Thailand and Myanmar have agreed to push forward the construction of a joint transportation route after receiving the green light from the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Committee.
Following a recent visit to Laem Chabang Port in Chon Buri province by Myanmar President Thein Sein, Minister of Transport Charupong Ruangsuwan stated that the president is intent on applying Thailand’s format of development for Laem Chabang Port to Myanmar’s Dawei Deep Seaport Development Project.
The Minister said the Myanmar President also encouraged Thai investors, both from the public and private sectors, to make investments in the deep seaport project. More than 100 Thai companies have shown their interest in doing so. The Thai-Myanmar joint venture committee will hold a meeting regarding the directions of investment for both countries in the beginning of August.
In addition to the Thai-Myanmar cooperation, the Transport Ministry of Thailand will also proceed with its construction of Bang Yai-Ban Pong-Kanchanaburi Motorway, which covers a distance of 96 kilometers and is worth 46 billion baht. The project has recently been approved by the EIA Committee and is currently undergoing further studies in terms of investment.
Moreover, once the first phase is completed, the motorway will be stretched for another 80 kilometers from Kanchanaburi to Ban Phu Nam Ron, which is located near the Thai-Myanmar border and will serve as the connection point to Dawei Deep Seaport in the future.
Mr. Charupong added that Thailand and Myanmar are planning to build train tracks between Kanchanaburi and Dawei as well. Both the motorway and the railway projects are scheduled for completion within 5-7 years, in hopes of connecting trade routes in the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean together.
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Dredging Today Staff, July 25, 2012