Myanmar President U Thein Sein has urged artistes in the country to contribute efforts in the development of the nation, calling on them to play "model roles" for national unity through their entertainment programs, state media reported Sunday.

Meeting with more than 100 artistes in Yangon, U Thein Sein said, "Fashion and styles of the famous artistes could influence other people including me. Therefore, characteristics of those celebrities could lead the ways of living for our citizens."

He voiced support for the artistes by providing an 8-hectare land plot for construction of a movie studio in Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay region aimed at promoting Myanmar motion picture industry.

He also pledged loan to be extended for joint production of movies with foreign companies.

To solve problems in the entertainment industry, he assured strict law enforcement against copy-cat crimes on VCDs as such counterfeiting poses problems to the industry.

In December 2013, the Myanmar government presented nine film academy awards to the country's successful artistes in Yangon for movies produced during 2012.

To promote the country's film industry, Myanmar's film academy awards have been presented by successive governments since 1952.