Rakhine State council of western Myanmar has been allowed import 3,000 tons of cement from the neighbouring Bangladesh, said the State chamber of commerce and industry.

The approval comes from the Naypyitaw Nasaka Council early this month, added the organisation.

"Rakhine State government has been allowed to import the cement with an aim to stabilize its market value and sell at a reasonable price,” said State chamber of commerce and industry chairman Tin Aung Oo.

It may be mentioned that both cement and fertilizers are being restricted from trading through the Bangladesh-Myanmar international border. The State chamber of commerce and industry urged the centre to grant the permission for importing cement.

As the import of cement from Bangladesh is allowed, the Naypyitaw commerce department also notified  the border trade companies about the development targeting the aspirants for necessary licenses to be involved in the trade.

Presently, a bag of cement is priced between 12,000 and 16,500 Kyats in Rakhine State. After the import from Bangladesh, it should be cheaper, said a cement selling shop owner.

Before the coup of 1 February 2021, the price of a bag of cement in Rakhine was between 7,000 and 8,000 Kyats, but soon after it the price had  gone up, he added.