Japan’s premier agreed on Saturday to press on with work on a major industrial zone near Yangon on a visit to Myanmar aimed at deepening economic ties with the former junta-ruled nation.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Myanmar officials at the Thilawa project on the first day of a trip promoting Japanese business in a country which desperately needs investment and infrastructure to drive a much-anticipated economic revival.
“Thilawa SEZ [special economic zone] is a milestone in the relationship between the two governments and the private sector,” said Set Aung, Myanmar’s deputy minister of National Planning and Economic Development.
“This will create quick wins for the people of Myanmar and Japanese businessmen,” in terms of jobs and much-needed “technical assistance”, he added.
An environmental impact assessment on the 2,400 hectare project, which will include a port and industrial park, will be completed in August, he said.
Japan and Myanmar in December agreed to start work this year on the Thilawa project with the zone due to be up and running in 2015.
Abe follows in the footsteps of other world leaders who have flocked to the former pariah state since it was welcomed back to the international community after a nominally civilian government was installed in 2011.
