Relocation of Myawady border checkpoint facilitates licensed goods export and import

Following the landslides caused by torrential rain on the Myawady road section on 7 August, the border checkpoint for the export and import of licensed goods will be shifted to the Myawady trade zone, according to the notification released by the Trade Department (Myawady Trade Zone) on 8 August.
The successive rain inundated road sections in Myawady which is the major point for Myanmar and Thailand border trade and repairs to the damaged road sections are underway.
To ensure smooth trade, the exporters can move to some Myanmar-Thailand border posts after receiving the export licence for the goods. If they want to change the mode of transport to maritime transport, the authority will give the green light to it as well.
This move will also cover the importers engaged in Myanmar-Thailand border trade for the licensed goods.
The torrential rain caused landslides on the Myawady-Kawkareik Asian Highway in Kayin State and road transport came to a halt on that section. There is no road safety to use the old Dawna mountain road as well.
That road was constructed under the rule of the British and the scenic view on that road attracts tourists. Upon the opening of the new Asia highway in late 2016, the Dawna mountain road was left abandoned and after eight years, the commuters turned to that old road.
There are six border points between Myanmar and Thailand; Tachilek, Myawady, Kawthoung, Myeik, Hteekhee and Mawtaung. Of them, Hteekhee performs the largest trading value and Myawady is the second border post with bustling trading activity.
Myanmar conducts border trade with neighbouring Thailand, China, Bangladesh and India.
Agricultural products, livestock products, fisheries, minerals, forest products, finished industrial goods and other goods are exported to the neighbouring countries while it imports capital goods, intermediate goods, consumer goods and raw materials by the enterprises working on a Cutting-Making and Packaging basis. — NN/EM