Burmese Gems, Timber Find Other Markets as US Increases Sanctions
While the US enforces additional economic sanctions against Burma on gems and timber trade, highly prized forest lumber continues to move across the border into China, say reports from Kachin State.
Chinese traders in Ruili and Nong Dao are paying high prices of between US $1,200 and $1,400 per ton for teak and another tropical hardwood called Tarmalan, as illegal logging continues unabated under military eyes, said the Thailand based NGO Kachin News Group.
?Illegal loggers have to give at least 6,000,000 kyat per truck carrying five to seven tons of Tarmalan to bribe the junta authorities in transporting the timber from the areas it is originating to the border trade centers,? the KNG said.
This news will dismay promoters of proposed new legislation being considered by the US Congress to target the junta?s lucrative income from timber and gems.
Democrat senator and presi! dential candidate Joseph Biden?s Burma Democracy Promotion Act aims to widen new banking and travel sanctions already announced by Washington against regime leaders and their business associates.
The bill has cross-party support with co-sponsorship from Republican Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell.
But just as much of Burma?s timber business runs through China, so the gems trade finds a home way beyond US shores? most notably in the gem cutting and middlemen shops of Bangkok?s jewelry quarter.
?It is a good selling point to be able to say that some stones, especially rubies, originate in Burma because of their quality, but it is so easy to also disguise origins if business demands it,? said an Indian trader operating in a side street off Charoen Krung Road on the edge of the city?s bustling Chinatown district.
?I do not think this Congress law will do much, not unless the Thai government closes us all down,? said the trader, who asked not t! o be identified.
Dhaka Rethinks Hydropower Projects in ! Burma
Bangladesh is likely to reject an invitation from the Burma military regime to invest in hydroelectric power projects, according to reports in Dhaka.
The Bangladeshi ministry of energy has been engaged in talks with Burma to possibly build several hydroelectric dams on rivers in Arakan state near the border between the two countries.
But early feasibility studies have concluded that cost and security concerns with electricity cables rule against the plan, said several Dhaka press reports this week, quoting unnamed officials.
?It would be difficult to set up a power grid through the hills and forest areas,” said one official. “More difficult would be the job of monitoring and maintenance of the grid in difficult terrain.?
Several Arakan rivers, including the Mi-Chung and Sang-Don, have the potential to generate up to 700 megawatts power combined?equivalent to Rangoon?s current electricity capacity.
Relations between Burma an! d Bangladesh have warmed since a change of government in Dhaka earlier this year.
The current caretaker government in Dhaka, pending fresh elections, has called for the revival of the so-called Bangladesh-Myanmar Friendship Road. The Dhaka government says it is prepared to shoulder most of the estimated US$140 million cost of the 150 kilometer route, only about 25 kms of which are in Bangladesh.
The friendship road is earmarked to run from Ramu in Bangladesh to Kyauktaw in Burma in a bid to open up trade between the two countries.
Dhaka has said little about the recent Burma protests for democracy and the subsequent military crackdown.
India?s Northeast Looks for ?Connectivity? via Burma
Indian officials say they wants to press ahead with its ?connectivity? plans to Southeast Asia via Burma.
This involves developing road and rail links up to and through Burma to provide connectivity with Thailand, said Assam state?s Chief Minister T! arun Gogoi this week.
Assam is the biggest and most dev! eloped o f seven landlocked northeast Indian states which New Delhi is trying to open up economically to tackle poverty and counter rebels groups pressing for greater autonomy or independence. Some of these armed rebel groups move freely across the border with Burma.
Gogoi was quoted by the Assam Tribune newspaper saying the size and timing of the communication links eastwards would be made via a ?planned market survey in the neighboring countries.?
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Source: http://www.burmanet.org/news/2007/11/03/irrawaddy-weekly-business-roundup-william-boot-3/
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