Yunnan - In printed T-shirt, longyi (a traditional skirt-like garment) and plastic sandals, a middle-aged Myanmar jeweler is bargaining with clients in fluent Chinese in his store in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province.

It has been five years since the family of 39-year-old La Mao, a Muslim, his wife and two daughters left their hometown of Yangon to come to Xishuangbanna and start a jewelry business here.

Like hundreds of other Myanmar businessmen who have settled here, La Mao made his first fortune with his stones carried along with him and lives a far wealthier life than previously in his hometown.

Peng Jui, a former history professor in Yangon University who has been involved in the jade business in Ruili city, Dehong prefecture, for more than 20 years, said he has made tens of millions of yuan out of 8,000 yuan ($1,180) by selling emeralds.

"I can have a sound sleep in Ruili, but not in Yangon," Peng said.

Adjacent to Myanmar, which is rich in emeralds, Yunnan is a vital passage for emerald manufacture and exports.

Statistics from Ruili customs show the city's total export and import volume from January to April reached 396 million yuan, with a year-on-year increase of more than 90 percent. Exports reached 318 million yuan.

Customs officials said the major export commodities are mechanical and electronic products such as motorcycles, and major import commodities are minerals and farm products like jade, timber and soybeans.

"Almost all Myanmar people who come to Xishuangbanna are involved in the jade business, with hundreds of jade stores here," La Mao said.

But due to the financial crisis, the jade business has not been doing that well since June 2008 because fewer tourists are buying.

To attract more clients, La Mao is preparing to attend the Kunming Import & Export Commodities Fair from June 6 to 10.

China daily

(China Daily 06/03/2010 page3)