Myanmar beans to penetrate Middle East market

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/015200812111031.htm

YANGON (Xinhua): Myanmar is planning to penetrate the Middle East market with its quality beans to boost the country 's agricultural exports, the Yangon Times, one of the leading local news journals reported on Thursday.

Exporting through Israel, Myanmar will make the move, the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) was quoted as saying.

Myanmar exported 1.3 million tons of beans and pulses last year, of which 800,000 tons were sold to India, the report said.

Myanmar stands the second largest beans exporter in the world after Canada with 70 percent of the crop being shipped to India.

Meanwhile, Israel buys Myanmar's marine products every year.

In a latest official report, India's state Trading Corporation (STC) has recently agreed with the UMFCCI to import 1.8 million tons of Myanmar's quality beans and pulses at international current prices on a monthly basis .

The deal was made during a visit to Nay Pyi Taw by Indian Deputy Minister of Customer Affairs, Foods and Public Distribution NK Raghupathy.