Myanma Timber Enterprise

Myanma Timber Enterprise (Burmese: မြန်မာ့သစ်လုပ်ငန်း; abbreviated MTE) is the national timber company of Myanmar. Founded in 1948 as the State Timber Board, MTE is a state-owned monopoly that regulates harvesting and sale of timber in the country, drawing a percentage of the country's total timber export revenue.[1][2] Myanmar's forest product regulations deem only wood under the control of MTE to be legal.[3] MTE has been accused of corruption, specifically for accepting bribes and subcontracting to allow illegal exports of mislabeled or illegally logged wood, in violation of both Myanmar law and laws in the European Union and US on timber imports.[2]

Myanma Timber Enterprise
Native name
မြန်မာ့သစ်လုပ်ငန်း
FormerlyState Timber Board (STB)
Timber Corporation (TC)
TypePublic
IndustryWood industry
Founded1948 (1948)
Headquarters
Yangon
,
Myanmar
ProductsTimber
OwnerMyanmar Government
ParentMinistry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation
Websitewww.mte.com.mm

History

The State Timber Board was founded in 1948, after Burma achieved independence.[4] It was renamed the Timber Corporation in 1974, and again renamed the Myanma Timber Enterprise in 1989, after the 8888 Uprising.[4]

In the aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, the United States, European Union, Canada, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom banned MTE for its role in generating revenue for the military regime in April 2021.[5] These countries continue to import teak from Myanmar, evading sanctions by using illegal private brokers or intermediaries to acquire Burmese teak, importing a total of $37 million in teak between February and November 2021.[1][6]

See also

References
  1. "Countries that sanctioned Myanmar's junta are still buying their timber: Report". Mongabay Environmental News. 7 April 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  2. "Myanmar's illegal timber trade continues despite COVID-19". ASEAN Today. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  3. "ORGANISED CHAOS: The illicit overland timber trade between Myanmar and China" (PDF). Environmental Investigation Agency. September 2015.
  4. "About MTE". Myanma Timber Enterprise. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  5. "Treasury Sanctions Key Timber and Pearl Enterprises in Burma". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 21 April 2021.
  6. "Western firms certified as socially responsible trade in Myanmar teak linked to the military regime - ICIJ". 2 March 2023. Retrieved 28 March 2023.


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