CNI News

9 October 2024

Kachin State's Kanpaiti and Lweje border trade gates with China cannot be restarted in the current open season, according to truck drivers.

Although now is the time to export tissue culture banana produced in Kachin State to China, as there is no banana to be exported, truck drivers have to be working in other townships. 

Moreover, battles are breaking out between the Myanmar Tatmadaw and the KIA/PDF joint forces along the route going to Kanpaiti and Lweje, Ko Sit Naing, a truck driver from Lweje, told CNI News.

While seeing the KIA

" We have stopped the work since April or May because there is no tissue banana. We might restart the work in October or November. But for the time being, we possibly can't start because battles are severely breaking out in all the places where we work." he said.

Because battles often break out on the road between Myitkyina and Mandalay, trucks are blocked and battles are severely breaking out in Waingmaw Township as well.

Moreover, as the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has captured Kanpaiti Town, the border trade could not be opened, said truck drivers. 

The truck drivers who were working at the border gates in Kachin State went to northern and eastern Shan State to work, Ko Thawdar Aung, a truck driver from Kanpaiti, told CNI News.

While seeing the Kanpaiti trade and trucks

" For the time being, Kanpaiti has been closed. The trucks from lower part are not sure to carry banana because the entire Bhamo has been captured. Even if we want to go to northern Shan State, we have to go through Kalaw, Aungban or Pindaya." he said.

The border gates in Kachin State are mainly used to export tissue culture banana that have been grown in Kachin State. Moreover, rice, corn and other crops are also exported. 

And then, construction materials, consumer goods and electric products are imported from China through the border trade gate.