CNI News
27 Oct 2022
Bananas will be allowed to transport not on trailer trucks but in containers through Kanpaiti Border Gate for China-Myanmar border trade in the upcoming banana harvesting season, according to merchants and freight transportation services in Kachin State.
Therefore, truck owners are making preparations to carry containers on their trucks, U Win Aung, a truck owner and banana merchant from Kanpaiti border trade camp, told the CNI.
He said, “We will have to use containers this year. Truck owners are taking down car bodies and making holes for locks. It is better for us because this prevents damage for our trucks. We will just leave the containers at the border trading camp. The arrangement is only for bananas. I think other fruits like watermelon will have to be transported in baskets.”
The system will be applied for exports of bananas and other export items like corn, rice and water melons will be exported as usual. About 700 trucks have been repaired to carry containers and there are only about 200 trailer trucks left.
A truck under inspection for COVID-19 restriction at a Chinese border gate.
Banana merchants and businessmen have promised to hire a container truck at least five times a month, truck driver Ko Shan Gyi told the CNI.
He said, “We will have to be cautious about electricity lines when we enter or go out of the town. They promised us to hire a truck five times a month and agreed to pay transportation charges for five trips even if they fail to hire a truck five times a month.”
The arrangement was proposed during a negotiation between the Kachin State Freight Transportation Services Association and Chinese International Chamber of Commerce to facilitate the commodity flow and prevention of COVID-19.
Normally, truck drivers can travel to the border gate from five to eight times but they had to content themselves with only two trips to the border gate due to closures and restrictions imposed for prevention of COVID-19 last year.
It costs MMK 1.2 to 1.5 million to make repairs to carry containers on a truck.
