Myanmar to expand check point at border trade zone with China

Myanmar's commerce authorities are planning to expand the existing check point at Muse Border Trade Zone with China in light of increased trade between the two countries, a semi-official media reported Monday.

"As the area of check point at Muse 105th-Mile Trade Zone does not balance with the number of vehicles carrying export products, the export and import check point yard needs to be expanded," an official of the border trade zone in northeastern Shan state stressed.

According to the report, the union highway between the trade zone and Muse urban area faces traffic congestion daily with about 1,400 trucks and buses including motor bikes passing the highway daily, resulting in the blockage of the motorway. Of them, 600 vehicles are loaded with fruits being exported to China through Kyukok-Pangsai road.

Muse is the largest border trade zone of Myanmar with its neighboring countries with its trade volume at the Muse trade zone reaching 3.609 billion U.S. dollars in the 2013-14 fiscal year, according to the official.

The figures for the first five months (April-August) of 2014- 15 went to 2.061 billion dollars.

Meanwhile, the 14th annual Myanmar-China Border Trade Fair was held in Muse on Dec. 11-13.

Myanmar official statistics also show in 2013, China-Myanmar bilateral trade totaled 6.619 billion dollars, accounting for 28.4 percent of Myanmar's total foreign trade which was 23.29 billion dollars during the year.

The figures also indicated that China's investment in Myanmar also reached 14.464 billion dollars in 73 projects as of September 2014 since Myanmar opened to such investment in late 1988, accounting for 28.99 percent of the total and ranking the first in Myanmar's foreign investment line-up.