Myanmar Pearl Enterprise (MPE)
established in 1963 is a State-owned economic enterprise producing South
Sea pearls of finest quality, lustre, surface, nacre thickness, size,
colour and shape. It is under the Ministry of Mines.
In 1995, Government promulgated Myanmar Pearl law and invited foreign
direct investments. Foreign and local companies have to sign production-
sharing contract with MPE, if they invest in pearl culture business in
Myanmar. The duration of Contract is 15 years excluding two years of
Experimental Operation Stage and three years of harvesting period for
last-year-seeded pearls. The Contract is extendable. The splitting ratio
is 25 to 30 percent of pearls for MPE and it is revisable.
Unlike some other South Sea Pearl producing countries there is no set
quota system for number of seeding oysters. Foreign companies can seed
hatchery-bred oysters as much as they can. For local companies, they are
allowed to seed wild oysters as well as hatchery oysters with no set
quotas.
There are three foreign companies and two local companies, which are
conducting pearl culturing on eight islands, including three farms from
MPE. Before 1995 we relied only on wild oysters collected from their
natural habitats. But now there are four hatcheries fully operating to
get uniformed healthy young oysters. It means that we can conserve the
supply of wild oysters and produce high quality South Sea pearls
according to the market demand.
The main farm site of Myanmar Pearl Enterprise is on Sir J Malcolm
Island, now locally known as Pearl Island, in Mergui Archipelago. It is
the place chosen by Japanese in 1954 and it provided excellent
conditions. We are proud that it is the oldest South Sea pearl farm in
the World, which is continuously producing superb quality pearls.
