Hopes remain for Japan role in Dawei
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Thailand is still confident that foreign governments, especially Japan's, are keen to join the Dawei special economic zone project, PM's Office Minister Nivatthamrong Boonsongpaisal said yesterday.
The Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (Neda) and a state agency under Myanmar’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development will sign a deal to set up a special purpose vehicle (SVP) entity next Monday in Bangkok to facilitate the project’s development. Then an investment-framework agreement will be created between the SPV entity and the Dawei Special Economic Zone Management Committee.
Currently the Thai and Myanmar governments each hold 50-per-cent shares in the SPV. The entity will try to lure other countries, especially Japan, to take part in the SPV. Nivatthamrong said some countries were expected to join in this year.
He co-chairs the Myanmar-Thai Joint Coordinating Committee overseeing the Dawei development project.
Despite reports that Japanese investors have focused more on Thilawa, another Myanmar special economic zone that is close to Yangon, Nivatthamrong said he was still confident that Japanese interests would join in the Dawei project, which will be bigger in size and give bigger returns than Thilawa.
