Vice-Senior General Soe Win stressed the need for the soonest awarding of informants as information availability is vital in eradicating illegal trade, and officials need to build an information network so as to efficiently apply the information in taking action against offenders.

The Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee held a coordination meeting 6/2023 at the Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon, with an address by Chairman of the Steering Committee Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win.

In his speech, the Vice-Senior General explained that illegal trade could cause disadvantages such as loss of revenue for the State, mistakes in accounts and data in trading, harming the banking system and monetary circulation system of the nation, instability of foreign currency market, decline of domestic production due to illegally imported goods, reduction of foreign investment, loss of job opportunities, and sufferings of the people in using immitations of unlawfully imported medicines and medications, expired foodstuffs and cosmetics in addition to harming manufacturing and trade which play a crucial role in the economic development of the State.

He continued that, after forming the Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee, smuggled and illegal commodities worth K65.056 billion were seized in 4,232 cases from January to December 2022 and K127.447 billion in 5,753 cases from January to November 2023. Hence, the smuggled and illegal commodities, approximately worth K192.503 billion, were seized in 9,985 cases during 23 months. The Vice-Senior General stressed the need to earn increased incomes from promoting manufacturing at MSMEs and industrial zones and exporting value-added products from the supply chain.

The Vice-Senior General underscored that if the finished industrial goods of Myanmar face some weakness in manufacturing and restrictions, their cost will be high, and they will have high prices. So, domestic products cannot compete with illegally imported products in the market, causing loss to products of industrial zones.

Thanks to information from the Customs Department of India, the Vice-Senior General recounted that narcotic drugs were seized at the Yangon International Airport two times. So, countries and departments have to exchange information to expose and capture the illegal trade, especially narcotic drugs and arms.

MyCo system has been set up to establish companies, Myanmar Trade Net 2.0 system for registration of export and import and application of licence, MACCS for applying the export and import declaration, and online matching system for accepting money from abroad. He added that governments contact each other for businesspersons to operate the trade process online to eradicate illegal trade and ensure a smooth trade process as part of efforts to initiate the national single windows.

He continued that government departments have to verify the advice of merchants and relevant organizations and amend necessary measures.

The Vice-Senior General pointed out that action is taken against some companies, especially cooking oil and fuel importer companies, which take inappropriate profits from their goods against the State and the people.

He noted that chairpersons of regional and state illegal trade eradication special task forces, directors-general of OSS departments, and assigned service personnel have been instructed not to be involved in illegal trade and to be free from bribery cases.

However, the Vice-Senior General stressed that information had been received that some assigned personnel were related to illegal trade and took bribes to check illicit commodities by all means. Hence, officials need to take action against the offenders strictly.

He emphasized that confiscated commodities must be procured under the procedures to bring the deserved revenue to the State. Perishable goods must be auctioned off in time, and seized vehicles and ma chinery must be handed over to the relevant organizations as quickly as possible.

State service personnel assigned in relevant areas must be aware of the danger of terrorists and serve their duties with security awareness and knowledge. The Vice-Senior General stressed the need to implement an e-lock system nationwide, adding that departments must exchange information to eradicate illegal trade.

Secretary of the Steering Committee Deputy Minister for Commerce U Min Min reported on the accomplishment of the decisions of the previous meeting and the work process of the steering committee.

Union ministers and officials discussed seizures of narcotic drugs, prohibited precursor chemicals, illegal vehicles, foodstuffs, medicines and cosmetics, e-lock system process, import of fuel, unlawful sale of goods online, and application for legal registration in addition to eradication of illegal commodities.

The leader of the steering committee office task force read the draft decisions of the meeting 6/2023.

The meeting was also attended by Union ministers U Win Shein, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and U Tun Ohn, deputy ministers and officials together with chairpersons of region and state illegal trade eradication special task forces online.

MNA/TTA

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