Steering committee meeting: Meeting of Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Comm.

The Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee held its Work Coordination Meeting (5/2024) at the Ministry of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday.  

The Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council Deputy Prime Minister Vice Senior General Soe Win in his capacity as the Chairman of the Steering Committee delivered a speech at the meeting.

In his speech, SAC Vice Chairman spoke about the severe impacts of illegal trade on both consumers and domestic business owners, stating that many are suffering as a result. He emphasized the need for decisive action to prevent and tackle illegal trade effectively. He also pointed out that the government loses significant tax revenue due to illegal trade and that this undermines the economic system.

Furthermore, illegal imports of substandard goods at the lower prices harm local businesses by compromising the quality of domestically produced goods, which can also negatively affect exports and international market competitiveness.

The Deputy Prime Minister also mentioned the negative consequences of illegal trade, such as the corruption of government officials due to bribery, resulting in a decline in their capabilities and ethics, which harms the country’s human resources. He stressed the importance of effectively countering illegal trade to enhance the national economy and promote economic growth. He also stated that Myanmar has already enacted laws on trademarks, industrial designs, copyrights, patents, and intellectual property, science technology and innovation, by-law of agencies, and it is essential for MSME business owners to register their intellectual property rights for their products. Responsible agencies should facilitate easy application processes within set timeframes and take effective action against violators.

In eradicating illegal trade, related departments must act with integrity and transparency. Citizens and business owners should cooperate in tackling illegal trade that harms the country and its people.

The Deputy Prime Minister concluded by calling for collective efforts to eliminate illegal trade for the benefit of the nation and its citizens.

Next, the Committee secretary Deputy Minister for Commerce U Min Min clarified the completion of implementation on the decisions made by steering Committee meeting (4/2024) and the work implementations of steering Committee.

After that, Director General, the leader of the steering committee’s office task force, Director General of the Central Equipment Statistics and Inspection Department, Director General of the Customs Department, Director General of the Department of Trade, and the Deputy Director General of the Department of Food and Drug Administration read and presented the orders submitted to the Illegal Trade Eradication Steering Committee Work Coordination Meeting (5/2024).

Next, the Steering Committee member Union Minister U Tun Ohn, Deputy Ministers, Member of Nay Pyi Taw Council, the chairmen and officials of the special groups to combat illegal trade in the regions and states reviewed findings on illegal trade, and discussed situations in which drugs, controlled chemicals, illegal timber, vehicles, fuel oils, food are being seized and taking action, prevention issues, export  and import comparisons and commodity flow conditions at trading stations.

After that, it was reported the Chairman of the Anti-Illegal Trade Steering Committee, the Vice Chairman of the State Administration Council, and the Deputy Prime Minister coordinated the presentations and concluded the meeting.