From January 23-24, 2016, the Trade and Investment Facilitation (TIF) Department of Mekong Institute (MI) conducted a workshop on “Rules and Regulations of Agri-commodity Trading in the Context of Regional and International Integration for Myanmar”, in Hpa-an, Kayin State, Myanmar, in collaboration of MI’s EWEC project and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). 

A total of twenty-two participants representing SME Department, Department of Trade Promotion and Consumer Affairs, Department of Agriculture, Department of Livestock & Fishery, Custom Department and Kayin Chamber of Commerce from four locations of Kayin State (Than Daung Gyi, PaingKyone Sub-township, Kaukareit, Kyar Inn Seik Gyi, Hpa an and Myawaddy Township) attended the workshop. The training covered different aspects of roles and services of agri-commodity trading within Myanmar, as well as internationally. The national export strategy for trade promotion, Product and Market Identification (PMI) for export markets, Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, ASEAN preferential agreements, Rules of Origin of Country, bilateral trade agreements, and Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) are some of the topics covered in the training program. 

As part of the modular training program, the participants were guided to develop their Action Plans for transferring their gained knowledge and skills to other related beneficiaries and stakeholders in Myawaddy and Hpa-an upon completion of this in-class training. As scheduled, a one-day activity for each Action Plan will be implemented on February 20-21, 2016 at two locations.