THE Ministry of Co-operatives last week confirmed the Co-operatives Trade Fair 2004 will take place at Sayasan Plaza from October 26 to November 1. A chance, the ministry said, for Myanmar to establish contracts with foreign companies.

“The purpose of holding the fair is to introduce new products from border regions into the market and to seek out new markets for regional co-operative associations,” said U Tin Win, deputy director general of the Co-operatives Department.

More than 200 cooperative associations, private companies and government departments will participate and display their products at the trade fair, he said.

Marine, agricultural and forest products, traditional foods and handicrafts will be discounted at the event.

The cost of running the trade fair will be covered by the Ministry of Co-operatives and is expected to reach K12m.

U Hla Win Maung, deputy director of the Co-operative Department, said products manufactured “in all regions of Myanmar will be available at the trade fair”.

“We hope a lot of Memoranda of Understanding between our associations and foreign companies will be signed,” he added.

The last co-operatives trade fair in Yangon, in January, also at Saya San Road, resulted in US$1.5 million worth of contracts for Myanmar companies selling agricultural, marine and forest products. Buyers came from China and Singapore. Products worth K271.2m were also sold at the event.

The trade fair has been held annually throughout the country since 1993, until January this year when the event went bi-annual. This will be the sixth time the Co-operatives Trade Fair has been held in Yangon.