CNI News

20 Jan 2023

Although the new Sittwe Port, a part of the Kaladan Multi-modal Transport Transit Project, has not been inaugurated officially, trading operations at the port have already started, according to merchants.

Rice was exported from the new port to Bangladesh at the beginning of January, Chairman U Tin Aung Oo of the Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the CN

The new Sittwe Port.

He said, "The official inauguration ceremony hasn't been held but its operations have already started. A ship exported rice to Bangladesh used the port for the first time recently."

Although foreign ships and export ships are allowed to use the new port, other freight vessels have not been allowed to use the port.

Although the new port has been in operation, no other ships have used the port and trade will be facilitated only after regular shipping lines and coastal liners have resumed, he added.

He told the CNI, "The new port has been in operation. It is important to ply regular scheduled ships between Sittwe and Bangladesh and Kolkata and coastal liners. Only then, trade will be facilitated gradually. At present, the port is in operation but there are no regular shipping lines to transport goods."

A road junction in Rakhine State.

As a part of the Kaladan Multi-modal Transport Transit Project, the new Sittwe port links directly with the Kolkata port while it can also be used for trade with the Chittagong port in Bangladesh.

The new port can handle vessels as heavy as 6000 tons and facilitate trade, according to merchants.

They haven't known how port authorities will provide services for local merchants, Merchant U Than Naing told the CNI.

He said, "The new port will contribute to direct trade with India but we still don't know how the port will operate. Are we allowed to trade with India? We still need to know whether authorities have permitted us to export pulses and beans and corn from the port to India and to import goods we need like construction materials."

After the port has been in operation, merchants and entrepreneurs are holding negotiations with Indian authorities to run vessels along the route monthly or weekly.

Measures are also being taken to allow local coastal liners to dock at the port.