Narinjara News, 18 March 2022

Rakhine State council of western Myanmar has been allowed import 3,000 tons of cement from theneighbouring Bangladesh, said the State chamberof commerce and industry.

The approval comes from the Naypyitaw Nasaka Council early this month, added the organisation.

"Rakhine State government has been allowed to import the cement with an aim to stabilize its market valueand sell at a reasonable price,” saidState chamber of commerce and industry chairman Tin Aung Oo.

It may be mentioned that both cement and fertilizers are being restricted from trading through theBangladesh-Myanmar international border.The State chamber of commerce and industry urged the centre to grant the permission for importingcement.

As the import of cement from Bangladesh is allowed, the Naypyitaw commerce department also notified the border trade companies about thedevelopment targeting the aspirants for necessary licenses to be involved in the trade.

Presently, a bag of cement is priced between 12,000 and 16,500 Kyats in Rakhine State. After the import fromBangladesh, it should be cheaper,said a cement selling shop owner.

Before the coup of 1 February 2021, the price of a bag of cement in Rakhine was between 7,000 and 8,000Kyats, but soon after it the price had gone up, he added.