Border trade between the two countries has increased, earning over US$900,000 from Myanmar’s exports including tobacco, thanks to the bridge.
The border trade between Myanmar and Laos has increased from April to July following the opening of the Myanmar-Laos Friendship Bridge and more than US$900,000 have been received from exports including Myanmar tobacco, according to the Trade Department under the Ministry of Commerce.
During the period when the bridge was not built, the trade between the two countries did not develop, but now that the bridge has been completed, it has increased.
“Trade has improved since the opening of the friendship bridge with Laos, which had almost no trade with Myanmar. Since Laos is buying Myanmar’s tobacco, we were able to export 22 tonnes of tobacco to Laos through the Kenglatborder station in the first week of September, earning $35,000 in exports.
”During the period from April to July of this financial year, we were able to export aquatic products and agricultural produce from Myanmar to Laos through border trade,” said Daw Cho Thet Mu, Deputy Director of the Department of Trade.
In the period from April to July of the 2023-2024 financial year, more than $900,000 was earned from shrimp exports, over $14,000 from rice exports and over $35,000 from tobacco exports totalling $997,000.
The goods were exported through the export declaration of the Kenglak border station, and corn crops will also be exported in the next financial year.
The Myanmar-Laos border trade station named the Kenglak border in Tachilek District of Shan State (East) was opened on 26 August with the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund 2021. — ASH/KZL
