Myanmar, formerly Burma, is back in the good graces of the United States as far as seafood exports are concerned, now that the Obama administration has lifted political sanctions against the country's régime.
The Myanmar Fishery Federation (MFF) said last week that one of the country's fishery product companies, Ocean Harvest (Myanmar), had exported 17 tons of frozen saltwater shrimp to Red Chamber Co., Los Angeles, California.
"We used to export fish and fishery products to the US before the sanctions. This export is the first time after the sanctions were lifted," said Myat Aung Nyunt, managing director of Ocean Harvest. "During the sanction period, we have been exporting our products to Asian countries including Japan and Hong Kong, he said.
Myanmar fisheries have been receiving orders from US companies for salt- and fresh-water shrimp, squid and tilapia. Ocean Harvest is planning to ship more products to meet the US company's demand as the second round next month. Myanmar fisheries will continue providing products with the support of MFF and the approval for import to the United States. Export products are also required to meet the qualifications for approval of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
