Thailand, Myanmar back ambitious port project

Bangkok, July 23, 2012 (AFP) - Thailand and Myanmar pledged on Monday to press ahead with a multi-billion-dollar deep sea port project and to open new border crossings during summit talks focused on strengthening economic ties.

The Dawei development on Myanmar's southern Andaman coast is a key part of the impoverished country's plans to transform its economy, giving neighbours such as Thailand an outlet to the Indian Ocean and markets to the West.

But the project -- led by Thai industrial giant Ital-Thai -- has faced resistance from local villagers and there have been signs of funding troubles.

The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on the development of a special economic zone for Dawei, with Thailand agreeing to provide assistance in areas including security, infrastructure and logistics.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told reporters after talks with visiting President Thein Sein on a twice-postponed trip to Bangkok that the two nations would set up ministerial-level contacts to address related issues.

"In our talks, I reaffirmed the commitment of the Thai government to push forward with this cooperation with Myanmar in regard to the development of the Dawei deep sea port to have concrete progress," Yingluck said.

The Dawei project would include a 250 square kilometre (100 square mile) industrial area with a steel mill, petrochemical plant and oil refinery. The Thai developer insists all is going to plan.

It is among a number of ambitious foreign-funded projects which started before the long-ruling junta handed over power last year to a new quasi-civilian government whose ranks are filled with former generals.

But doubts about the port development grew after Myanmar's government earlier this year blocked a 4,000-megawatt coal-fired plant that was to be built at Dawei.

On Sunday Thein Sein inspected the Laem Chabang deep-sea port on Thailand's Gulf Coast, which is to be connected by road to Dawei, shortening the current sea route around the Malay Peninsula.

The two leaders also agreed to open three new border crossings between the two countries -- in Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son and Kanchanaburi -- in addition to three existing official checkpoints.

Thein Sein delayed a visit to Thailand in May that clashed with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's appearance at the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Bangkok, in her first overseas excursion for over two decades.

The Myanmar leader again postponed the trip in early June.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-07-23

Thailand, Myanmar agree to back deepwater port

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and Myanmar agreed on Monday to develop jointly a special economic zone including an 8.6-billion-dollar deepwater port in southern Myanmar to be built by a Thai contractor.

The deal to jointly develop the Dawei project in south-eastern Myanmar was signed by the governments of Thai Prime Minister YingluckShinawatra and Myanmar President Thein Sein, who was on a three-day visit to the kingdom.

On Sunday, Thein Sein visited Laem Chabang deepwater port, 100 kilometres south-east of Bangkok, which could be linked by highways and railways to Dawei, opening a new trade route for Thailand and South-east Asian neighbours.

Dawei is about 342 kilometres west of Bangkok by road and 472 kilometres by road to Laem Chabang.

-- The Nation 2012-07-23

The Singaporeans are going to be spitting bricks if this happens.

Why trans-ship in Singapore, if you can put it on a truck and get to the Indian ocean side.

So these ports would be connected by road via BKK and ships wouldn't have to sail all the way down and up? Is that the purpose of the port? How would this project affect Thailand?

A few years ago I was told that Singapore pays Thailand a certain sum NOT to open a port on the west coast of Thailand. Would appreciate if somebody can confirm this (if possible)?

A few years ago I was told that Singapore pays Thailand a certain sum NOT to open a port on the west coast of Thailand. Would appreciate if somebody can confirm this (if possible)?

Yep; that is exactly what I was given to understand. At that time, all the talk was about the famous "Kra-Canal". Makes a lot of sense, since it would cost Singapore very very dearly ! ! !

So these ports would be connected by road via BKK and ships wouldn't have to sail all the way down and up? Is that the purpose of the port? How would this project affect Thailand?

Definitely another hub, a "Transit Hub" from the land of Crackdowns and Hubs.

A few years ago I was told that Singapore pays Thailand a certain sum NOT to open a port on the west coast of Thailand. Would appreciate if somebody can confirm this (if possible)?

I would think that Singapore is quite happy these days receiving all that neatly laundered money from the UNOCAL pipeline, I would imagine that with the buying off of Daw Suu and the subsequent opening up of Burma for capitalist exploitation and extraction, Singapore will be happy to help with the funding of the new port.

After having seen the location of Dawei town, up the Dawei river, I am curious as to where the deep sea port might be built, and also the road connections to Thailand across mountains and dense jungle.

Any comments?