Govt officials to visit Saudi Arabia to discuss suspension of Myanmar fishery export

Govt officials to visit Saudi Arabia to discuss suspension of Myanmar fishery export
Published 2 November 2018
Theingi Win Tin

Government representatives will leave for Saudi Arabia on November 12 to discuss the Saudi suspension of Myanmar's marine product exports, said Myanmar Fisheries Federation vice president Tun Aye during the federation's largest fishery symposium held on Thursday.

The delegation will comprise officials from the Trade Department and Fisheries Department and private entrepreneurs. They will discuss opening of fish market for Saudi Arabia, invitation of Saudi officials to inspect fish farms and cold-storage factories in Myanmar if necessary, and measures to be taken by the Myanmar side.

"The government needs to make a greater effort. I dare to say that the quality (of our products) is not less than that of other countries. We possess a standard in the international community because we can export our fishery products to the European Union. Myanmar has 20 factories that are allowed to export fishery products to the EU," said Tun Aye.

According to the federation, Saudi Arabia suspended fishery imports from Myanmar quoting OIE as saying that its marine creatures carry diseases.

"We mainly exported carp to Saudi Arabia. As the export was suspended, we have made a loss of about US$30 million," said the vice president.

The Saudi imposed a ban on marine products from Vietnam, Bangladesh and India in addition to Myanmar. Saudi officials have now carried out inspections in those countries.

Forty one percent of Myanmar's carp was exported to Saudi Arabia. Due to the suspension, fish market has collapsed in Myanmar.