Myanmar will host the 27th Meeting of Energy Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Energy Business Forum in the second largest city of Mandalay in July this year, the local Myanmar Times reported Monday, quoting sources close to the Ministry of Energy.

The four-day meeting from July 27 to 30 will be the first of its kind hosted by Myanmar and it will focus on global energy issues including ASEAN's.

Besides, a meeting of energy ministers of ASEAN+6 will also take place involving Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

Papers relating to a range of energy issues will be read at the meeting, the report said.

More than a month ahead of these meetings, Myanmar will also host the ASEAN Energy Award competition from June 10 to 11, the report added.

Since Myanmar opened to foreign investment in late 1988, oil companies from Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam have been engaged in oil and gas exploration in the country.

Official statistics reveal that foreign investment in Myanmar's oil and gas sector had reached US$3.357 billion in 88 projects as of the end of 2008, standing the second in the country 's foreign investment sectorally after electric power.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2009)