Japan keen on three rail projects in Thailand

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RAILWAY
Japan keen on three rail projects

Dawei also on Tokyo's agenda, top aide says

BANGKOK: -- JAPAN YESTERDAY signalled its intention to help develop multibillion-baht high-speed railway routes in Thailand while also investing in the Dawei port and industrial-estate projects in Myanmar.

The development followed a meeting between Hiroto Izumi, special economic adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House.

Transport Minister Prajin Juntong said Thailand would sign a memo of cooperation with Japan this month on joint development of the Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi-Bangkok-Laem Chabang and Bangkok to Sa Kaew rail lines. Further study would be done on the Mae Sot to Mukdahan route.

Prajin said Deputy Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith would sign the deal with Japanese railroad authorities during a trip to Tokyo on May 26-27.

Izumi expressed his country's strong interest in developing the projects, especially the Bangkok-Chiang Mai route.

Besides the rail schemes, Japan also hopes to sign a tripartite agreement with Thailand and Myanmar in July to develop jointly the Dawei deep-sea port and industrial estate, Izumi said.

Earlier this year, Prayut visited Japan and signed a memorandum of understanding with Abe to develop three railway projects jointly - the Bangkok-Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi-Bangkok-Sa Kaew, and Mae Sot-Mukdahan routes.

Prajin said cooperation with China on railway projects was also going ahead, with the Kaeng Khoi-Nakhon Ratchasima route the most ready among four routes, which also include the Bangkok-Kaeng Khoi, Kaeng Khoi-Map Ta Phut, and Nakhon Ratchasima-Nong Khai routes.

On the multibillion-dollar Dawei projects, Izumi said Japan was ready to invest in the "special-purpose vehicle" to develop the projects with the Myanmar and Thai governments.

The Japanese role will be led by its state agencies, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Japan Bank for International Cooperation, which have already assigned experts to help both Thailand and Myanmar implement the projects.

Japanese involvement in the projects will boost the scheme's feasibility thanks to its huge financial and other resources needed to build them in a manner similar to the Eastern Seaboard development. The projects are close to Kanchanaburi, so the Kanchanaburi-Bangkok-Sa Kaew railway line has been proposed to serve as a crucial link for industries in Thailand and Myanmar, many of which Japanese companies have invested in.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Japan-keen-on-three-rail-projects-30259860.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-12

[BSJ]

So, the Japanese are going to bankroll the entire deal by the look of it. I wonder how the ownership and operations aspect is being handled???

[Srikcir]

Another smart investment by an advanced industrial nation. Japan's GDP will benefit from these projects for the next 20 years. Foreign financed, built, and oerated projects like this one does NOTHING for Thailand's GDP growth.

Meanwhile, Thailand becomes a debtor nation, unwilling to INVEST IN ITS OWN INFRASTRUCTURE even though it has the financial ability to do so. Essentially selling Thailand's infrastructure development to foreign nations is an economic policy of the Junta governbment that continues to fail its own nation in economic growth.

[Broeno]

Thailand only can invest in their own nation when they know how to handle the cartel familys. Thai get robbed every day. Every minute by these cartels. Only breaking thrue this, generates so much money thai Thailand will be able to invest in its own country and people.

[hhinhh]

Another smart investment by an advanced industrial nation. Japan's GDP will benefit from these projects for the next 20 years. Foreign financed, built, and oerated projects like this one does NOTHING for Thailand's GDP growth.

Meanwhile, Thailand becomes a debtor nation, unwilling to INVEST IN ITS OWN INFRASTRUCTURE even though it has the financial ability to do so. Essentially selling Thailand's infrastructure development to foreign nations is an economic policy of the Junta governbment that continues to fail its own nation in economic growth.

It is clear that

Thailand has an underdeveloped railway-system

Thailand needs an improvement for its railway-stystem

Thailand does not have the technology to install a new railway stystem

Infrastructure is the basis to develop the economy of a country

I think nobody will deny this. Consequently Thailand will definitvely befefit from the new railway project.

If Thailand will be a debitor from such projects it is no problem. If it becomes a debitor from selling rice it is a problem. It is a simply as that.