Preface

Maritime transport is the key pillar of international trade and global economy. According to UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport, around 80% by volume and over 70% by value of international trade represent Maritime Trade, and these amounts are even higher for most developing economies. Reflecting this point, in Myanmar, maritime trade is the backbone of international trade and the country economy. In 2021, 71% of international trade is carried by sea whereas 29% of international trade goes through borders. Myanmar is a maritime country for its long coastline of 1,260 nautical miles. Among its nine ports, Yangon Port is a premier port that primarily handles international trade. Although Yangon Port is a river port, it has 27 berths with 4,640 metres of total quay length in its inner harbour, and 19 berths with 3,591 metres of total quay length in its outer harbour (Thilawa). With its adequate infrastructure and facilities and acceptable performance, the annual container handling capacity of Yangon Port is over 3 million TEUs whereas the annual general cargo handling capacity is over 12 million metric tons and 6 million metric tons of oil and gas storage capacity. Myanma Port Authority (MPA), as an incumbent authority of the port industry, has been constantly undertaking port development, with the vision of making its ports strategic land-sea gateways for the region, and international trade and logistics networks. In doing so, MPA as a regulator is regulating private port operators and port users; as a facilitator, it facilitates and promotes the seamless flow of maritime trade in cooperation with relevant government agencies; and as an operator, it provides safe and secure navigation services for all vessels and productive cargo handling services in cooperation with the private sector. Reflecting the outcomes of year-round maintenance dredging and upgrading navigation aids, channel safety has been improved. Today’s acceptable vessel size in terms of draft and LOA of the Yangon Port has increased since then MPA discovered a new approach channel, the Kings Bank Channel. Accepting larger- sized vessels results in economies of scale for all parties participating in maritime trade. Additionally, to develop a sustainable and resilient port community system, MPA is moving forward across the right track of digital transformation in documentation procedures as a part of the National Single Window and ASEAN Maritime Single Window together with participating port actors.