Thailand to sign first phase of Dawei development next week

BANGKOK: -- Thailand will sign a $1.7 billion deal to develop the first phase of the long-delayed Dawei Industrial Zone in southeastern Myanmar next week, Thailand's secretary-general of the state planning agency said on Wednesday.

The project is arguably Southeast Asia's most ambitious industrial zone - a 250-sq-km (100-sq-mile) deep-sea port, petrochemical and heavy industry hub along the slim Thai-Myanmar peninsula.

The signing will take place in Naypyidaw next Wednesday between Japan, Thailand and Myanmar, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Board, told reporters.

Full story: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/29/thailand-myanmar-idUSL3N1094CB20150729


-- Reuters 2015-07-30

Another disaster in the making.

Another disaster in the making.

How so?

New here? Welcome! Don't worry you will find out...

Another disaster in the making.

How so?

Generally because many have finally realised just how expensive it's going to be!

http://m.irrawaddy.org/burma/ngos-urge-burma-thailand-resolve-dawei-sez-land-rights-complaints.html

http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSL4N0J61AN20131121

Having visited the site in February 2015, there is not a lot going on. The road from Phu Nam Rawn/Htee Kee to Dawei is in it's infancy. The proposed port has a 30 odd km raised roadway + tunnels to connect to the Thai border, this is fanciful in the extreme. There is massive risks in the project as Ital/Thai have found out already and are negotiating a settlement with Myanmar Govt. There has been massive displacement of villages in the area to accommodate the project so far. The general elections in November may also play a role in the future of the project, Soverign Risk perhaps?

The positives would be that Burmese could find work in the country as opposed to working in Malaysia, Thailand or Singapore. Thailand need the electricity generation that this SEZ could achieve, but the costs to develop will outweigh this.

Having visited the site in February 2015, there is not a lot going on. The road from Phu Nam Rawn/Htee Kee to Dawei is in it's infancy. The proposed port has a 30 odd km raised roadway + tunnels to connect to the Thai border, this is fanciful in the extreme. There is massive risks in the project as Ital/Thai have found out already and are negotiating a settlement with Myanmar Govt. There has been massive displacement of villages in the area to accommodate the project so far. The general elections in November may also play a role in the future of the project, Soverign Risk perhaps?

The positives would be that Burmese could find work in the country as opposed to working in Malaysia, Thailand or Singapore. Thailand need the electricity generation that this SEZ could achieve, but the costs to develop will outweigh this.

If just 10 of the top generals, and Than Shwe, each contributed a few billion of their fortunes, this project could be completed in 5 years, without any foreign investment. But, selflessness is not one of their strong suits!