State Administration Council Vice Chairman Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win addresses Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee meeting 1/2023
NAY PYI TAW January 18
Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee held meeting 1/2023 at Ministry of Commerce here at 2 pm addressed by Chairman of the steering committee Vice Chairman of State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Senior General Soe Win.
Present together with the Vice-Senior General were Vice Chairman of the steering committee Union Minister for Planning and Finance U Win Shein, members Union Minister for Commerce U Aung Naing Oo, deputy ministers and officials.
Illegal trade eradication special teams of regions and states took part in the meeting through video conferencing.
The Vice-Senior General said SAC is implementing the three economic objectives for national economic development after adopting the fivepoint roadmap and nine objectives for national allround development, state stability, national economic development and socioeconomic development of the nationalities.
The steering committee was reformed in accordance with the latest developments on 10 December 2021 to alleviate illegal trade that was hampering the efforts to implement the economic objectives in accord with the national policy. And one year ago, guidance was given to effectively curb illegal trade in accord with the law. During the one year, Nay Pyi Taw Council, region/state teams, could take action against the illegal traders to a certain degree in accord with the law. Antiillegal trade activities show a significant progress when compared with that of the previous years.
The steering committee had already held meetings for six times from 1/2021 meeting to 5/2022 meeting and adopted 197 resolutions. The number of arrested cases during the oneyear period from 2022 January to December was 4,232 and estimated amount of seized illegal merchandise was Ks-65.056 billion, and the number of arrested cases during the one year period from 2021 January to December was 2,240, and the estimated amount of seized illegal goods was Ks-8.459 billion.
A comparison between the two years showed that the increase in the number of arrested cases was 1,992 and the increase in the estimated amount of seizures was Ks-56.597 billion.
Of the many factors behind illegal trade, Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade has set the Government Policy, Supply and Demand, Transparency and Trade, and Customs Environment as the basic factors.
The government often changed exercising the necessary policies to systematically control spending of foreign exchange.
Especially, trade policies were changed in order to reduce import of unnecessary goods. In this regard, according to the trade bulletin 10/2022 related to export and import process issued by the Department of Trade, number of applying import licence declined at Myawady border trade zone in December 2022 due to the plan to allow the importation based on incomes from export or other earnings at the Myanmar Thai border trade. However, it was verified that number of cargo trucks entering Myawady from the friendship bridge of other country did not remarkably decline. As such, conclusions can be made that the commodities which need application for import licence are still flowing into the country through illegal ways.
The Vice-Senior General continued to say that as supply and demand depends on the market, it is difficult to control them.
But, the Vice-Senior General urged responsible departments to strive for gaining progress in transparency, trade and customs measures.
In carrying out development of a country, rule of law is essential.
Only when the country is under rule of law and security, will it carry out economic development.
Hence, the Nay Pyi Taw Council, region and state illegal trade eradication special task forces are to eradicate illegal trade measures under the law and enforce the people to follow the law as much as they can. Their acts of combating illegal trade should not misunderstand the people.
In the past, inspection and seizure were conducted at trade routes and checkpoints. Later, the warehouses and buildings where illegal goods can be stored were raided to check the illegal goods acting on tip off, and action was taken against offenders.
So, number of seizures went up.
It is necessary to reduce the illegal gates which accepted passing of illegal trade through bribes. If necessary, more legal posts and entrances must be allowed. Legal border trade camps must give smooth process for trade, and on the other
hand, severe action must be taken against those who use illegal routes and posts as tax avoidance. To do so, an emphasis must be placed on enforcing rule of law along border regions.
The Vice-Senior General pointed out noticeable points that assigned staff should not participate in bribery cases in illegal trade measures. The Vice-Senior General said he told all to be free from bribe in all meetings and warned the staff not to take any money and bribes in illegal trade. If not, severe action will be taken against those staff as sample move.
Likewise, it is necessary to continuously raise public awareness on disadvantages on illegal trade.
While taking measures to fight the illegal trade, illegal goods including arms and ammunition and drugs have been seized. Although most of the drugs seized in the past were WY tablets, it is noticed that narcotic drug producers have lately changed and produced their drug substances to foodlike type to be easily distributed in the market with the aim of ruining the youth. The youth could be victims of narcotic drugs through being curious to try it. That will also ruin the future life of youths and cause additional problems such as worries to the family members.
Therefore, parents and family members are to have the sense and knowledge necessary to differentiate their children’s or family members’ abnormal eating behavior.
With the leadership of the Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee, special task forces have been formed in Nay Pyi Taw Council, regions and states, and they have effectively responded to illegal trade.
In doing so, actions could be taken against it commensurately.
In a response to eradication of illegal trade, personnel involved in the measures to take actions against it are urged to be clear of corruption and fulfill their assigned duties with a good intention to ensure tax that should be received for the State.
It is grateful to the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) for their cooperation.
UMFCCI is requested to continue to support in revealing sectorwise measures occasionally.
In taking measures to eradicate illegal trade, unlike doing acts only when having instructions and information from the Steering Committee, special task forces of regions and states and departments concerned need to systematically and accurately take actions according to their submitted plans.
Then, Secretary of the Steering Committee Deputy Minister U Nyunt Aung reported on tasks done as per the decisions made at the 5/2022 Meeting of the Steering Committee and tasks being taken by the Steering Committee.
Next, Deputy Director General U Aung Thwin Oo, head of Office of the Steering Committee, Director General of Central Equipment Statistics and Inspection Department U Han Win Aung, Director General of Customs Department U Thein Swe, Director General of Trade Department U Myint Thura, Deputy Director General of Department of Food and Drug Administration Dr Theingi Zin, and heads of special task forces from Kayin and Mon states and Yangon Region presented the reports submitted to the 1/2023 Meeting of the Steering Committee.
Afterwards, Vice Chairman of the Steering Committee Union Minister U Win Shein, Members Union Minister U Aung Naing Oo and Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Maj - Gen Soe Tint Naing and attendees briefed on sectorwise matters on eradicating illegal trade.
Next, the Head of Office of the Steering Committee presented the meeting minutes of the 1/2023 Meeting (draft) and obtained confirmation on it.
Later, the Vice-Senior General made necessary coordination on the reports and gave concluding remarks.