social_media

Sino-Myanmar Kanpaiti border post resumes operations in mid-December

Myanmar delivered 20 truckloads of tissue banana to China through Kanpaiti border post following the reopening of the border post, Kachin State Fruits and Vegetables Producers and Exporters Association stated. Kanpaiti border post, which has been shut down for over four months, was reopened on 15 December. Chinese authorities shut down all the Sino-Myanmar border posts amidst the COVID-19 impacts on 11 July. After a series of negotiation between Myanmar government and Chinese counterparts, the border post resumed its operation again.

Myanmar conveyed more than 20 truckloads of tissue banana to China, said U Gam Aung, secretary of the association. Myanmar exporters had to seek approval first from Kachin State government and then, they exported them to China as per instruction of the stategovernment, he continued. “Our company had requested Kachin State government to operate 20 trucks for cargo transport. Other respective companies also asked the government to grant permit for export. The government had given the go-ahead to seven out of 20 trucks so far,” he added.

Myanmar truck drivers and assistants have to take a rapid COVID-19 test twice at Washaung and Kanpaiti checkpoints as a mandatory. The driver substitution system is practised in China’s side, said a businessman. There is a short haul transport service in China. After they unload the goods, they return the trucks to Myanmar drivers. Myanmar drivers cannot enter China market at the moment, said an exporter. Myanmar primarily sent tissue banana to China via Kanpaiti, whereas the consumer goods, building materials and agricultural inputs are imported into the country. The initial agreement covers 500 trucks from Myanmar for Sino-Myanmar border trade via Kanpaiti posts.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

covid-19-variants

Announcement on COVID-19 mutation surveillance process

Nay Pyi Taw
19-12-2021

Department of Public Health, Department of Medical Research, Department of Medical Services, National Health Laboratory under the Ministry of Health has been conducting “COVID-19 Molecular Surveillance” in collaboration with the Tatmadaw Medical Research Corps.

According to the process, people came back from the border checkpoints, by relief flights and from Thailand, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, India, Bangladesh and Malaysia through border checkpoints.

Of the returnees, 36 laboratory samples were taken from those who were infected with COVID-19 virus. The SARS-CoV-2 Variant Omicron’s Real Time PCR Test was performed on these samples at the National Health Laboratory under the Department of Medical Services of the Ministry of Health and found no SARS-CoV-2 Variant Omicron.

Ministry of Health

Denmark-embassy-in-Myanmar1

Manufacturing sector attracts $75.6 mln in Oct-Nov

Majority of foreign enterprises eye the manufacturing sector for investments, pumping the estimated capital of US$75.6 million into eight projects in the past two months of the current mini-budget period, the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration stated. The manufacturing enterprises and businesses that need a large labour force are prioritized, Myanmar Investment Commission stated. At present, labour-intensive enterprises are facing financial hardship amid the COVID-19 negative impacts and the political changes.

Myanmar’s garment export drastically dropped on the back of slump in demand by European Union market in the previous months. Consequently, some CMP garment factories permanently and temporarily shut down and left thousands of workers unemployed. Nonetheless, the industry is returning to normal after the COVID-19 vaccination programme for the workers, as per the HIS Markit’s September report.

Myanmar’s manufacturing sector is largely concentrated in garment and textiles produced on the Cutting, Making, and Packaging basis, and it contributes to the country’s GDP to a certain extent. Myanmar has drawn foreign direct investment of more than $234.5 million from 13 enterprises during October-November period. The investments are flowing agriculture, livestock and fisheries, manufacturing, power, construction, transport and communications, hotels and tourism and other services sectors, including expansion of capital by existing enterprises and investments in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone, the DICA’s statistics indicated.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

muse_trade

Muse border trade plunges by $896.4 mln as of 10 Dec

The value of trade between Myanmar and China via the Muse land border as of 10 December 2021 of the current mini-budget period (October 2021-March 2022) reflected a drastic drop of US$896.4 million as against the year-ago period owing to the border trade suspension, as per the Ministry of Commerce. The value of Muse border trade touched a low of US$197.37 million over the past month amid the COVID-19 impacts. The figures plummeted from $1.09 billion recorded in the year-ago period, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

As of 10 December, Myanmar’s exports to China through the Muse land border were valued at $193 million, while imports are worth $4 million. The trade showed a slump in both exports and imports compared to the corresponding period of last year. The border posts next to Muse are Nantaw, Sinphyu, Mang Wein, Kyinsankyawt-Wamting and Panseng-Wamting posts. Earlier, China shut down all the border posts amidst the COVID-19 negative consequences. At present, some border checkpoints are operating trade activities on a trial run. Myanmar can now convey the watermelon to China by Chinese trucks when they unloaded their goods in Myanmar.

However, quality is of vital importance as Chinese authorities will not allow the fruits of inferior quality for import, the Muse fruit commodity depot stated. Additionally, China’s new Customs Regulation and mandatory quarantine process posed some hurdles in the border market. Traders cannot expect trade facilitation according to the changes in China’s policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Myanmar exports agricultural products, including rice, beans and corn, and fishery products such as crab, prawn, etc. Furthermore, Myanmar’s natural gas export to China is also conducted through the Muse-Ruili border. The raw CMP materials, electrical appliances and consumer goods are imported into the country.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar