Japan to focus on Thilawa before Dawei

In April last year Japan was invited by both the Thai and Myanmar governments to join as a strategic partner in the Dawei Special Economic Zone project. Discussions stalled after Japan criticised the feasibility of the project.

“The Myanmar and Thai governments have asked for Japanese investment in the Dawei SEZ,” said Matsuo. “The three governments are discussing whether Japan will get involved. Dawei port is a significant infrastructure project for Asean countries, but the problem is with the substantial size of Dawei, it is ten times larger than Thilawa.”

The project was started by the Italian-Thai development company, which signed an agreement with Myanmar authorities to develop a deep-sea port in Dawei in 2010.

Deputy Minister for Transport Han Sein, who is also chairperson of the Dawei SEZ Management Committee, has said that the government would begin inviting tenders to implement initial projects around the Dawei SEZ in April.

This involves constructing a 146km two-way road between Myanmar and Thailand, a small port, an initial economic zone, power plants, housing and civil infrastructure, telecommunications lines and water supply.

A group of companies will be selected under an international tender process that may take up to four months, officials had told a press conference at the Myanmar Ports Authority on December 2.

“Italian-Thai Development doesn’t have the financial capacity to develop the Dawei SEZ on its own. In fact, no company may have the capacity to go it alone on such a project. Thus, foreign investors must be invited,” said Set Aung, chairperson of the Dawei SEZ regulation and coordination committee.