TANINTHAYI Region exports live and boiled prawns, creating new market opportunities from live prawn exports and high foreign incomes, according to the region’s fisheries federation.
The region generates higher export income from the marine product export sector year by year, and foreign countries purchase live crayfish, lobster and sea snail, and the boiled Litopenaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) are kept in cold storage to export. The live marine products are exported to Bangkok from Kawthoung, to Yangon and Mandalay from Myeik by flights step by step, and so such actions incur a high cost. If the products are exported from Myeik airport to China by a cargo flight directly, it will bring huge benefits for bilateral trade.
After the Myeik Airport is upgraded to allow direct export of marine products, Taninthayi Region’s marine export income will increase beyond the current levels. That will generate substantial benefits for fisheries and the country through the value-added exports.
“We can see that the Taninthayi region receives higher income from the marine export sector yearly. Especially, if we can directly export live products to destination countries, it will benefit both business owners and the country. At present, crayfish, lobster and sea snail are exported to China through Yangon, Mandalay and Bangkok, and it can reduce profits and raise costs. There is a Yangon-Chengdu flight, and if the cargo flight operates to Myeik airport, the marine products can be exported in a short while. It can also facilitate the bilateral trade flow. The country of export can earn foreign income, and we can export to a new market, and so it can be said the region is focused on earning foreign income,” said U Thet Soe, secretary of the federation.
The region exports its marine products to Thailand, whereas Litopenaeus vannamei is exported to China and Japan, and makes efforts to double export volumes and penetrate new markets in Arab countries and other foreign countries. Exporting only 10 tonnes of live marine products per flight from Myeik airport is not cost-effective for exporters or carriers, and shipping 20 tonnes per flight would be more economical. The region Fisheries Federation is making advanced arrangements to export like that. — Nyein Thu (MNA)/KTZH
