Myawaddy

Myawaddy
မြဝတီ
Myawadi
Town
Main Street looking east
Myawaddy
Location in Myanmar (Burma)
Coordinates: 16°41′16″N 98°30′30″E / 16.68778°N 98.50833°E / 16.68778; 98.50833Coordinates: 16°41′16″N 98°30′30″E / 16.68778°N 98.50833°E / 16.68778; 98.50833
Country  Myanmar
Division  Kayin State
District Myawaddy District
Township Myawaddy Township
Population (2014)
 • Urban 195,624
 • Religions Buddhism
Time zone UTC+6.30 (MMT)

Myawaddy (Burmese: မြဝတီ; Thai: เมียวดี; RTGS: Mia-wadi; S'gaw Karen: မၠၣ်ဝတံၣ်) is a town in southeastern Myanmar, in Kayin State, close to the border with Thailand. Separated from the Thai border town of Mae Sot by the Moei River (Thaung Yinn River), the town is the most important trading point between Myanmar and Thailand. It is the second biggest among Myanmar’s 15 border trading posts.[1]It is 170km east of Mawlamyine, the fourth largest city of Myanmar and 426km northwest of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.[2]

Economy

Friendship Bridge linking Myawaddy with Mae Sot.

The border-crossing is a major route for the export of Myanmar's gems,[3] many of which have their provenance changed once across the border.[4]The Mae Sot to Myawaddy is the main border crossing trade route between Thailand and Myanmar and according to Thailand’s Chamber of Commerce, the monthly trade between the two countries in 2015– through the Mae Sot to Myawaddy crossing was worth over 3 billion baht.[5]

Tourism

Under the new agreement between Thailand and Myanmar governments, travelers who cross the border from Myawaddy-Mae Sot Friendship bridge are allowed to stay in Mae Sot areas for seven days. The new agreement has been effective from October 1, 2016.[6]

Places of interest

  • The crocodile temple (Myikyaungon in Burmese), an outstanding piece of architecture with a 65m-long crocodile-shape building.
  • A giant standing Buddha
  • Golden bell tower complex (Shwe Muay Wan)
  • Neat entry gate
  • Outdoor market

Health care

Border Gate

Myawaddy District Hospital is a public hospital that serves people in Myawaddy township and its surrounding area.[7]Operation Theater Building for Myawaddy Hospital was constructed by the Japanese Government under the Japanese Government’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).[8]However, local people are still used to cross the border to seek help at Dr Cynthia Maung's Mae Tao Charity Clinic in Mae Sot for better service.[9]

Bombing

On 6 August 2010, a bomb exploded in the car park of a crowded market in Myawaddy, killing two men and seriously injuring four others.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Myawaddy Border Trade Continues Despite Clashes". Myanmar Business Today. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  2. ↑ PCL., Post Publishing. "Bangkok Post article". www.bangkokpost.com. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  3. ↑ Chien, Choo Tse (2004) "Border Areas & Into Burma Photo Gallery" at pbase.com, archived here on 9 February 2005 by Internet Archive
  4. ↑ Naylor, Thomas (2009) "The underworld of gemstones Part II: in the eye of the beholder" Crime, Law and Social Change 53(3): 211–227, doi:10.1007/s10611-009-9221-1
  5. ↑ "Traders Excited By Start of Construction of New Friendship Bridge Between Mae Sot and Myawaddy « Karen News". karennews.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  6. ↑ "Myawaddy-Mae Sot Temporary Border Crossing Permit Extended From One to Seven Days « Karen News". karennews.org. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  7. ↑ "Three flu suspects found in Myawaddy | Eleven Myanmar". www.elevenmyanmar.com. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  8. ↑ "Embassy of Japan in Myanmar". www.mm.emb-japan.go.jp. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  9. ↑ "The road to rural healthcare reform". DVB Multimedia Group. 2016-04-19. Retrieved 2017-10-05.
  10. ↑ http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=19164


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