March 16, 2007

China's Yunnan to build aqua-market to cater to Southeast Asian nations

Plans are afoot to build a 100-mu (6.7 hectare) aqua-trading base linking traders from Thailand, Vietnam, Burma and other South East Asian countries.

As trade intensifies between China and its South-East Asian neighbours, Yunnan is becoming the focal point of the aqua-trade between South-East Asia and China.

Statistics indicate that Yunnan is currently an important aqua-product market for Thailand, Vietnam, Burma and Laos. In 2005, more than 200,000 tonnes of aqua-products from South-East Asia passed through Yunnan.

However, the province's aqua-markets are currently widely dispersed and facilities are low-tech and poorly managed. These facilities would not be able to adequately cater to the needs of a rapidly growing aqua-market.

Building a logistical market that would conform to international standards has become one of the priorities for Yunnan province.  

The market would provide quarantine, storage, redistribution and wholesale facilities. Plans for the building of the market has been approved and authorities are currently sourcing for a site and tenants for the market.