Foreign travelers are set to obtain entry visa into the jade mining area in the northernmost Kachin state 14 days ahead of their journey, the report said.

Visiting to Phakant by foreigners was banned in February last year according to the Myanmar authorities’ then announcement but that to Myitkyina through kanpaithi entry point was permitted, the report added.

Phakant is among the six popular areas in Myanamr under gem and jade exploration. The five other areas are Mogok, Mongshu, Khamhti, Moenyin and Namyar.

Myanmar occasionally introduced gem mining blocks in these areas for engagement by domestic entrepreneurs to promote gem production in the country.

For the development of gem industry, Myanmar has been holding gem shows annually starting 1964 and introducing the mid-year one since 1992 and the special one since 2004. On each occasion, the country’s quality gems, jade, pearl and jewelry worth of millions of dollars were put on sale mainly through competitive bidding.

The authorities designated the proceeds from the sale of gems at these emporiums as legal export earning to encourage the private sector in the development of the gem industry.

Myanmar, a well-known producer of gems in the world, boasts ruby, diamond, cat’s eye, emerald, topaz, pearl, sapphire, coral and a variety of garnet tinged with yellow.

Of Myanmar’s 6.043 billion U.S. dollars’ exports in 2007-08, gem products stood the third after natural gas and agricultural produces with 647.53 million dollars, according to official statistics.

The government’s Central Statistical Organization also revealed that in the fiscal year 2007-08, Myanmar produced 20,235 tons of jade and 22.668 million carats of gems which include ruby, sapphire, spinel and peridot, as well as 225,611 mommis (846 kilograms) of pearl.