| Chinese Motorcycle factory
to be built in Mandalay
A joint venture investment was agreed in October to produce Chinese motorcycles in Mandalay by Donghuan Company from Yunnan Province, China and Chanthar Trading Ltd. from Mu-Se, Northern Shan State of Burma, mentioned in ‘Mingalar’ magazine published by Chinese cultural exchange program from Yunnan Province. According to October issue of 'Mingalar' magazine, two companies signed agreement during October 2003 at international trade center at Kunming, city of Yunnan Province in China. Chinese motorcycles are to be produced up to 20,000 in number during the first year though there was no details available when the factory is started to build nor when the motorcycles will be ready to produce. China-made motorcycles, imported illegally, were widely used today in Burma especially upper part of Burma, Northern Shan State and Kachin State due to cheaper price. China had imported 15,000 motorcycles into Burma in June but the number had increased up to 35,000 during the first two weeks of July this year, according to the data from official Chinese border custom department. Apart from official business, around one hundred China-made motorcycles are smuggling into Burma through Ruili, Jiegao and Yinjian on border area in Yunnan.. “A few hundreds, less than 500 bikes, are going into Burma everyday. Some smugglers use roadways through Ba-Mao and Mu-Se, and some come through Jiegao by using boats,” a local businessman in Jiegao said. Myanmar Suzuki Motor Company Ltd., which had invested in Burma to produce cars and motorcycles is now facing financial problem as Burmese government allows the company to produce only limited amount of vehicles. Due to Burmese government regulations, Suzuki Company is allowed to produce only 400 motor cycles per year. One official from this company previously told Myamma Dana magazine (October 2002 issue) that if their company is allowed to assemble and produce 2,000 motorcycles and 1,000 cars in a year, the company will not suffer from financial problem in Burma. Suzuki motorcycles, illegally smuggled into Burma from Thailand, are relatively expensive in Burmese markets with price tag of 2 to 3 million Kyats. Meanwhile, China made motorcycles are available around 2 to 3 hundred thousand Kyats at border areas and five hundred thousand Kyats in Burma and apparently more popular in Burmese markets. (Exchange rate is approximately 1,000 kyats/ US $) Network Media Group |
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