Myanmar-Thai border passes to open in December
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Maw Taung, Maesal, Htee Kee passes to boost border trade, communication
The Ministry of Commerce will open three Myanmar-Thailand border passes in December, a source from the ministry said.
Maw Taung in Tanintharyi region, Maesal and Htee Kee in Kayah state are the border passes being opened to boost cross-border trade and communication, according to the ministry.
Htee Kee border pass, which used to be a checkpoint, is now being upgraded to a border trade zone and it will issue licences for import of goods from Thailand to facilitate trade development of the Dawei Special Economic Zone.
A memorandum of understanding were signed by U Nyan Tun, the vice president of Myanmar and Yingluck Shinawatra, the prime minister of Thailand, last week in Bangkok.
The two countries agreed to increase trade volume three fold and formed a joint trade committee to improve trade and eliminate smuggling.
“There are 22 illegal border passes around Myawaddy Border Trade Zone in Karen state. The illegal trade volume is higher than the official volume,” said Nyunt Aung, deputy director of the Border Trade Department.
The authorities are setting a special mobile investigation teams to seize the smuggling on the Yangon-Myawaddy trade route starting in the third week of this month.
The teams will take action against illegal import and export of goods by fining the smugglers for licensing.
Official figures from Thailand showed that trade between Myawaddy and Mae Sot amounted to more than $821 million from January to September this year. But Myanmar only placed it at $85 million, with more than $700 million unaccounted for.
Myanmar said it imported $51 million worth of goods while Thailand placed it at $800 million. The official said this is because the bulk of imports to Myanmar are illegal.
The amount also does not include data from other border zones like Tachilake, Myeik, and Kawthaung.
Products smuggled to Myanmar from Thailand are mostly petroleum, palm oil, consumer goods, machineries, electrical appliances, vehicles and their spare parts.
