The Northern Myanmar Chinese Chamber of Commerce was formed at the end of 2015. On December 7, 2015, the Mandalay delegation headed by Mr. Li Zucai, the chairman of the Jin Duo Yan Charity Federation, and Mr. Wu Ji Yan, who headed and represented the Central Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, Yangon signed a preliminary agreement for the establishment of a Northern Branch of a Myanmar Chinese Chamber of Commerce Organizing Committee in Myanmar. The preliminary agreement contained the intentions of both the Central Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Myanmar-Chinese Chamber of Commerce to create the Northern Myanmar Branch Chamber of Commerce for cooperation in Myanmar.
On January 17, 2016, President of the Northern Branch, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, Mandalay, Mr. Li Dongtao, and President of the Central Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, Yangon, Mr. Wu Ji Yan, met in the Great Hall of Jin Duo Yan and formally signed an agreement between the Central Commerce and the Northern Branch for cooperation. Both presidents officially unveiled the establishment of the Northern Branch of the Myanmar-Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Mandalay. The signing and unveiling ceremonies were witnessed by Consul General Wang Yu, Consulate General of China in Mandalay, Myanmar.
The full name of the chamber of commerce is “Myanmar-Chinese Chamber of Commerce”, which is also referred to as “Northern Myanmar-Chinese Chamber of Commerce”. The members are mixed ages of Myanmar Chinese living in Myanmar. The Northern Branch follows the same rules and regulations which have been set by the Central Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar, Yangon.
Among from the rules and regulations, the key principles are:
- Business is business. The business associations are established to help one another and to seek business development opportunities.
- Promote communications between Myanmar Chinese individuals, Myanmar Chinese associations, and support social welfare undertakings.
- Promote the economics of Myanmar and the development of commercial prosperity.
- Promote and enhance the friendship between people of Myanmar and China.
Both the Central and the Northern Branches of Commerce are constructed with the members of Myanmar-Chinese Associations such as: Yunnan Association, Fujian Association, Guang Dong Association, Multiple Provinces Association, and other Myanmar-Chinese entrepreneurs.
The Northern Myanmar Chinese Chamber of Commerce is a descendant of the Jin Duo Yan Charity Federation which was established in Mandalay during the Ming Dynasty in China. Jin Duo Yan was the first “foothold” of Chinese people who came to Mandalay from China. It was originally a place of “Land Temple”, and later it became the gathering place for all Chinese people in Mandalay. The name of “Jin Duo Yan” is bilingual, the combination of Chinese and Myanmar words. So it is a great representation for the friendship between the Chinese and Myanmar people.
In September 2015, under the recommendation of the Chinese Consulate General in Mandalay, the Chinese Service Center was established in Jin Duo Yan and is governed by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of China. There are just two Chinese service centers in Myanmar. One is in Yangon and the other is in Jin Duo Yan, Mandalay.
The Mandalay Myanmar-China Friendship Association was established in 2013. The office is also located in Jin Duo Yan, Mandalay. There are several Chinese federations and associations in Mandalay, such as: the Jin Duo Yan Charity Federation, the Jin Duo Yan Women’s Charity Federation, the Chinese Service Center, the Northern Myanmar Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Myanmar-China Friendship Association. So, the Jin Duo Yan is the home to the majority of Chinese federations and associations based in Mandalay. These organizations are the backbone of the friendship between Myanmar and China.
The Northern Branch of the Myanmar-Chinese Chamber of Commerce was joined by the Mandalay China Enterprise Chamber of Commerce which consists of 192 Chinese-funded enterprises to strengthen commerce and cultural ties in Myanmar.