Eradication of illegal trade must be designated as a national duty for all

Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win delivered a speech at the work coordination meeting 4/2024 of the Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee at the Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.

He stressed the duties of the steering committee, region and state special task forces to crack down on the illegal trade effectively and decisively, as the unlawful trade causes disadvantages such as hardships in the State economy and loss of capacity for the national entrepreneurs in manufacturing and market competition sectors.

He continued that Myanmar is rich in natural resources and is an agriculture-based country, so it should encourage the production of natural resource produce and agricultural produce. MSMEs should promote the production sector and export new items. While the government is working according to economic objectives, illegal trade brings huge hindrances to the state economy and socioeconomic sectors.

He continued that, after forming the Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee, smuggled and illegal commodities worth K300.028 billion were seized in 14,659 cases from January 2022 to August 2024.

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 in July and August 2024, followed by the Sagaing Region and Kachin State. 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 World Economic Forum estimated the value of illicit trade and transnational criminal activities to be five to 15 per cent of the global GDP.

Moreover, there is a risk that lack of monitoring, oversight and transparency on activities undertaken in numerous Free Trade Zones create opportunities for illicit trade even though these zones are designed to attract legal trade and foreign investments.

He then stressed the need to supervise the trading processes at the Thilawa Special Economic Zone to prevent illicit trading.

In regard to the State economy, the manufacturing and trading sectors should be developed. In doing so, the agriculture and livestock breeding sectors should be supported. The ministries concerned should distribute agrochemicals, animal feed and vaccines to the farmers in time in respective seasons.

On the other hand, the organizations should supervise not to give rise to illegal goods transport and frequent distribution.

He underscored that illegal goods imported via land borders can cause disease transmission and losses in the agriculture and livestock breeding sector. He then mentioned the adverse effects of the illicit trade of cosmetics and substandard electronic appliances.

He then mentioned the consequences of illegal trade that affects the economy, local production, economic objectives of the country, agriculture, manufacturing and trading sectors.

He also stressed the challenges to curbing illegal trade, such as specific weaknesses in security measures in border areas, law enforcement, scarcity of staff in anti-illegal trade activities, and corruption. He added that eradication of illegal trade must be designated as a national duty for all.

He also instructed the region and state illegal trade eradication special task forces to conduct spot checks at the inspection camps, border areas and trading routes, local warehouses and markets to prevent illicit trading of natural resources.

He then said the people informed 97 illegal trading in July and August 2024, of which three were false news, three were late news, and 91 were accurate news. A high number of trustworthy news outlets show supportive measures to carry out duties more effectively. The steering committee appreciated the efforts of people, and they will be presented cash prizes in a timely manner.

A total of K2,140.951 million worth of illegal goods, including wood, industrial materials, foodstuffs and unregistered vehicles, were seized from 117 cases.

He added that five reports were received recently, and informers were awarded cash prizes under a K2 billion grant.

The seizures in August are higher than the ones in July and August.

He then urged the region/state illegal trade eradication special task forces and relevant departments to conduct public awareness programmes regarding the disadvantages of illicit trade, prevent illegal natural resource productions, be free of corruption and serve duties with security awareness and conscience.

After hearing the reports made by the attendees, the Vice-Senior General coordinated all discussions and reports. — MNA/KTZH

Source- The Global New Light Of Myanmar