CNI News
22 Mar 2023
As some fishery products exported to Thailand through the Singkhon-Mawdaung gate leaked foul-smelling liquid, Thai authorities have warned that the exports of some fishery products will be prohibited at the gate, according to the Singkhon-Mawdaung Border Traders Association.
Thai authorities have instructed exporters to pack fishery products and jellyfish, major export items through the gate, properly or otherwise, exports of them will be prohibited from the gate, Ko Myo Ko, an exporter at the gate, told the CNI.
A truck at the Singkhon-Mawdaung border gate.
"Thai authorities have been holding negotiations with us because jellyfish containers leak a lot of water that makes the gate very dirty. So, If we use plastic bags in the containers, the water will not spill. And fish trucks are told to drain water before they arrive at the gate. Otherwise, they will have to ban fishery exports. There are many other export commodities traded through the gate. Fishery products are frozen but jellyfish need water. If we can follow their instructions, there is no problem. Otherwise, they will prohibit fishery products."
There is a buffer zone known as No Man's Land at the Singkhon-Mawdaung gate and exporters dump water and wastes at the zone. As a result, the areas has been filled with wastes and foul water and Thai border guard forces made complaints to their authorities.
As the Singkhon-Mawdaung gate has mainly been used for fishery exports from Tanintharyi Region, fishery exports are banned from the gate, it would take longer time and cost fishery exporters higher transportation charges, an official from the association told the CNI.
A fishery market at Thai-Myanmar border.
He said, "It has an impact on Myeik District because fishery products are mainly exported to Thailand from Myeik as the route is short. If they banned fishey exports from the Singkhon-Mawdaung gate, we will have to use the Ranong route and will suffer more delays and losses. We are using Singkhon-Mawdaung gate because it is easy to export fishery products in a short time.
Border trade at Singkhon-Mawdaung gate, exports make up 70 percent of trade and imports accounted for only 30 percent, according to the statistics of the ministry of commerce.
Before the outbreak of COVID-19, border trade from the gate hit as much as Baht 5 million daily.
