There may be cases, in which smugglers are illegally exporting scrap-iron to Thailand by avoiding Myawady border trade center and that the authorities need to set plans to control them, said Deputy Minister Maung Maung Win for Planning and Finance in a parliament session held on December 7.
He replied to a question raised by MP Saw Moe Myint aka Samuel, of No.1 Kayin State Constituency about whether the government has received taxations from the export of scrap-iron to Thailand via Myawady.
He replied, “As the MP discussed, there may be illegal exports of scrap-iron to Thailand by avoiding Myawady border trade center via detour ways and respective state government, government departments and organizations need to tackle them.”
He continued the government received 8 per cent commercial tax on the export of electricity, and 5 per cent on the export of crude oil in accord with Section 17 Sub-section A of Union Tax Law 2018. With the exception of the goods specified in Section 17 Sub-section A, 0% commercial tax shall be levied on the export revenue.
The ministry is issuing permits to export scrap-iron in line with rules and regulations based on the remark of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation and exported US$1.069 million worth of 2,540 tons of scrap-iron with two permits in 2016-17 FY, US$9.9 million worth of 30,000 tons of scrap-iron with one permit in 2017-18 FY, US$4.92 million worth of 21,000 tons of scrap-iron with five permits by August 23 in 2018. Myanmar exported US$0.097 million worth of 280 tons of scrap-iron in 2016-17 FY and US$0.078 million worth of 386 tons of scrap-iron in 2017-18 FY via maritime trade. It exported US$0.002 million worth of 2.5 tons of scrap-iron in 2017-18 FY via Myawady border trade center, said the deputy minister.
