Yingluck Hopes To Discuss Dawei Deep-Sea Port Project With Thein Sein

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UNGA

Yingluck hopes to discuss Dawei with Thein Sein

Piyanart Srivalo

The Nation

NEW YORK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is scheduled to meet Myanmar President Thein Sein in New York tomorrow to discuss the progress of cooperation between the two governments over Myanmar's Dawei deep-sea port project.

The meeting is marked for 3pm on the sidelines of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, which both leaders are attending.

Thailand and Myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding during Thein Sein's visit in late July that changed the status of the mega- project from a government-to-private-sector to a government-to-government basis.

Yingluck's trip to Myanmar has been postponed twice this month - first from September 13 to 15 and later from September 19 to 21. She was expected to lead a high-ranking Thai team to follow up on the Dawei cooperation, but Nay Pyi Taw did not endorse either itinerary proposed by Thai authorities.

Late last month, the government sent a team of high-ranking officials including Foreign Ministry permanent secretary Sihasak Phuangkatekaew and National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) secretary-general Arkom Termpitayapaisit to Dawei to make preparations for a high-profile meeting between the two leaders.

Last week, Yingluck met with Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul, Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan and Deputy Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan to prepare for her possible meeting with Thein Sein in New York, a Government House source said.

Yingluck will be in the US city until Saturday.

The Dawei project was initiated by Thai construction firm Italian-Thai Development, which signed an MoU with Myanmar's Port Authority in 2008. The 10-year project includes deep-sea ports, heavy industries, office buildings and commercial areas.

The company was awarded a contract, the first phase of which was worth about US$8.6 billion (Bt270 billion). The entire project could be worth $58 billion or more.

After Myanmar began opening its doors to foreign investment early this year, this mega-project came into the spotlight, drawing interest from several countries.

Italian-Thai's contract for developing the industrial estate in the Dawei Special Economic Zone was eventually scaled down from 250 to 200 square kilometres.

-- The Nation 2012-09-25

[asiawatcher]

"... but Nay Pyi Taw did not endorse either itinerary proposed by Thai authorities."

1. Nation does not say who Nay Pyi Taw is.

2. With the admission is it now Govt to Govt and there is still resistance, and since the MOU was signed 2008, does that not mean it is all a waste of time?

The figures being quoted are probably not high enough to make the skim worth while.

[GeorgeO]

Perhaps she would be better occupied focusing on the inland deep water projects that are currently going on in and around Bangkok.....

[YoungOne]

"... but Nay Pyi Taw did not endorse either itinerary proposed by Thai authorities."

1. Nation does not say who Nay Pyi Taw is.

Naw Pyi Taw is the Capital of Myanmar.

[brianP]

Sounds like those pristine eco-tourism areas in Burma just got a whole lot smaller!

[drdoom6996]

"... but Nay Pyi Taw did not endorse either itinerary proposed by Thai authorities."

1. Nation does not say who Nay Pyi Taw is.

2. With the admission is it now Govt to Govt and there is still resistance, and since the MOU was signed 2008, does that not mean it is all a waste of time?

The figures being quoted are probably not high enough to make the skim worth while.

Definately needs a geography lesson!

[bigbamboo]

Put off twice and now a possible chat by the back door?

Sounds to me as if the Burmese want to speak to the organ grinder, not his pretty little monkey!

[TheKrayTriplet]

"... but Nay Pyi Taw did not endorse either itinerary proposed by Thai authorities."

1. Nation does not say who Nay Pyi Taw is.

2. With the admission is it now Govt to Govt and there is still resistance, and since the MOU was signed 2008, does that not mean it is all a waste of time?

The figures being quoted are probably not high enough to make the skim worth while.

NayPyiDaw is, as has been said the 'new' capital, but it is used here in a political context similar to Canberra says or Westminster says etc. The generals have their government buildings there.

[philw]

Nice, the PM taking a far sighted view of foreign investment, with Thai's as the foreign investors, and encouraging international trade and development, whilst securing Thai access to a deep water Indian ocean port.

Quite clever.

At the same time securing opportunity for Thai businesses.

Credit where credit is due, hey lads ???

[bigbamboo]

Nice, the PM taking a far sighted view of foreign investment, with Thai's as the foreign investors, and encouraging international trade and development, whilst securing Thai access to a deep water Indian ocean port.

Quite clever.

At the same time securing opportunity for Thai businesses.

Credit where credit is due, hey lads ???

Well done for getting 'taking a far sighted view' and 'PM' into the same sentence!

[philw]

Nice, the PM taking a far sighted view of foreign investment, with Thai's as the foreign investors, and encouraging international trade and development, whilst securing Thai access to a deep water Indian ocean port.

Quite clever.

At the same time securing opportunity for Thai businesses.

Credit where credit is due, hey lads ???

Well done for getting 'taking a far sighted view' and 'PM' into the same sentence!

Thank you.

How very constructive.

[Moruya]

Our esteemed leader demonstrating her oratory prowess.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?feature=youtube_gdata_player&v=LZ66zgQUvMQ&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DLZ66zgQUvMQ%26feature%3Dyoutube_gdata_player&gl=GB

[bigbamboo]

Nice, the PM taking a far sighted view of foreign investment, with Thai's as the foreign investors, and encouraging international trade and development, whilst securing Thai access to a deep water Indian ocean port.

Quite clever.

At the same time securing opportunity for Thai businesses.

Credit where credit is due, hey lads ???

Well done for getting 'taking a far sighted view' and 'PM' into the same sentence!

Thank you.

How very constructive.

Sorry, I didn't realise you were being serious.