Myanmar offers Singapore sand to ease shortage

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Singapore, Apr 4: Myanmar said it could be a long-term supplier of sand and granite to Singapore, helping to ease a supply shortage in the city-state's booming building sector after Indonesia banned sand exports.

Indonesia's ban, imposed on environmental grounds, soured ties with Singapore as it pushed up construction costs just as the island's property market was recovering after years in the doldrums.

Myanmar has said it could help supply construction materials long-term and it would encourage Singapore firms to invest there, Singapore's Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a short statement issued late yesterday.

Stung by the Indonesian ban, which halted a stream of barges carrying sand from nearby islands, the construction industry in Singapore has been looking as far afield as China, Cambodia and Vietnam to keep its concrete mixers churning.

Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister, George Yeo, is on a two-day visit to military-ruled Myanmar, which faces Western sanctions because of its poor human rights record.

Singapore defends continuing ties with Myanmar, a fellow member of the Association of South East Asian Nations, saying it is better to engage than ostracise the regime.

There have been fears in Singapore that Indonesia would also halt granite exports after it detained last month 24 tugboats and barges carrying granite chips to the city-state.

But Indonesia's Trade Minister Mari Pangestu has said Indonesia would continue granite exports so long as the source of shipments was verified to guard against environmental damage.

Reuters

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