In order to boost the region’s export competitiveness, the Kachin government, Ministry of Commerce, and UK-funded DaNa Facility organized a product show and export promotion workshop in Myitkyina

The Kachin government, the commerce ministry and UK-funded DaNa Facility organised a product show and export promotion workshop in Myitkyina over the weekend to boost the region’s export competitiveness.

The “Kachin Regional Product Show and Export Promotion Workshop”, spearheaded by Dr Khet Aung, Chief Minister of Kachin State, U Aung Soe, director general of Myanmar Trade Promotion Organisation (MyanTrade) and Peter Brimble from DaNa, brought together business leaders as well as policy-makers from the government. 

The aim is to boost exports from Kachin and harness the potential for Kachin products in the National Export Strategy. The workshop focused on the roll-out of the Myanmar Private Sector Development Framework and Action Plan, which outlines government’s approach to private sector development. 

“These programmes represent a major step towards decentralising responsibilities for trade and investment promotion and facilitation to the states and regions,” DaNa stated.

U Aung Soe urged the business community and authorities in Kachin to support exports and in doing so increase the incomes and economic prosperity of businesses and individuals across the region. 

“We need to ensure that trade support activities are implemented in a commercial manner and coordinated with national plans because then we will be certain of their success,” he said.

Located in northern Myanmar, Kachin State shares a long border with China to the east and north, as well as India and Sagaing Region to the west and Shan State to the south. Kachin’s regional economy is predominantly agricultural, while mining and wood trade play a big part in fuelling a massive informal economy.

Economic development in the region has been severely hindered by the history of conflict between Nay Pyi Taw and the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO). Resurgence of conflict between the two parties since 2011 has led to extensive damage to infrastructure, disruption of livelihoods and prolonged displacement of thousands among the local population.

Major Kachin products under the National Export Strategy tentatively include rice, corn, mango, rubber, banana, pineapple and tourism. The main export market at present is China via border trade, but Myitkyina, the regional government, has ambitions to improve the competitiveness of value chains to break into markets in neighbouring countries and further afield. The collaboration between the Kachin government and MyanTrade to integrate and align the state with the National Export Strategy will facilitate this objective.

Peter Brimble, team leader at the DaNa Facility, said that unlocking trade and investment must be supported at a sub-national level, involving the regional governments and businesses. 

“We are supporting them [states and regions] to identify and promote new and existing products, both locally and further afield.

“Trade and investment are essential if we are to see the full potential of businesses realised and more jobs and incomes created for the poor and disadvantaged in Myanmar,” Mr Brimble remarked.

DaNa, funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), is a 4.5-year programme which supports inclusive economic growth and private sector development in Myanmar. DFID’s budget for Myanmar in 2017-18 is £110 million (US$152.4 million), and the department extensively supports work through multi-donor agencies.

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/kachin-pushes-grain-fruit-and-rubber-exports.html )

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