THE government plans to issue import and export licences within
one day at the country’s two international airports in Yangon
and Mandalay from August, an official at the Directorate of Trade
announced.
“We are preparing to open one-stop service offices at
two airports – Yangon and Mandalay,” said U Myo Oo,
deputy director general of the trade body under the Ministry of
Commerce that issues import and export licences.
The service, which dramatically reduces licensing process times
from about three months to a single day, is to be introduced in
Yangon and Mandalay on August 1.
“Air cargo is becoming a more important part of Myanmar’s
normal trade year by year. In the 2006-07 financial year, air
cargo accounted for five percent of the total trade of Myanmar,”
U Myo Oo said, citing US$400 million of air trade out of the year’s
$7.93 billion total.
“The majority of the air freight goods are perishable,
which means they are time-sensitive and need to be delivered right
away.”
U Myo Oo said allowing traders to obtain import and export licences
within one day would help increase the country’s trade volume
and foreign exchange earnings.
He added that although goods will be allowed to be flown out
of the country or enter Myanmar the same day that licences are
issued, those licences must immediately be presented to the Ministry
of Commerce in Nay Pyi Taw.
The Customs Department, the Ministry of Commerce and the Union
of Myanmar Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), as well
as other relevant trade-related departments, will work together
to provide the one-stop service, which includes providing price
recommendations, U Myo Oo said.
He noted, however, that imports of pharmaceuticals and medical
equipment will still require advance approval from the Food and
Drugs Administration and, as such, processing of trade licences
for these items will not be able to be completed in a single day.
According to figures from the Ministry of Transport, Myanmar
traders import and export between 70 and 100 tonnes of goods by
air freight each week.
