH/RIMES, based on your flight itinerary. Members of the meeting staff shall be meeting you at the airport, bearing a name board.

For participants whose port of entry to Myanmar is Yangon, transportation to Nay Pyi Taw has also been arranged by DMH/RIMES. Members of the meeting staff shall be meeting you outside the airport and will facilitate your onward travel to Nay Pyi Taw, which is around five (5) hours by road.

For non-sponsored/self-paying participants, in case assistance is required for arranging your airport transfer, please contact Ms. Dusadee Moya through contact details indicated in Flight Details.

All sponsored participants are booked in Royal Ace Hotel, which is also the SASCOF-9 and CSUF-Ag2 venue. You may refer to 2.3 for the contact details of the hotel.

For non-sponsored/self-paying participants who wish to be booked in Royal Ace Hotel, you can coordinate with Ms. Dusadee Moya, via contact details provided in Flight Details, for assistance in hotel accommodation booking.

DMH/RIMES shall pay for hotel accommodation cost of sponsored participants. DMH/RIMES will not cover personal costs including, but not limited to, local and long distance telephone call, in-room dining, and mini-bar costs. These personal costs shall be paid for directly by participants, upon checking out from the hotel.

Breakfast is provided as part of the hotel accommodation package. Lunch and refreshments, from 27-29 September 2016, are arranged as part of the meetings.

Participants are to make their own arrangements for dinner. DMH/RIMES shall be providing per diem to participants to cover dinner and incidentals.

To facilitate reimbursement of relevant costs (local transportation, visa fee, etc.) and payment of per diem for sponsored participants, please enclose your boarding pass(es), local transportation receipt, and visa fee receipt in an envelope with your name on it and hand-over the same to the Meeting Secretariat, upon registration.

Internet connectivity is provided by Royal Ace Hotel, within its premises (in rooms as well as in meeting halls), for free.

1 US Dollar is roughly equivalent to 1,200 Myanmar Kyats. Currency exchange kiosks are available at local banks. Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are available within the hotel premises, as well as in nearby malls.

While some establishments already accept credit cards for payments, the use of the same is still not optimum in Myanmar.

For any other required information and logistical assistances, please contact Ms. Dusadee Moya through contact details provided earlier, with copy to Ms. Ruby Rose Policarpio, Institutional Development Specialist, RIMES (ruby@rimes.int) and Dr. Anshul Agarwal, Hydrologist, RIMES (anshul@rimes.int).

For discussions relative to the meeting agenda, please contact Dr. Govindarajalu Srinivasan, Chief Scientist, RIMES (srini@rimes.int).

DMH and RIMES Meeting Staff will be ready to assist you, for any concerns that may arise upon your arrival in Myanmar. Local contact numbers will be shared with you, through a revised Information Note, in due course.