Border Trade with Thailand

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Description: "Myanmar’s trade with Thailand has steeply declined since the 2021 coup as the junta imposes restrictions to prevent weapons from reaching resistance forces. Border trade declined from over US$4 billion in 2019-20 to $3.6 billion in the 2022-23 financial year, which ends on March 31, according to the junta’s Ministry of Commerce. Goods sold in the Thai border town of Mae Sot are largely out of stock across the frontier in Myawaddy because traders can only import if they also export to Thailand, according to a trader in Myawaddy. “I have got all the documents needed to import fertilizers. But I can’t import because I am running a trade deficit of about 4 million baht [$119,000]. We haven’t made exports of that value. It is causing delays. Many other traders are facing the same problems,” the trader told The Irrawaddy. The regime imposed restrictions, including that the value of imports and exports must be equal, and the payments must be made in dollars or baht through a junta-controlled bank. It has also required traders to seek approval from Myanmar’s Food and Drug Administration to import and export. Meanwhile, trade is often delayed by frequent fighting along the border. Traders also have to pay high taxes along the route. “This is our living so we continue to do what we have been doing. The risks are high but we continue,” said the trader. The junta closed the Thai border at Htee Khee in Tanintharyi Region in April last year after a resistance attack on a police station on the Dawei-Htee Khee road. The border gate was a major trading point and the closest crossing to Bangkok. Myanmar mainly exports fish, coal, lead and food to Thailand via Htee Khee and imports diesel, cooking gas, food and consumer goods. A Tanintharyi trader said: “The Htee Khee gate has been closed since last year. Some are trading via Mawtaung and Kawthoung.” Trade through Htee Khee was already in steady decline, falling from $2 billion in 2019-20 to $1.7 billion in 2020-21 and $1 billion in 2021-22, according to the junta’s Commerce Ministry. The ministry claimed that Htee Khee trade totaled $1.7 billion from April 1 to November 30 last year, despite the gate being closed since April. The trader said: “I think it is the cost of gas imports. Trade through Mawtaung and Kawthoung has also declined. Trade is hopeless. It is unlikely that it will return to pre-coup levels. And we feel unsafe.” Trade through Mawtaung was $7 million from April 1 to November 30 last year and there are no figures for the Mese border in Kayah State since the coup. The Thai border crossings are at Myawaddy, Tachilek, Kawthoung, Myeik, Htee Khee, Mawtaung and Mese but only Tachilek, Myawaddy, Kawthoung, Myeik and Mawtaung are now open. The regime has restricted imports of fertilizer and food and Myawaddy’s trade is currently dominated by construction materials and consumer goods. The junta-controlled Trade Department this month told exporters to submit a list of their exports and seek online transport approval. The department will then issue a QR code for shipping. Trucks have to show the QR code at checkpoints. The system is being trialed this month at the borders at Myawaddy and Muse and Chin Shwe Haw in Shan State. Myawaddy’s exports are mainly rice, rice powder, rubber and crops like pepper, while imports include food, consumer goods, building materials, industrial raw materials and machinery..."
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2023-02-08
Date of entry/update: 2023-02-08
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Description: "Myanmar’s trade with foreign countries through border gates reached over 8.6 billion U.S. dollars as of July 10 in present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures released by the Commerce Ministry on Monday. During the period, the country's export via border gates earned over 5.8 billion U.S. dollars while its import shared over 2.7 billion U.S. dollars. According to the ministry’s figures, this fiscal year’s border trade increased by over 281 million U.S. dollars, compared to the same period of last fiscal year 2018-2019 when it recorded over 8.3 billion U.S. dollars. Muse topped the list of border checkpoints with the most trade value of 3.8 billion U.S. dollars, followed by Heekhee with 1.6 billion U.S. dollars, the ministry’s figures said. The country conducts border trade with neighboring China through Muse, Lweje, Kanpikete, Chinashwehaw and kengtung with Thailand via Tachilek, Myawady, Kawthoung, Myeik, Hteekhee, Mawtuang and Maese gates, with Bangladesh via Sittwe and Maungtaw and with India through Tamu and Reed border gates, respectively. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, marine products, minerals, forest products, manufacturing goods and others while capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods are imported to the country..."
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Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-07-20
Date of entry/update: 2020-07-20
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Description: "Thousands of Myanmar textile workers on the Thai-Myanmar border in Three Pagodas Pass, Karen State have been unable to go to work at factories in Thailand due to a dispute between the countries’ border authorities. “For the workers, they do not have monthly salaries, so how can they survive?” asked U Tin Myo Oo, a National League for Democracy regional lawmaker who represents Kyainseikgyi Township, where Three Pagodas Pass is located. “[Myanmar authorities] do not allow workers to cross the border at the moment. From the Myanmar side, they do not allow people to cross the border, as I heard,” he said. The Irrawaddy could not reach the Myanmar Border Committee in Three Pagodas Pass for comment. Local sources from the town told The Irrawaddy that the dispute began on Tuesday after a meeting between Thai border authorities and a Karen Border Guard Force (BGF). Thai authorities have objected to the fact that the Karen BGF allows some trade to pass through the border gates under their control, including reportedly at night. The border has been closed to trade since 2007 but border authorities from both sides allow locals to walk across to go to work for the day. Local traders are also allowed to cross, some driving their cars to transport food..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2020-02-28
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-29
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Sub-title: Border trade between Thailand and Myanmar is set to increase this year thanks to the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge and the implementation of Cross Border Transport Facilitation Agreement (CBTA).
Description: "The second Thai- Myanmar Friendship bridge connecting Myawady in Myanmar and Mae Sot in Thailand opened in October of 2019. Meanwhile, the CBTA, which also came into effect last year, authorises goods vehicles from each country to cross the border and stay for 30 days. Trade volume between Myanmar and Thailand in fiscal year2018-19 hit a total of US$5.4 billion (K7.7 trillion) in total, Ministry of Commerce statistics show. According to the ministry, Myanmar’s exports to Thailand reached US$3.2 billion while imports hit US$2.1 billion. Among three trade points along the border between Myanmar and Thailand, Myawady-Mae Sot route is the most important, carrying around 70 percent of trade between the countries. “With the new bridge and that transportation agreement, the trade outlook is good for both countries. In Myanmar, most of goods mainly imported from Thailand are raw materials for manufacturing, and construction material. So, the transportation route is important for two countries’ economies and businesses,” Myanmar International Freight Forwarders Association chair U Aung Khin Myint, told The Myanmar Times..."
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Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-02-14
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-15
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Description: "Myanmar's total border trade using Individual Trading Cards (ITC) exceeded 18 billion kyats (12 million U.S. dollars) in first four months of current fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures released by the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday. From October to January this FY, the ministry issued 32 ITCs and export using those cards through border gates earned over 1.78 billion kyats (1.18 million U.S. dollars) while its imports exceeded 17 billion kyats (11.3 million U.S. dollars). During the period, Myawady border gate recorded the highest ITC's trade with 11.3 billion kyats (7.5 million U.S. dollars). The ministry has issued a total of 1,719 ITCs, registering its trade value of over 188 billion kyats (125.3 million U.S. dollars) so far since FY 2012-2013, according to the ministry's figures..."
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Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-02-13
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-14
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Description: "Border trade between Myanmar and its neighboring Thailand reached over 1.15 billion U.S. dollars in first quarter of the present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures released from the Commerce Ministry on Sunday. From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 2019, the country earned over 773 million U.S. dollars from export to Thailand, while its import amounted over 382 million U.S. dollars. This fiscal year's figures decreased by nearly 100 million U.S. dollars, compared to the same period of the last fiscal year 2018-2019. Myanmar conducts trade with the Southeast Asian neighbor through seven border gates -- Tachileik, Myawady, Kawthoung, Myeik, Hteekhee, Mawtaung and Maese, respectively. During the first four months of this FY, the Hteekhee border gate registered the highest border trade value of over 555 million U. S. dollars, while the Maese border gate saw the smallest trade value of 1.5 million U.S. dollars. The country's agricultural and fishery products are exported to Thailand, while cosmetics, food products and machinery and raw industrial goods such as cement and fertilizers are imported..."
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Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-02-09
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-10
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Topic: Border Guard Force, Chang Beer, beer, Emerald Brewery, Fraser & Neave, Myanmar Brewery, smuggling, black market, Myawaddy, Kayin StateThaiBev,Thailand, taxation, informal economy, trade
Sub-title: Months after Emerald Brewery began producing Chang in Yangon, large quantities of the Thai beer are still being smuggled openly across the border at Myawaddy in a racket dominated by the Kayin Border Guard Force.
Topic: Border Guard Force, Chang Beer, beer, Emerald Brewery, Fraser & Neave, Myanmar Brewery, smuggling, black market, Myawaddy, Kayin StateThaiBev,Thailand, taxation, informal economy, trade
Description: "THE YOUNG woman in the tight black and dark green dress approaches a table of men drinking beer. “Did you know Chang Beer is now made in Myanmar?” she asks. Behind her, a small sign in the restaurant advertises that Chang is “officially served” and that it’s “Time for a Change”. These are fairly standard promotional techniques for a consumer goods company that has just entered a new market. But the examples also reflect the slightly unusual nature of the market entry challenge for Emerald Brewery, which began producing Chang Beer at a factory north of Yangon in late September. It assumes most customers already know Chang: what it wants them to know is that it’s now made legally in Myanmar. Emerald Brewery is a US$70 million joint venture between Singapore’s Fraser & Neave Limited and two local partners, and it brews Chang under licence from its strategic partner, Thai Beverage Public Company Limited. The brewery venture marks Fraser & Neave’s return to Myanmar after a four-year absence. The company was previously the military’s joint venture partner in Myanmar Brewery Limited, but was forced by an arbitration court to sell its stake back to the military in 2015. Chang enters a crowded but rapidly growing beer market that remains dominated by military-owned Myanmar Brewery, with around a 55 percent market share. But unlike the other players, it may have to fend off competition from, well… itself..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Frontier Myanmar" (Myanmar)
2020-01-18
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-18
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Sub-title: Two private banks, Ayeyarwady Bank (AYA Bank) in Myanmar and Thailand’s Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate in the development of cross border payments and fund transfer services between the two countries.
Description: "This cements an October 2019 agreement between the Central Bank of Myanmar and the Bank of Thailand to promote the official use of the Myanmar kyat and Thai baht when trading at the border. The Central Banks also inked a second MOU to promote financial innovation and services for payments through collaboration between the two countries. “We hope to start the work within the year,” U Hpone Thet Oo, vice president of Financial Institutions and Corporate Banking for AYA Bank, told Myanmar Times. Even though trading at the Thai-Myanmar border is already conducted in kyat and baht, payments that are processed through the banks are conducted in US dollars, resulting in leakages through foreign exchange losses. “Through this MOU, we can bring more of the payments through the formal channel and make the process more convenient,’’ Mr Kamalkant Agarwal, Advisor to the CEO, SCB Bank..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times"
2020-01-09
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-09
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Description: "Myanmar exported over 9,000 tons of rice worth over US$2 million within two weeks, from December 14 to 20, through border trade centers in China and Thailand borders, announced the Ministry of Commerce. It exported over 5,500 tons of rice from Muse 105 mile border trade center, about 400 tons of rice from the Chinshwehaw border trade center, over 1,300 tons of rice from the Lweje border trade center and about 2,000 tons of rice from Techilek border trade center. Myanmar also exported over 40,000 tons of rice worth over US$12.5 million from December 15 to 21 via maritime trade routes. It exported about 16,000 tons of rice to Asia countries, about 5,700 tons of rice to EU countries and over 20,000 tons of rice to African countries. Myanmar earned over US$65 million from over 220,000 tons of rice and broken rice export about one month of this fiscal year and it earned US$21 million more in compared with the same period in the last fiscal year, said Assistant Secretary Khin Maung Lwin of the ministry..."
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
2019-01-03
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-05
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Description: "Thai businesses are ramping up ties with their Myanmar counterparts in five main areas — agriculture, border trade, energy, industrial development and tourism — to tap into vast investment opportunities in the neighbouring country. Panitarn Pavarolavidya, chairman of Thai-Myanmar Business Council, said the council‘s first meeting held in Yangon on Feb 3 focused on the proposed five sectors and set up a joint panel to look at potential obstacles and how to overcome them. For instance, Mr Panitarn said the Thai businesses have proposed that Myanmar establish a central organisation to oversee agricultural prices, which fluctuate widely. He said more port and rail development is needed in Myanmar to facilitate logistics and boost exports and imports. Part of this process involves amending logistics laws and setting up one-stop services to facilitate border trade. Thailand also proposed Myanmar use the baht as currency for border trade in addition to the US dollar, euro and Singapore dollar, in order to boost border trade..."
Source/publisher: "Wellston Journal" (USA)
2019-12-15
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-16
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Sub-title: India, Thailand and Myanmar are working on a 1,400-kilometre long highway that will link India with Southeast Asia by land for the first time in decades, giving a boost to trade and cultural exchanges between the three countries.
Description: "India, Thailand and Myanmar are working on a 1,400-kilometre long highway that will link India with Southeast Asia by land for the first time in decades, giving a boost to trade and cultural exchanges between the three countries. Indian Ambassador to Thailand Bhagwant Singh Bishnoi said 73 bridges in Myanmar, built more than seven decades ago during World War II, were being renovated with funding from India to allow vehicles to cross the highway safely. When the repair work will be completed in 18 months, the highway could be opened to traffic from all three countries, he said. The planned highway starts in the eastern region of India from Moreh to Myanmar's Tamu city. Negotiations are currently underway to conclude a tri-nation motor vehicle agreement for the use of the 1,400-km road that will reach Thailand at Tak, Mae Sot district..."
Source/publisher: "Business Today" (India)
2019-05-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-01
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Description: "Thailand's cross-border trade dropped 1.94% year-on-year in the first 10 months of this year, with the strong baht, global economic slowdown, continued trade war and an overall volatile foreign exchange listed as the key threats. On Thursday, the Commerce Ministry's Foreign Trade Department reported the country's overall cross-border trade, including transit trade, amounted to 1.12 trillion baht for the year to October. Transit trade consists of businesses involved in the passage of goods through more than one country. Of the total figures, exports from Thailand accounted for 627 billion baht, down 2.05% from the same period last year, while imports were worth 498 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of 129 billion..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
2019-11-29
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-30
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Description: "Myanmar earned over 2.28 billion U.S. dollars from export to foreign countries as of Nov. 15 in fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures from the Commerce Ministry on Wednesday. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, marine products, minerals, forest products, manufacturing goods and others to foreign trade partner countries. From Oct. 1 to Nov. 15, manufacturing goods were mainly exported, earning 1.12 billion U.S. dollars' capital, following by minerals with 526.8 million U.S. dollars. This FY's total export increased by over 568.9 million U.S. dollars, compared to the same period of last FY 2018-2019 when it was 1.7 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the country's total foreign trade reached over 4.59 billion U.S. dollars as of Nov. 15 this FY, with 2.3 billion U.S. dollars' import value..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2019-11-27
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-27
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Topic: Cross-border,transport,Thailand,Myanmar
Topic: Cross-border,transport,Thailand,Myanmar
Description: "Thailand and Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cross-border transport during a recent Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) conference, Deputy Transport Minister Thaworn Senneam said on Wednesday. The signing took place at the 23rd GMS meeting in Phnom Penh on Monday. The MoU is part of the Cross-Border Transport Agreement (CBTA), a treaty on improving cross-border transportation and logisitics. This MoU will apply to cross border trade between Mae Sot district in Tak and Myawaddy in Myanmar. It involves both nations improving immigration checkpoint and logistic clearances at the crossing..."
Source/publisher: "Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
2019-11-20
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-21
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Description: "A NEW bridge for heavy commercial vehicles connecting Myanmar and Thailand look set to boost trade links between the two countries. The "No 2 Friendship Bridge" that connects Myawady in Kayin State and Mae Sot in Thailand was opened on Oct 30 with hopes to better facilitate trade activities between the two nations according to The Myanmar Times. In an announcement by the Transportation and Communication ministry about the opening, it also told the first "Friendship Bridge" in the vicinity will continue to be used by regular vehicles. The 270-metre bridge, with an approach road measuring 3.6km on the Myanmar side and 17.5km on the Thai side, costed nearly 200 billion kyat (RM545 million). To mark the launch of the new bridge, three trucks from each side of the border were driven across in a simple event attended by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The Myanmar Highway Freight Transportation Services Association secretary U Aung Moe said the new bridge will help lessen illegal trade and improve the transportation of goods between the two countries. With the bridge now open, trucks from Thailand can now reach Yangon’s Thilawa port and trucks from Myanmar can reach Laem Chabang Port in Bangkok, Thailand. The distance between the two ports stretches about 1,000km. "There are currently about 100 drivers in Myanmar who hold border-crossing licences valid for a year in Myanmar," U Aung Moe said. Myanmar Container Trucks Association executive member U Myo Htut Aung said the new bridge will effectively hasten the transportation of goods compared to before. “In the past, despite having permits for trade in Thailand, we had to drive along restricted routes and were not allowed to cross into Thailand and goods had to be transferred to other trucks at the border..."
Source/publisher: "New Straits Times" (Malaysia)
2019-11-05
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-06
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Description: "Myanmar and Thailand have opened the second friendship bridge that crosses Thaungyin River to boost their border trade, according to the Ministry of Construction on Thursday. The Myanmar-Thai Friendship Bridge-2, built with the help of Thailand, links Myawady in Myanmar's southeastern Kayin state with Mae Sot in Thailand's Tak province. The bridge is 760 meters long and 17.2 meters wide with two traffic lanes and border control facilities and traffic change-over. The inaugural ceremony was held at a temporary pandal erected on the bridge on Wednesday where Myanmar Minister of Construction U Han Zaw emphasized the bilateral relations of the two neighboring countries, cooperation in trade and investment, tourism and labor sectors. According to statistics of the Commerce Ministry, bilateral border trade between Myanmar and Thailand reached over 2.28 billion U.S. dollars as of May 3 in the present fiscal year 2018-19 which ended in September..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2019-10-31
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-31
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Description: "Thailand and Myanmar expect to have cars travelling on three routes between both countries this September, in a move set to bolster the regional economy. Each country will be granted 100 licences for their transport operators, who can drive hundreds of kilometres into the inner areas of the countries, including to Yangon and a port near the Thilawa Special Economic Zone in Myanmar, and Bangkok and Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri, Land Transport Department chief Phiraphon Thawonsuphacharoen said on Friday. "We're selecting and examining operators' qualifications," he said, referring to a process required by the Greater Mekong Subregion Cross-Border Transport Agreement. The routes, which start from Myawaddy-Mae Sot border checkpoint are aimed at supporting international tourism and logistics, Mr Phiraphon said..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
2019-06-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-31
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Description: "Thailand is counting on a new bridge connecting with Myanmar to increase border trade between the two countries. Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said after opening the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge that the new link between Mae Sot district and Myanmar's Myawaddy will increase border trade to 100 billion baht per year from the current level of 78 billion baht. Mr Saksayam and Myanmar Construction Minister Han Zaw chaired the ceremony at the border between their countries. The new bridge has been built to ease traffic jams at the old bridge. The Mae Sot checkpoint is a major gateway for border trade between Thailand and Myanmar. Border trade between the countries accounted for 190 billion baht in the 2018 fiscal year, 78 billion of them through Mae Sot district..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
2019-10-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-30
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Sub-title: U Kyaw Kyaw Maung, governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) and his Thai counterpart Veerathai Santiprabhob, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote the use of the Myanmar kyat and Thai baht for trading at the border, according to
Description: "The governors also inked a second MOU to promote financial innovation and services for payments through collaboration between the two countries, according to the statement. The agreements were signed at the IMF-World Bank meeting in the US on October 18. However, as the MOUs were “unplanned” and took place after negotiations on both sides, further details will be ironed out later, said Daw Myint Myint Kyi, Director General of the CBM. Even though trading at the Thai-Myanmar border is mostly conducted in kyat and baht, payments through banks are conducted in US dollars, said U Hnin Oo, vice chair of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation. “At present, when we make a payment with a bank, we have to exchange to dollars first. Under the agreement, we will be able to narrow any exchange rate losses made,” he said. Of the four countries that share borders with Myanmar, Thailand is thesecond largest trading partner. Trade volumes at the Thai-Myanmar border, including Tachileik, Myawaddy, Kawthoung, Myeik, Htee Khee and Maw Taung during fiscal 2018-19 amounted to US$3.8 billion, according to government data..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2019-10-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-24
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Description: "Myanmar's border trade using Individual Trading Cards (ITCs) totaled over 59 billion kyats (39.3 million U.S. dollars) in the fiscal year 2018-2019 which ended in September, according to figures from the Commerce Ministry on Tuesday. During the period, 163 ITCs were permitted by the ministry and its export value through border gates amounted to over 9.38 billion kyats (6.25 million U.S. dollars) while import value was 49.6 billion kyats (33.1 million U.S. dollars). From Oct. 1, 2018 to Sept. 30, 2019, Myawady border gate registered the highest trade using the ITCs with capital of 32 billion kyats (21.3 million U.S. dollars). Since FY 2012-2013, the ministry issued 1,687 ITCs and its total trade value amounted to over 169.2 billion kyats (112.8 million U.S. dollars), the ministry's figures showed. The country is conducting border trade with China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, fisheries, minerals and forest products to foreign countries while capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods are imported into the country..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2019-10-15
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-16
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Description: "The second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge across the Moei River in Tak's Mae Sot district will be officially opened on Oct 30, according to a press release from the Highways Department. The opening ceremony will be co-chaired by Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob and Myanmar's Minister of Construction Han Zaw. The Thai ambassador to Yangon and the Myanmar ambassador to Bangkok as well as other high-level officials of the two countries will also attend the ceremony. After the official opening, vehicles will cross the bridge from the Thai side of the river to the Myanmar side in a dry run. The Thai and Myanmar ministers will then proceed to open the second border checkpoint at Ban Wang Takhian Tai in tambon Tha Sai Luat of Mae Sot district..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
2019-10-14
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-14
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Description: "TAK: Bilateral border trade between Thailand and Myanmar is expected to flourish after the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge becomes fully operational, starting from Oct 30. Niyom Wairatpanich, vice-chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the bridge is vital to boost border trade between the two countries, increasing trade flow and logistics services through Mae Sot. Thailand's border trade with Myanmar totalled 193 billion baht last year, up 4.9% from a year before. Border trade through Mae Sot amounted to 80 billion baht in 2018. Thailand's overall border trade with all four neighbours rose 4% last year to 1.12 trillion baht, with exports making up 651 billion baht, down 0.5%, and imports worth 474 billion, up 11%. Malaysia was the biggest partner for border trade, with two-way border trade amounting to 572 billion baht, up 1.3%, followed by Laos (214 billion baht, up 3.2%) and Cambodia (146 billion baht, up 16.4%). For the first eight months, Thailand-Myanmar trade accounted for 18.3% of total border trade volume, totalling 55.0 billion baht, a 4.27% decrease..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
2019-10-04
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-04
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Description: "Total trade using Individual Trading Cards (ITCs) through border gates reached over 55 billion kyats (36.7 million U.S. dollars) as of August in present fiscal year 2018-2019, according to the figures released by the Commerce Ministry on Thursday. From Oct.1, 2018 to Aug. 31 this year, Myanmar's export using ITCs via border checkpoints amounted over 8.7 billion kyats (5.8 million U.S. dollars) while its import shared 46.4 billion kyats (30.9 million U.S. dollars). The country is conducting border trade with neighbouring China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India. So far, a total of 1,681 ITCs have been issued by the Commerce Ministry since FY 2012-2013, amounting the trade value of over 165.3 billion kyats (110.3 million U.S. dollars). Myanmar's agricultural products, animal products, fisheries, minerals and forest products are mainly exported to foreign countries while capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods are imported into the country..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua"
2019-09-19
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-20
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Description: "THE ROAD trip from Dawei to Htee Khee, on the border with Thailand, can be an uncomfortable experience. Although the 54 kilometres from the Tanintharyi Region capital to the town of Myitta is tarred, the remaining 101km to Htee Khee is rough and bumpy, and the journey takes about six hours during rainy season. At about the half-way mark, where the road runs beside the Tanintharyi River, the Karen National Union has a checkpoint at which all vehicles are stopped and required to pay a fee of THB100 (about K4,885) for every traveller. Despite the shoddy infrastructure and the presence of armed groups like the KNU, many have high hopes for the crossing, and the business opportunities it may bring. Myanmar recently approved a loan from Thailand to upgrade the highway from the border to a long-delayed Special Economic Zone at Dawei. The Myanmar government was reported in July to be negotiating with the concessionaires, including a large Thai construction company, Italian-Thai Development, to start work on the initial phase of the US$8 billion project, which would include a deep-sea port. Htee Khee, which was the headquarters of the KNU’s Brigade 4 until it relocated to a jungle site in 2012, has already started to attract opportunity seekers from other parts of the country who hope to cash in on the expected boom. For now though it remains a relatively quiet outpost, with little visible trade in either direction. The main business in the area appears to be casinos at nearby jungle resorts. Visitors to Htee Khee are greeted by food stalls, shops and other small businesses, most of which are run by residents of Dawei, or by local ethnic Karen. That said, Mon, Bamar and even Pa-O shopkeepers have also established businesses there. A noticeable difference between Htee Khee and other border gates in Myanmar is a paucity of big trucks, though that is likely to change if and when work begins on the SEZ. Most of the vehicles heading to Htee Khee from the Myanmar side are carrying jobseekers heading to Thailand; most of the trucks from the Thai side are delivering fruit, vegetables and fishing equipment. Htee Khee’s development potential has also attracted investors from Dawei and other Tanintharyi Region townships. Thais with an interest in history are frequent visitors to Htee Khee as they head to Dawei and other nearby locations because the region was twice ruled by Siamese kingdoms, from 1287 to 1594 and from 1740 to about 1760..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Frontier Myanmar"
2019-09-13
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-13
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Sub-title: Thailand and Myanmar have long had business and economic ties, with the Thais even establishing a trade and business centre in Yangon. Last year, trade volumes between the two countries reached US$7.5 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 7 per
Description: "Moving forward, Thanawut Naigowit, who was appointed as Thai Economic Counsellor and Director of the Thai Business Centre in Yangon last month, has plans to increase trade between Thailand and Myanmar to US$10billion over the next few years. This comes at a time when Myanmar is attempting to raise export volumes to Thailand at the Myawady border. “Myanmar businessmen need to find the right business partners from Thailand. Most of Myanmar people know about products made in Thailand but Thai people need to know more about Myanmar products first before exports can improve,” Mr Thanawat told the Myanmar Times in a recent interview. During the interview, Mr Thanawat also discussed the role of the Thai Business Centre as well as drawing more Thai investments into Myanmar: What suggestions do you have for Myanmar traders? The Thai Business Centre is under Thailand’s government and Ministry of Commerce. We are able to check whether companies actually exist or do businesses. So, please come to us to inquire whether these companies are real or not before buying things from them. So far, only two or three Myanmar businesses have lodged reports at the centre during the term of the previous counsellor and since I took over. The cases involved fraudulent businesses, non-payment for goods delivered, and non-delivery of goods paid for..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times"
2019-09-11
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Description: Contents: Foreword... Executive summary ... Introduction... 1 - Objective .... 2 - Methodology.... Part 1 - Myanmar?s cross-border trade.... 1 - Impact of sanctions on cross-border trade.... 2 - Local perceptions of cross-border trade.... 3 - The context of informal/illegal cross-border trade .... 4 - Illegal versus illicit products.... 5 - Costs and benefits of informal cross-border trade.... 6 - Case studies related to cross-border trade and its effects...... Part 2 - Cross-border mobility and human smuggling from Myanmar: 1 - Illegal border crossings... 2 - Causes and effects of cross-border mobility.... 3 - Costs and benefits of mobility .... Conclusion.....Executive summary: "Myanmar, the second biggest country in terms of area in mainland South East Asia, borders five neighboring countries: China, Thailand, India, Bangladesh, and Lao PDR. Myanmar?s longest borders are with China (approximately 1,357 miles) and Thailand (approximately 1,314 miles), and it shares coastal waters with Malaysia and Singapore. Being a member of at least nine Asia and Pacific inter-governmental organizations that include the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Upper Mekong Commercial Navigation, the Asia Pacific Fishery Commission, Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT), and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Myanmar is actively involved in various economic cooperation programs. However, the pace of Myanmar?s economic development still lags behind that of other members in these organizations. In addition, informal activities and informal moment of goods and people have been quite significant due to many factors. Although various policy measures have been developed to mitigate these informal activities, there has not been any study regarding the sources of these informal activities, their costs and benefits, impacts and consequences of the existence and nonexistence of these activities, or how these activities could be mitigated without having significant negative economic and social impacts on the local people and the economy as the whole. Without knowing causes and effects, costs and benefits, and factors behind informal activities, it is not simple to come up with restrictive policies to control them. In some cases, restrictive policies have caused severe adverse social and economic impacts on the community. Hence, it is very important that proper research is conducted in order to identify multidimensional issues that could effectively be addressed by multidimensional policies through close cooperation among the stakeholders. This paper attempts to identify factors behind causes and effects of informal flows in goods and persons across the borders between Myanmar and its neighboring countries, especially China and Thailand, and to address related issues and possible policy implications."
Creator/author: Winston Set Aung
Source/publisher: Irasec (Carnet de l?Irasec / Occasional Paper S?rie Observatoire / Observatory Series No 04)
2011-06-00
Date of entry/update: 2012-09-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Once again, the flow of goods across the Moei River between Burma and Thailand has been brought to a standstill by bilateral bickering and Burma?s internal tensions... "Anyone looking for clues as to why Burma lags so far behind its Southeast Asian neighbors in terms of economic development need look no further than the Friendship Bridge spanning the Moei River between Myawaddy, Burma, and Mae Sot, Thailand..."
Creator/author: WAI MOE
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 18, No. 9
2010-09-00
Date of entry/update: 2012-07-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: A Briefing Document by Global Witness. October 2003... Table of Contents... Recommendations... Introduction... Summary: Natural Resources and Conflict in Burma; SLORC/SPDC-controlled logging; China-Burma relations and logging in Kachin State; Thailand-Burma relations and logging in Karen State... Part One: Background: The Roots of Conflict; Strategic location, topography and natural resources; The Peoples of Burma; Ethnic diversity and politics; British Colonial Rule... Independence and the Perpetuation of Conflict: Conflict following Independence and rise of Ne Win; Burma under the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP); The Four Cuts counter – insurgency campaign; The 1988 uprising and the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC); The 1990 General Election and the drafting of a new Constitution; Recent Developments: The Detention of Aung San Suu Kyi... The Administration of Burma: Where Power Lies: The State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); The Cabinet; The Three Generals; The Tatmadaw; Regional Commanders... Part Two: Logging in Burma:- The Economy: The importance of the timber trade; Involvement of the Army; Bartering; Burma?s Forests; Forest cover, deforestation rates and forest degradation... The Timber Industry in Burma: The Administration of forestry in Burma; Forest Management in Burma, the theory; The Reality of the SPDC-Controlled Timber Trade... Law enforcement: The decline of the Burma Selection System and Institutional Problems; Import – Export Figures; SPDC-controlled logging in Central Burma; The Pegu Yomas; The illegal timber trade in Rangoon; SLORC/SPDC control over logging in ceasefire areas... Ceasefires: Chart of armed ethnic groups. April 2002; Ceasefire groups; How the SLORC/SPDC has used the ceasefires: business and development... Conflict Timber: Logging and the Tatmadaw; Logging as a driver of conflict; Logging companies and conflict on the Thai-Burma border; Controlling ceasefire groups through logging deals... Forced Labour: Forced labour logging... Opium and Logging: Logging and Opium in Kachin State; Logging and Opium in Wa... Conflict on the border: Conflict on the border; Thai-Burmese relations and ‘Resource Diplomacy?; Thais prioritise logging interests over support for ethnic insurgents; The timber business and conflict on the Thai-Burma border; Thai Logging in Karen National Union territory; The end of SLORC logging concessions on the Thai border; The Salween Scandal in Thailand; Recent Logging on the Thai-Burma border... Karen State: The Nature of Conflict in Karen State; The Karen National Union (KNU); The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA); Logging in Karen State; Logging and Landmines in Karen State; Charcoal Making in Nyaunglebin District... The China-Burma Border: Chinese-Burmese Relations; Chinese-Burmese relations and Natural Resource Colonialism; The impact of logging in China; The impact of China?s logging ban; The timber trade on the Chinese side of the border... Kachin State: The Nature of Conflict in Kachin State; The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO); Jade and the KIA?s insurgent Economy; Dabak and Mali Hydroelectric Power Projects; The New Democratic Army (Kachin) (NDA(K)); The Kachin Defence Army (KDA); How the ceasefires have affected insurgent groups in Kachin State; HIV/AIDS and Extractive Industries in Kachin State ; Logging in Kachin State; Gold Mining in Kachin State; The N?Mai Hku (Headwaters) Project; Road Building in Kachin State... Wa State: Logging in Wa State; Timber Exports through Wa State; Road building in Wa State; Plantations in Wa State... Conclusion... Appendix I: Forest Policies, Laws and Regulations; National Policy, Laws and Regulations; National Commission on Environmental Affairs; Environmental policy; Forest Policy; Community Forestry; International Environmental Commitments... Appendix II: Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG): Ministerial Declaration... References. [the pdf version contains the text plus maps, photos etc. The Word version contains text and tables only]
Source/publisher: Global Witness
2003-10-00
Date of entry/update: 2010-07-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English (Thai & Kachin summaries)
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Description: "TROIS mois après la prise d'otages à l'ambassade de Birmanie à Bangkok - le 2 octobre 1999 - dont le dénouement pacifique avait causé la fureur de la junte de Rangoun, les frontières terrestres avec la Thaïlande ont été rouvertes. La fermeture, qui avait paralysé une partie de l'économie birmane, illustre la relation tumultueuse qu'entretiennent les deux voisins, de plus en plus alliés bien que souvent tiraillés par des intérêts contradictoires...Sous le sacro-saint prétexte du développement, et au nom de la lutte contre la crise économique, les Thaïlandais risquent de donner un feu vert aux dirigeants birmans pour poursuivre en toute tranquillité leur répression des populations appartenant principalement aux minorités ethniques..."
Creator/author: André et Louis Boucaud
Source/publisher: Le Monde Diplomatique
2000-01-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Francais, French
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