The Myanmar Corn Association is overseeing the development of corn wholesale collection centers in the border town of Myawaddy as the country builds its trade infrastructure with Thailand. The sites are expected to open in April.

U Min Khine, chair of the Myanmar Corn Association, told the Myanmar Times: “We realized having such centers would be better after Myanmar began exporting more corn to Thailand last year. As there were no central collection points for corn crops, prices were being dictated by buyers making deals wherever they could.”

Corn is one of Myanmar’s principle agricultural exports, although it is mainly produced and exported to be used for animal feed rather than for human consumption. Like rice, most of Myanmar’s corn is exported to China with exports to Thailand expected to increase, hence the development of the collection centers. While agriculture is Myanmar’s chief industry, it still exports a relatively small portion of what it grows.

The centers will be merely one in a series of infrastructure projects to deepen trade ties between Thailand and Myanmar. Last year ended in the completion of a long-awaited new bridge spanning the Moei River, which separates the two countries. Officials from both sides also agreed to facilitate trade made in Thai Baht and Myanmar Kyat rather than the US dollar. Further south, Thailand is financing a new highway linking Dawei to the Thai border. Dawei is the site of the development of the Dawei Special Economic Zone.