Taninthari region temporarily closes dried cuttlefish factories

Taninthari region temporarily closes dried cuttlefish factories
Published 11 May 2020
Phyo Zin

 DAWEI-When a team checked the factories in Taninthari Region concerning COVID-19 virus, they found 10 dried cuttlefish factories which violated the instructions being laid down by the Ministry of Health and Sports. So, those dried cuttlefish factories have been shut down temporarily.

Taninthari Region had formed five investigation teams on April 27th aiming to investigate those factories whether to follow or violate the suggestions and instructions of the Ministry of Health and Sports.

So, the investigation teams launched the checks on 154 essential factories in Dawei, Myeik and Kawtthaung districts till May 2nd. Moreover, plans are underway to open again the factories which already have been checked.

“In Taninthari Region, there are over 500 factories. However, more than 10 workers are now working at over 200 factories. As it is the COVID-19 outbreak situation, we are now checking the factories. Totaling 154 essential factories already have been checks. Among 154 factories, 10 dried cuttlefish factories temporarily had been shut down for one week because the factories violated the health guidance of the Ministry of Health and Sports. We are now conducting educative talks aiming to renovate the factories. And then, we are going to allow the dried cuttlefish factories to resume their operations in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health and Sports. The remaining factories are being checked,” said Kyaw Min, Taninthari regional minister of Immigration and Human Resources.

Myint Maung, Chief Minister of Taninthari Region, said that the Union Government was carrying out the rehabilitations about the economic impacts aftermath of COVID-19. So, the Taninthari Region Government had no plan about the impacts. However, they were cooperating with the Union Level ministries aiming to discuss matters relating on loans, hotel industry, small and median enterprise.

After Myanmar found firstly COVID-19 patient on March 23rd, Taninthari region tightly restrict the travelling including beaches and pagodas. So, Hotel and Tourism industries, SMEs and marine industry had been impacted.

Moreover, the visitors from home and abroad had to come into the beaches and islands in March and April. However, the travel restrictions caused the impacts on the local tour industry.

Due to the closure of markets in Thailand and China, the marine industries also had been impacted. So, fishermen already faced difficulties of their earnings because fishing industry had been stopped over one month.