Myawady border crossing may resume 24-hour operations
Myawady border crossing may resume 24-hour operations
Myanmar Times, 22 Nov 2018
URL: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myawady-border-crossing-may-resume-24-hour-operations.html
Talks are under way to reopen the border crossing between Myawady Township in Kayin State and Thailand 24 hours a day, Colonel Myo Min Naung, Kayin minister of Security and Border Affairs, said.
“We are in the process of negotiating with the Myanmar government and the Thai government,” he said, adding that they need to discuss such problems as illegal trading, casinos and migrants.
Effective November 6, the Myawady crossing gate was open only from 8pm to 6am. Before that, it was open 24 hours a day.
Col Myo Min Naung said that Thai and Myanmar authorities limited its operating hours because of illegal trading.
If the gate is opened 24 hours a day, the government will increase the number of officers manning it to monitor activity in the area, he said.
Taza Htut Hlaing Htwe, Kayin’s Myanmar ethnic minister and government spokesman, said, “Chief Minister Nan Khin Htwe Myint is trying to control illegal trading by cooperating with relevant ministries.”
Myawady is the second-largest border crossing in Myanmar after Muse-Ruili in northern Shan State on the China border. Although Myawady was closed from 2010 to 2011 following a car bomb explosion that killed two people, the crossing has since resumed normal operations.
Continued conflicts involving armed ethnic groups in the area have spurred illegal cross-border trading along the Thaungyin River border with Mae Sot, Thailand.
Thailand is the second-largest exporter to Myanmar and its third-largest importer. The two countries signed a trade agreement in 1989 and a border-trade agreement in 1996.
“We are in the process of negotiating with the Myanmar government and the Thai government,” he said, adding that they need to discuss such problems as illegal trading, casinos and migrants.
Effective November 6, the Myawady crossing gate was open only from 8pm to 6am. Before that, it was open 24 hours a day.
Col Myo Min Naung said that Thai and Myanmar authorities limited its operating hours because of illegal trading.
If the gate is opened 24 hours a day, the government will increase the number of officers manning it to monitor activity in the area, he said.
Taza Htut Hlaing Htwe, Kayin’s Myanmar ethnic minister and government spokesman, said, “Chief Minister Nan Khin Htwe Myint is trying to control illegal trading by cooperating with relevant ministries.”
Myawady is the second-largest border crossing in Myanmar after Muse-Ruili in northern Shan State on the China border. Although Myawady was closed from 2010 to 2011 following a car bomb explosion that killed two people, the crossing has since resumed normal operations.
Continued conflicts involving armed ethnic groups in the area have spurred illegal cross-border trading along the Thaungyin River border with Mae Sot, Thailand.
Thailand is the second-largest exporter to Myanmar and its third-largest importer. The two countries signed a trade agreement in 1989 and a border-trade agreement in 1996.