Ayeyawddy delta is rich with many rivers and creeks and it had to rely on the water-course in the past. And now it can easily access to all parts of the country by car in a short time. So, that the socio-economic life of the locals has been changed within a short period. Ayeyawaddy Division is comprised with 5 Districts, namely- Pathein, Myaung Mya, Pyapon, Hindata and Mu-U Bin as well as 26 Townships. Ayeyawddy Division is known as the granary of Myanmar because the paddy production from the Division is one third of that of the entire nation.

U Kyaw San
Secretary of Ayeyawaddy Division Peace and Development Council

The main cultivation of our Division is paddy. Ayeyawddy Division had produced over 389 million baskets of paddy in 2006-2007 fiscal year. It is targeted to grow 3.7 million acres of monsoon paddy and 1.55 million acres of summer paddy in 2007-2008 fiscal year. We also cultivate other crops such as groundnut, sesame, sunflower and beans and pulses. The nut cultivation in 2006-2007 fiscal year is over 5 million acres.

In the education sector, 3 Universities, 3 Technological Universities, 3 Universities of Computer Studies and 3 Education Colleges had been established in the division for higher education sector.

In basic education sector, there are 5,642 Basic Education Primary Schools, 267 Basic Education Middle Schools and 106 Basic Education High Schools.

In health sector, 78 hospitals and 196 rural health care centres had been opened there. Concerning with transportation sector, the government has built many roads and bridges in the Division. There are sixty three 180 ft and above long bridges such as Bo Myat Htun, Pathein, MyaungMya, and Pyapon bridges.

Chaung Tha and Ngwe Hsaung beach resorts are the two attractive and interesting places for local and foreign visitors in Ayeyawaddy Division. There are 13 hotels on Chaung Tha beach and 20 hotels on Ngwe Hsaung beach resort. The number of local and foreign visitors come to these resorts increasingly year after year.

Ngwe Hsaung beach resort lies on the beach of the Bay of Bangal, 29 miles from the North-West of Pathein, Ayeyawaddy Division. The distance between Ngwe Hsaung and Chaung Tha beaches is only 6 miles. Because of the large expanse of sandbank, together with smooth and easy transport, Ngwe Hsaung beach resort is teeming with visitors from local and abroad day by day. It is longer than other beaches and the length of the beach is over nine miles from North to South.

Crossing over the new roads and bridges, people from Pathein, the capital city of Ayeyawaddy Division, can travel easily to other regions in all seasons. Now, the local people are enjoying the fruitful results of the change of transportation sector.

U Pa Si
Chairman of Pathein Township Peace and Development Council

Concerning with transportation sector, Pathein Township had to rely only on the waterway in the past. After assuming the State’s duty in 1988, the Tatmadaw Government has been building new roads and bridges across the nation. So, at present, people from Ayeyawaddy Division can travel smoothly not only to the Townships in the Division but also to Yangon by mortor-way all the year round.

The main economy of Pathein Township is farming, gardening and fisheries. Paddy is the main product of the region.

Sweetmeat (or) Halawah snack industry is a booming cottage industry of Pathein. Sweetmeat becomes a symbol or a typical snack of the region and everyone who come to Pathein used to buy Pathein sweetmeat as a home return gift.

Pathein umbrella industry, one of the Myanma traditional handicrafts, is still popular now and also a local business of Pathein.

Pathein umbrella industry has also been flourishing as a cottage industry in Pathein until today.

Due to the better transportation, the regional products such as rice, marine products, fish, prawn, salt and other consumer goods can be put swiftly on the market. With the achievement of economic growth ShwePyiTha and Myoma Markets in Pathein are also busting with buyers and dealers.

If you happen to visit in Pathein, firstly, you should paid homage to the historic ShweMuHtaw Maha Pagoda, a pride of the town. Lay Kyune Yan Aung Phaung Taw Oo Zedi is one of the venerable Pagodas of the town.

To be, Pathein Township, in line with the characteristic of a town, administrative, economic and social affairs as well as regional development tasks are being undertaken constantly with earnest efforts in the Township under the guidance of Division Peace and Development Council and close supervision of District Peace and Development Council.

Pathein, the capital city of Ayeyawaddy Division is pleasant and beautiful with the characteristic of the town due to the systematic guidance and close supervision of administrative bodies. Moreover, it becomes the pride of Ayeyawaddy Division because of its all round development in economic and social sectors.