THE Myanmar Engineering Society has invited anyone with an interest in engineering to join as part of a plan to increase its membership.

“We have expanded the membership categories to enable any engineering enthusiasts to participate in our activities,” said U Than Myint, the society’s general secretary.

The decision would enable businesses in sectors other than engineering as well as individuals who did not have engineering-related degrees to support the society’s efforts to contribute to national development,” U Than Myint said.

The new categories are for corporate and affiliate members. They bring to eight the number of membership categories with the society, a non-government organisation formed in 1995 which has about 11,000 members.

U Than Myint told the society’s fifth biennial general conference at MICT Park on February 5 that membership applications could be downloaded from its website, www.mes.org.mm, and submitted online.

U Than Myint said the society had amended its constitution at the conference to reflect a broadening of its activities and interests.

The amendments have also resulted in changes to the society’s executive, by increasing the number of vice-chairpersons and joint secretaries to four, from three previously, and providing for the appointment of an information officer.

U Than Myint said the extra vice-chair and joint secretary were needed to manage the society’s five working committees more effectively.

The fifth working committee was established late last year to support efforts to develop the industrial sector.

The 47-member committee, headed by the society’s chair, Professor Dr Sein Myint, with U Than Myint as its secretary, comprises sub-committees for metals processing, electrical equipment and products, food and chemicals, energy and power, small and medium-sized enterprises and environmental engineering.

The society’s other working committees and their sub-committees are responsible for such matters as membership, finance, planning a new headquarters, the development of engineering studies and human resource development.