CLMVT Post

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚-𝐌𝐲𝐚𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞

(𝗖𝗟𝗠𝗩𝗧 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁) Local media in mynmar reported the coronavirus outbreak in China has caused trade between Myanmar and its neighbor to slow to a trickle, trade officials say.

The clearest example of this is the plunge in the volume of watermelons from Myanmar that are crossing the border to the east.

“About 600 truckloads of Myanmar’s watermelons used to cross the border a day in the Muse border trade area in Shan State. Since the outbreak earlier this year, the number of loads has plunged to about 30, a reduction of 95 percent,” said U Naing Win, chair of the Myanmar Melon Producers and Exporters Association.

China is one of Myanmar’s largest trade partners, with goods flowing between both countries across land routes and by sea. The Chinese government’s restrictions on travel between provinces in the country that are part of efforts to curb the spread of the virus is causing severe problems at border trade areas, U Naing Win added.

“As long as this health emergency continues, losses will continue. It is important to combat this disease so markets can return to normal as soon as possible. If not, the damage will be huge. A continued reduction in business volume of 95pc is just unsustainable,” he said.

“The slowing of watermelon sales, one of main export commodities in the Muse area, started on January 13. In the past, there was more demand during Chinese New Year period and a truckload of watermelons was worth from K8 million to K13 million, but prices have now dropped by between 50pc to 70pc ” said U Sai Khin Maung, vice chair of the Muse Fruit Commodity Brokers House.

Traders in Muse say that the Chinese government’s travel restrictions are impeding the flow of goods.

This is being compounded by new restrictions on oversea trade routes as well, said Ministry of Commerce Assistant Secretary U Khin Maung Lwin.

“Import and export licence applications for oversea trade with China were stopped this week, so trade seems to be slowing to a crawl,” U Khin Maung Lwin said.

“It is still too early to tell how much damage this is causing in financial terms. It all depends on the duration and severity of the health emergency,” said U Sai Khin Maung.

Towards the end of 2018, Kyin San Kyawy Gate, one of the main border crossing points to China for watermelons and cucumbers, was closed for just two weeks due to conflict, but this caused thousands truckloads of watermelon to be stranded at the border area, causing damage estimated to be around K20 billion (US$13 million)

𝐋𝐚𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭

(𝗖𝗟𝗠𝗩𝗧 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁) Media outlet in cambodia reported Lao President Bounnhang Vorachith will pay a two-day state visit to Cambodia on Sunday and Monday to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release that Bounnhang, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, will be visiting at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni.
The press release said Bounnhang will meet with King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace and will also meet separately with Senate president Say Chhum, National Assembly president Heng Samrin and Prime Minister Hun Sen.

“The state visit of His Excellency Bounnhang Vorachith will be another significant milestone to further strengthen the comprehensive and long-lasting strategic partnership, as well as promote good bonds of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation in all fields between the two neighbouring countries and people,” the press release said.

Bounnhang, it said, will lay a wreath at Independence Monument and pay tribute and his respect at the Royal Memorial of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk.

Former lawmaker of the dissolved opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party Ou Chanroth said the visit was part of strengthening and expanding the comprehensive strategic partnership between Cambodia and Laos.

“It is the effort of the Royal Government of Cambodia and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to strengthen the relationship. As we saw previously, Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen and senior officials visited the country to strengthen and enhance bilateral relations,” he said.

𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐚𝐫

(𝐂𝐋𝐌𝐕𝐓 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭) The coronavirus has killed more than 630 people, the majority in China. Globally, it has infected over 31,400 people across 25 countries and territories.

𝐋𝐚𝐨'𝐬 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝟔,𝟒𝟓𝟕𝐌𝐖 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬

(𝐂𝐋𝐌𝐕𝐓 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭) From 2016-2020, Laos expanded electricity capacity to 6,457MW for export markets, which represents an increase of 145 percent over the previous five-year period. The Ministry of Energy and Mines earned more than 130 billion kip, up 35 percent compared to 2011- 2015. Minister of Energy and Mines, Mr Khammany Inthirath reported the results on Tuesday at a five-year review meeting on energy and mine development plans for 2016-2020. Mr Khammany pointed out that Laos has expanded electricity transmission lines, which now extend over 65,563 km with 71 stations. On the back of these results, the ministry is looking to implement its energy development strategy to meet increasing domestic supply and export demand. The governments of Laos and Thailand have signed a power trade agreement for 9,000MW by 2030. Laos currently supplies over 5,620MW to Thailand. In 2022, the ministry will increase exports to Thailand via two hydro plants - 520MW from the Nam Theun hydropower 1 plant and 480MW from the Nam Ngum hydropower 3 plant. Laos also sells over 570MW to Vietnam, and the Lao government expects to increase the power supplied to 1,000MW this year, to 3,000MW in 2025, and to 5,000MW by 2030. The government sold 10MW of electricity to Myanmar and will sell 20MW more by 2022. Meanwhile, the governments of Laos and Myanmar have signed a cooperation contract on purchasing 100MW of power in 2023, and 300MW in 2025. Last year, Laos and Cambodia signed an agreement in energy cooperation development of 6,000MW by 2030. Earlier this year, Laos exported 195MW from the Don Sahong hydropower project with 100MW in March and 2,900MW by 2027 from the hydropower project and the lignite power plant. Laos has exported 100MW of electricity to Malaysia via Thailand, and the government expects to sell 300MW more this year. Laos’ electricity generation for domestic supply and export has increased as the installed capacity and number of hydropower plants rises. The country currently has 63 operational hydropower plants with an installed capacity of 7,213MW. These plants can produce 37,035 kWh of electricity a year, an official said. An additional 37 hydropower plants are under construction. The majority of these are expected to be completed during 2020- 2021. When operational, Laos will have 100 hydropower plants with a combined installed capacity of 13,062MW capable of producing an expected 66,944 million kWh a year. So far, 90 percent of villages in Laos can access electricity, and 95 percent of households can tap into the grid.