By Swe Oo Wai

MARKETS are one of the daily life essentials of the Yangonites. The Yangon City Development Committee is constantly fulfilling the needs for the existing markets as much as possible for the convenience of those who are doing the shopping so that they are able to operate their business activities. Now is also reported that the YCDC will upgrade eight markets facilities in Yangon soon.

The measures to upgrade these eight market facilities will be introduced through a market operator system in the private management capacity. The relevant company will have to take overall responsibility for its market to be alive with a teeming crowd. The YCDC is charged with supervising the markets.

These eight markets to be upgraded in Yangon are Bogyoke Aung San Market and New Bogyoke Market in Pabedan Township, Ngamoeyeik Sanpya Market in Thingangyun Township, Thiri Myintha Market in South Okkalapa Township, Kaytumate Market in Dagon Myothit (South) Dagon, Hline Market and Hline Yadana Market in Hline Tonwship, Thiri Mingalar Market in Shwepyitha Township, according to the official release issued by the YCDC.

Submission of proposals

Local and foreign joint venture companies are to submit proposals to upgrade the markets in Yangon to the YCDC starting from 21 April in 2020.

The market upgrades highlighted a joint effort between the private sector and the government. The upgrade measures will pay attention to systematization, discipline, being alive with a teeming crowd, convenience between the sellers and the buyers, market characteristics, and market appearance.

Systematic and disciplined measures

The market facilities will be upgraded to meet the standardizations of the international wholesale markets. A market operator system will be implemented to make a systematic approach to shopping room, passageway, display, goods storage and trading activities.

There are a total of 178 markets in Yangon. The markets will be scrutinized whether they should be upgraded or not. Some markets will be upgraded through PPP system and some through market operator system.

A total of 25 markets

The markets in Yangon are categorized as A-level, B-level, C-level and D-level. A- level markets include Bogyoke Aung San Market, Theingyi Market (A and B complex), Theingyi Market (C, D and E complex), Than Market, Nyaungbinlay Market, Central Sanpya Fish Market, Myaynigone Market, Mingalar Market, Pazuntaung Market, 38th Street Plaza Market, Hledan Market, Thiri Mingalar Market, Shwepadauk Fish Market, Bayintnaung Market, and Insein Market.

There are about 50 B-level markets including Padetha, Nandawun, Padamyar, Myittha in South Okkalapa Township and Yadana Theinga in North Okkalapa Township under the control of the YCDC. There are 64 C-level markets including Waibargi, Kyaukyaydwin, Maydarwi and Shwepaukkan and 39 C-level markets as well.

“The markets existing in Yangon will have to be upgraded. Systematic measures to upgrade the market facilities will be taken for the emergence of the ones with hygienic conditions,” said Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein. Some sellers from mostly markets in Yangon are being found to be selling goods beyond the market area and on road area. The goods are on display on the road area and they are also kept there.

Markets need upgrade

The areas inside the markets don’t look very hygienic and the air there is foul as well. For that reason the attention of the buyers turn to purchasing things from the hawkers selling on the roadsides in front of the markets. That is why it is required to upgrade the markets to become the ones with hygienic conditions.

The YCDC has arranged market in-charge offices in most of the markets in its municipal area of Yangon to collect the tax from the sellers and the in-charges are supervising the markets. But we don’t have the companies yet to be able to carry out effective measures and develop the markets. Although the markets are built in a systematic manner, they are degrading in quality without seeing a sustainable development, said Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein.

So as to overcome such worse situation, 22 markets will be upgraded through PPP system and 10 ones through market operator system. U Than, Joint Secretary of the YCDC said that State budget will not be spent on upgrading the markets in Yangon.

The reasons for the market upgrades are to improve the market design, create an easy place for the buyers to get what they want in the single place and remove the roadside hawkers.

The upgrades on the markets will help Yangon promote urban development, thereby creating Yangon an easy paradise for the shoppers, local and foreign travellers as well as those wishing to make observations.

(Translated by Htut Htut (Twantay))