Myanmar's Marine Products Exports up in January, February
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Xinhuanet 2002-06-10 10:51:40
YANGON, June 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Myanmar exported 39,100 tons of fish and
prawn in the first two months of this year, up 189.62 percent over the same
period of 2001 when 13,500 tons were sold abroad, the government Economic
Indicators said in its latest issue. The sharp increase of the export was
due to high export volume of fish during the two-month period, registering
36,200 tons or 92. 58 percent, while the prawn export was recorded at 2,900
tons or 7. 42 percent.
Export earning from the marine products during the period totaled 24.17
million U.S. dollars, accounting for 8.4 percent of Myanmar's total export
earning.
In 2001, Myanmar exported 61,000 tons of fish and prawn, fetching 119.37
million dollars.
Myanmar is endowed with rich fishery resources and the fishery sector is
the third productive mainstay of the country's economy after agriculture and
forestry, contributing 7.3 percent to its gross domestic product and standing
as the third largest dollar earner.
Myanmar catches about one million tons of fish and prawn annually, the
export of which covers 49 countries and regions.
Meanwhile, a three-year fishery development plan is being implemented by
the government since 2000, aimed at encouraging the local private enterprises
to engage in the sector by setting up fishery joint ventures with the
government and foreign companies.
Official statistics show that since Myanmar opened to foreign investment in
late 1988, foreign companies have so far injected 197 million dollars into the
country's fishery sector.
Meanwhile, to raise the international awareness of Myanmar's fishery and
livestock products, find more markets, attract foreign investment and get
technical expertise, Myanmar held a fishery and livestock fair in Yangon in
February, winning a large number of contracts worth 27.25 million dollars with
33 local and foreign
companies on sale of a total of 7,823.73 tons of fish and prawn.
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