Exporters require to grant permission to allow the use of Yangon-Mandalay Expressway for fruit trucks

Fruit commodity depots of the Muse 105th Mile trade zone requested the Ministry of Construction on 9 December to grant permission to drive the fruit trucks on Yangon-Mandalay highway.
Earlier, the trucks were allowed to drive on the Yangon–Mandalay highway from 5 October to 30 November. During the permission period, the watermelon and muskmelon from Yangon region, Bago region and Mon State were sent to Mandalay through the highway. It took a minimum of eight hours and a maximum of 15 hours. Additionally, it could save time. Besides rapid transportation, it could save the fuel oil costs and transport charges as well as fresh and more marketable fruits, according to the Muse 105th Mile trade zone fruit commodity depots.
Now, the above-mentioned 12-wheel trucks are not permitted to travel on the highway starting from 1 December because of the pandemic. The trucks are only allowed to travel through the old road by showing off the health certificates. It is taking longer miles, and thus it has an impact on the fruits’ freshness and the price.
“We requested the authorities to grant permission to drive on the highway for fruit trucks. It would be better to get permission as quickly as possible. Other countries permit the trucks to drive through highway. Because we pay the highway tax, we should have permission to drive on the highway. Soon after the outbreak of COVID-19, the trucks were allowed to drive on the highway till the end-November. Since then, the authorities have closed the highway for the trucks. Now, we are facing the delay. If we can drive on the highway, the farmers’ goods will have a smooth export route and the transport will be faster. If we take a too long time on the road, the fruit quality will drop, and we could not get a good price. This could adversely affect the local growers,” said U Sai Khin Maung, vice-chairman of fruit commodity depots at the Muse 105th Mile trade zone.
As of the end-November, around 60 fruit trucks were passing on Yangon-Mandalay highway daily. If we are granted the permission to drive on the highway, there will be about 100 or 120 trucks on the road daily, he added.
The Muse commodity depot will also request for granting the permission for the below 12-wheel trucks to drive carrying watermelon and muskmelon from Yangon, Ayeyawady, Mandalay and Bago regions and Mon state, to export them to China via border route on highway continuously, according to fruit commodity depots at the Muse 105th Mile trade zone. (Translated by Hay Mar)

(The Global New Light of Myanmar: Exporters Require Permission To Drive Fruit Trucks On YGN-MDY Highway - GNLM )

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