Tanintharyi Region government makes an effort to develop a domestic-based system for the trading of marine products between Myanmar and Thailand

Efforts are being taken to develop a domestic-based system for the trading of marine products at between Myanmar and Thailand as part of a new economic policy for Tanintharyi Region, Chief Minister Dr Le Le Maw told The Myanmar Times.

To sell fish and other marine produce or seafood, Myanmar traders currently must travel to specific trading sites in Thailand. That needs to change moving forward.“As we don’t have a strong local market, Myanmar traders have to sell in Thailand,” Dr Le Le Maw told The Myanmar Times at the launching ceremony of Citizen’s Budget of Tanintharyi Region in Dawei on Monday.

There are currently plans to establish markets for trading marine products like fish and other seafood in Myeik, Dawei and Kawthoung districts under an auction system, she added. The initial plan includes two markets in Myeik, and one each in Dawei and Kawthoung.

“The first fish market is likely to be in Myeik district at Pa Htet Kan, which  has a marine product processing factory. Meanwhile, several businesses have applied for permission to build a jetty and fish auction market there and it may take time. It is quite difficult to guess how long it will take as the move will change the whole market,” Regional Minister for Planning and Finance U Phyo Wai Tun said.

Another market will be established at Thayet Chaung township in Dawei district with $18million in private investments approved by the Myanmar Investment Commission. That market is now at ground-leveling stage.

The marine product and seafood sector, which includes small-scale fishermen, is one of the top economic industries in Tanintharyi Region. However, illegal trading between Thai buyers who enter Myanmar waters by boat is rampant and has resulted in losses for the State, one Dawei resident told The Myanmar Times.

To establish the legal fish markets according to the economic policy, the Regional government will need help and cooperation from the Myanmar navy, Dr Le Le Maw said. “We are negotiating to cooperate with the navy. To prevent illegal trading, the role of the navy is important,” she said.

Between April 1, 2017 and January 12, foreign income from local marine product sales amounted to $516 million, according to the Ministry of Commerce. 

However, if all marine product exports from Tanintharyi Region can be systematically and legally arranged, export volumes could triple, one official from Myanmar Fisheries Federation said.

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/new-fish-markets-under-consideration-tanintharyi.html )

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