CNI News
27 April 2024
The Myawaddy trade route, a Thai-Myanmar border trade post, was needed to recover so that there would be a smooth flow of goods within Myanmar and the prices would decline, according to economic analysts and traders.
Because battles are currently breaking out, the China-Myanmar border trade and the India-Myanmar border trade have suspended. Although the China-Myanmar border trade in northern Shan State has been re-opened, the trade has not been conducted yet.
Regarding the Myawaddy border trade that has stopped due to battles, the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the revolutionary forces have agreed to keep Myawaddy as a non-combat economic zone in order to deliver goods reportedly. So, if the Myawaddy economic zone could be re-opened, it would be beneficial to the country, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.
"There are border trade posts with China, India and Thailand. But to tell you honestly, there is only one post with Thailand left. Althught the border trade posts have been re-opened in northern Shan State, the people don't understand how they have been re-opened. We are still lucky to have only one border trade post. If we don't even have this trade post, we'll get into trouble. If both sides agree to keep Myawaddy as a non-combat economic zone, it is beneficial to the country. It's essential to make the Myawaddy border trade route good. We are glad if both sides have agreed to that." he said.
Because the Myawaddy border trade stopped due to battles, it affects the Thai economy, and is making the prices higher and causing commodity shortages in Myanmar.
It would be the best if non-combat zones could be established in any region, Mahn Pyi Aung Soe, chairman of the Karen National Democratic Party, told CNI News.
While seeing the Myawaddy border gate
" The suspension of the border trade adversely affects the Thai economy. And then, not only the people of Karen State, but also the people of the whole country suffer from higher prices. It will be better to keep Myawaddy as a non-combat zone. In fact, it will be best to keep any region as non-combat zones." he said.
Myawaddy border trade post is a post whose trade value is several million dollars.
Moreover, among the border trade gates, Myawaddy border trade gate is the shortest and fastest trade gate.
Because the trade was not conducted through the Myawaddy border gate in exporting to Thailand, trading by sea caused delays and they found it difficult, said traders.
If the trade could be conducted through the Myawaddy border trade, the flow of goods would be faster and agricultural products could be exported at a more profitable price, U Thant Zin Tun, vice chairman of the Myanmar Corn Industrial Association, told CNI News.
" The shortest and fastest route to export corn or other agricultural products from Yangon, the commercial capital, is the Myawaddy border trade. If we can't use this border trade, we have to trade by sea. If so, we face a lot of difficulties. It would be so much better if the border trade was re-opened." he said.
Because the battles broke out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KNLA/PDF joint forces in Karen State, the No.2 Friendship Bridge in Myawaddy Township, mainly important to the Thai-Myanmar border trade, has been closed since 11th April, 2024. So, the bilateral trade has been suspended.
Among the border gates that can trade with Thailand - Tachileik, Myawaddy, Htikhee, Mawdaung, Myeboederik and Kawthaung, Myawaddy is the border gate where trade can be mostly conducted.
The trade value of the Thai-Myanmar border trade was more than one billion dollars in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
