TODAY

Nowadays foreign investments are entering Myanmar en masse, as FDI or to form partnerships for profit-sharing with local companies.
As follows, TODAY has interviewed U Aung Kyaw, managing director of YIG Co Ltd which in partnership with Bangkok Industrial Gas Co Ltd (BIG) aims at importing /distribution of high quality industrial gases. The former’s objectives are: production of international standard products, use of advanced technology, and local production of those products, he claims.

The year YIG Co Ltd was born
YIG  was established in 2012, with legal per-mission. But gas has been being imported since 2010.

YIG’s Main Parter
We mainly collaborated with Bangkok Indus-trical Gas Co Ltd. Actually we placed orders for gas with Air Product Co Ltd, which is American. On reaching out, we were shunted to Area Office that is Bangkok Industrial Gas Co Ltd. BIG and Air Product are in partnership, and we’ve joined the BIG.

Local Associates
Local associates since our venturing into gas include: Khin Maung Nyunt Co Ltd;  Fourteen Star Network Co Ltd; Development Steps Co Ltd, and Supplier Global Pte Ltd.

Products in distribution
YIG products in distribution are: orgon, helium, nitrogen, hydrogen, acetylene, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), Air Zero and oxygen; but some products have different types or grades. Prices differ depending on technology employed, or product concentration.

Service
Gas goes with cylinder, which is much pricier — up to 30 times. Locally oxygen is refilled at the plant. But we’re going for Quality in refilling. Initially deposit is used in marketing. Later on there will no charges on cylinders. Modern technology requires the gas piping system to have a burn-off end for safety and product flow. We’ve these needs seen to by experts, and we supply accessories.

Training in product’s technology
Before the company was set up in 2012 eight employees were sent to BIG to train in its Bangok plants. It lasted six months.

Fire and other safety measures
Roughly speaking, industrial gases are classified into three — inflammable, noninflammable, and toxic. How to store them in a warehouse is very important. Locally cylinders are rolled here and there to move. But we keep the cylinder in place, in accord with Internatinal safety. An emergency team to take care of fire hazards is always on duty. We’ve been trained that way by BIG. Our warehouse has been set up according to their plan, open to their inspection.

Obstacles in importing of products
This foreign-made product makes for difficulties in sea trade, specifically shipping it. Local market is too small for some Grades of product. Moreover all kinds of product can not be put into a  single container. So we’re carrying it by road. Up trip and Down, it takes one day each. Road conditions could create difficulties. That means some products are out of bounds for their high standard of Safety.

Difficulties due to illegal cross-border imports
No difficulties yet until now. Illegal gas coming across the border is quite cheap for their low quality. Its trade runs for its own market, just like ours. Therefore no problem.

Servicing current market
Currently High Quality product is paramount, what with international companies coming in. It is Safety First to the machines and their user. Safety First is usually specified for machinery being imported by international companies here, and we’re satisfying that need. The market is small still, but should meaure up to International Standard. International companies into welding can now have industrial gases with Safety locally. Domestic industries are following suit. Commonplace gases are going out of place.

Future programme and services
YIG will undergo three Phases. First Phase is current activities. In Second Phase instead of going to the other country, cylinders will be refilled here, at much reduced cost to Customer. The final Phase should see us building a factory of own  here, in line with the pace of industrial development in Myanmar.