YANGON, March 8 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar's Fishery Products Processors and Exporters Association has called for government-to-government negotiation over Saudi Arabia's suspension of fishery imports from Myanmar which will start from April 1, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Thursday.
Saudi Arabia's imposition of ban on fishery imports from Myanmar along with Bangladesh and India came after its suspension of seafood imports from Vietnam following the detection of two prawn diseases during an inspection tour by Saudi officials.
U Win Kyaing, general secretary of Myanmar Fishery Federation (MFF), urged the government on Wednesday to take action to get access to the market again, saying that Saudi Arabia's embargo on Myanmar seafood will affect not only the prawn but also the fish industry and asking Saudi authorities to come and examine the cold storages.
Myanmar trade officials assured MFF of initiating a negotiation through Saudi's embassy in Myanmar.
Myanmar exports farmed fish to Saudi Arabia which accounts for 30 percent of the farm-raised fish exports and 40 percent of rohu exports.
According to U Win Kyaing, Myanmar's fisheries have never been rejected in international markets nor have they received a complaint.