Seizures of illegal trade volume approximately amounted to K250.176 billion in 12,430 cases up to April 2024.
Vice-Senior General Soe Win highlighted that the International Trade Centre (ITC) showed a trade difference worth US$6-12 billion per year between Myanmar and its trade partners China, Thailand, India, and Japan, proving illegal trade between them.
Chairman of the Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win delivered a speech at the coordination meeting 2/2024 of the steering committee at the hall of the Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
In his speech, the Vice-Senior General said that after reconstituting the steering committee, seizures of illegal trade volume approximately amounted to K250.176 billion in 12,430 cases up to April 2024.
He recounted that, according to the estimation of the UN, global countries lose incomes in various sectors worth more than US$2 trillion in illegal trade yearly, comprising US$30-40 billion worth of agricultural goods in unlawful trade on a yearly basis, adding illegal drugs kills children whereas illegal chemical drugs cause environmental degradation.
He also disclosed that counterfeit commodities trading amounts to some $509 billion per year, accounting for about three per cent of global trading, according to the OECD and WIPO.
The Vice-Senior General noted that surveys showed that some $35 billion worth of counterfeit commodities flow into the ASEAN region yearly, comprising $2.6 billion worth of counterfeit drugs, so the loss of businesses accounted for some US$6 billion.
With regard to seizures in Myanmar, the Vice-Senior General noted that the Customs Department and Mandalay Region stood first for the seizure of smuggled and illegal commodities from February to April 2024, followed by Kachin State, Taninthayi Region. Among them, he continued that unregistered vehicles and illegal commodities were seized as the most enormous volume, followed by intermediate goods and capital goods.
The Vice-Senior General underscored that illegal trade causes a decline in legal export volume and foreign exchange income. Moreover, he continued that the payment of illicit routes causes black markets, causing difficulties in calculating the income and expense of the State and obstacles to adopting the financial and monetary policies. Moreover, it can affect the rule of law process, trigger corruption of service personnel and harm administrative mechanisms, he added.
He instructed officials of one-stop service (OSS) and special task forces to effectively deter and seize illegal import and export goods in accord with the law.
In conclusion, the Vice-Senior General urged the steering committee and special task forces from regions and states to join hands with the government in totally eradicating illegal trade, as illegal trade brings direct loss to consumers as well as businesspeople.
Officials reported on the accomplishment of the meeting 1/2024 of the steering committee and letters to the meeting 2/2024, whereas Deputy Chief of Myanmar Police Force Police Maj-Gen Aung Naing Thu clarified criteria and supervision process for companies which will import restricted chemical materials.
Vice-Chairman of the Steering Committee Union Minister Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and steering committee member Union Minister U Tun Ohn discussed reviews over illegal trade, taking action for seizures of narcotic drugs, restricted chemicals, vehicles, fuel oil, foodstuffs, medicines and cosmetics under the law, comparison between export and import commodities, commodity flows, e-lock system and illegal online sales of goods.
Then, decisions drafted in the meeting were read. The Vice-Senior General coordinated all discussions. — MNA/TTA
