Myanmar and Thailand are committed to complete the Bt1.5-trillion Dawei special economic zone by 2015.
Myanmar President Thein Sein and Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reached that agreement during bilateral talks on the sidelines of the 21st Asean Summit at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
“Both leaders agreed on the completion of the Dawei deep-sea port project,” said Sihasak Phuangket-keow, permanent secretary of the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry. “The Thai prime minister and businessmen are scheduled to make a study visit to the port in mid-December. The Myanmar president has invited them.”
The US$50-billion complex includes a road linking Dawei to the Thai border.
The joint committees for construction of the deep-sea port held their first meeting in Thailand in November 7, initially agreeing to complete the construction by 2015.
In a statement issued after the meeting of the two leaders, both countries agreed to complete by 2015 the construction of roads, the port, industrial zones, power stations, drinking-water supply and sewage systems, telecommunication systems, express trains and other regional development measures.
Myanmar will be responsible for defence, security and administrative affairs while Thailand will render technical as-|sistance and cooperate in construction tasks, the statement said. Thailand will also be in charge of monetary movements and helping to launch businesses in the Dawei region.
The panels for construction of the deep-sea port include a Joint High-level Committee (JHC), co-chaired by Myanmar Vice President Nyan Tun and Thai Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, and the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) co-chaired by Myanmar Industry Minister Aye Myint and Thai PM’s Office Minister Nivatthamrong Boonsongpaisal.
The joint committees in their first meetings discussed plans for financial supply and duty assignments for subcommittees.
Myanmar is scheduled to hold the second meeting of the JHC in March and the JCC’s second meeting next month. Investors keen to invest in the Dawei project have been asked to contact the JHC.
