Thailand and Japan Sign MOI to Reaffirm Railway Cooperation

[Jacob Maslow]

Thailand and Japan signed a Memorandum of Intent on the Thailand’s rail system project. Thai Prime Minister Prayut also discussed Dawei with Japan Prime Minister Abe.

Thailand and Japan signed a MOI (Memorandum of Intent) on the development of Thailand’s new rail system. The signing was announced Tuesday in a statement posted on the Thai government’s website.

The MOI was signed on the development of three rail routes in Thailand that would ultimately connect the North/South and the East/West Economic Corridors.

The Memorandum of Intent was signed in Japan. Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha witnessed the signing as well as Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

On the second day of his trip to Japan, Prayut and Abe held a meeting to discuss the elimination of trade and investment obstacles between Thailand and Japan. Prayut also urged Abe to hasten ASEAN-Japan Free Trade Area negotiations.

Prayut was briefed on the Japan’s rail system development on Tuesday morning at Tokyo Station by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Mr. Muto. Thailand’s development plans include 1.435 meter rail tracks during the initial stage. Shinkansen will be an option in the future. Mr. Muto says that he’s confident Japan’s decades of experience will benefit Thailand’s plans to revamp its railway system.

Thailand’s new rail system would connect Kanchanaburi, Thailand with Cambodia. Another system would connect Kanchanaburi with Dawei. Japan will be investing in both tracks. The project is a part of Thailand’s efforts to upgrade its dated rail system.

During his stay in Japan, Prayut and Japan’s PM Abe discussed the Myanmar’s Dawei Special Economic Zone. The economic project is the largest in Southeast Asia that connects South Asia to the Greater Mekong sub-region. The multi-billion-dollar seaport will give Thailand access to Western markets and the Indian Ocean.

The two also discussed other special economic zones along Thailand’s border. The aim of the projects is to provide Japan’s private sector with an economic opportunity to pair with Thailand as a production and distribution base.

-- 2015-02-11

[F4UCorsair]

Didn't they have a sort of memorandum of understanding on a railway back in the early 40's. We (the Japanese) build the railway from Burma, or we kill you all.

[rickirs]

Well done Gen. Prayuth!

Once again you have helped another country make an infrastructure investment in Thailand that will boost their GDP growth rate with export of materials, expertise, materials, and technology. And if the deal is anything like the Chinese-financed dual rail project, the Japanese will OWN 80% of the project and revenues for the next 20 years until Thailand pays off its debt. I hope for the Japan's sake that there is still a viable Thai economy for the next 20 years at the current rate that the Thai government is mismanaging it.