Vice-Senior General Soe Win urges officials to crack down on long-standing illegal trade practices in Myanmar.
Chairman of the Steering Committee for Illegal Trade Eradication Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win pointed out the eradication of illegal trade at the steering committee meeting 5/2023 at the Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
He underscored that the main attack on manufacturing and trade of the State is illegal trade measures, adding a severe action must be taken with effective prevention and inspection against illegal trade which is a primary hindrance to economic development to ensure a stronger economic drive of the State.
With regard to significant events in July and August, the Vice-Senior General explained exposing and taking action against illegal trafficking of maize by vessel, train and car in Bago Region and Mon State, preventing attempts to export illegal maize via Yangon Region and exposing illegal withdrawing of 11 containers at Thilawa Special Economic Zone. Although this year’s cases and value of seizures exceeded that of the previous year, it indicates illegal trade processes in both export and import measures. As such, the Vice-Senior General stressed that special task forces need to carefully expose and seize export and import measures to prevent illegal trade, he noted.
The Vice-Senior General highlighted that the standard operating procedure (SOP) must be updated systematically for using cargo flights for the export of goods to eradicate illegal trade.
He unveiled that action is being taken against the illegal trade of fuel and cooking oils.
Moreover, he stressed that the e-lock system is being implemented for checking the transport of commodities as a six-month pilot project. Officials have to cooperate in seeking strong and weak points of the e-lock system in respective phases to eradicate the illegal trade, he added.
The Vice-Senior General underlined that relevant ministries need to arrange a stick-and-carrot system to honour outstanding service personnel while taking severe action against those who break rules and regulations, laws and restrictions.
Vice-Chairmen of the Steering Committee Union Ministers U Win Shein and Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and Steering Committee member Union Minister U Tun Ohn reported on reviews on illegal trade measures, implementation of the e-lock system, reviewing the laws and bylaws for amendments, seizures of narcotic drugs, prohibited precursor chemicals, vehicles, foodstuffs, drugs and cosmetics, illegal sales of goods online, use of QR codes and others.
Chairs of region and state illegal trade eradication special task forces joined the meeting through videoconferencing. — MNA/TTA
