Foreign investments are invited for the upgrade of jetties along the coast into international standard ports

Foreign investments will be sought to upgrade jetties along the coast into international-standard ports as additional capacity is needed to supplement the Yangon port, which now handles 90 per cent of sea-based goods transport.

“Jetties along the coast are mainly used for handling domestic cargo. They will become international ports when there is an inflow of additional investments,” said Dr Myo Nyein Aye, deputy general manager of the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications. He was speaking on February 8 at the Myanmar-Korea Investment Promotion Seminar at Lotte Hotel in Yangon.

Coastal jetties in Sittwe, Kyaukphu, Thandwe, Pathein, Mawlamyine, Dawei, Myeik and Kawthoung now work with domestic cargo.

The ministry will invite foreign investors to turn the jetties into international-standard ports, said Myo Nyein Aye.

A total of 36 ships can moor simultaneously at Yangon port. The ministry is in discussions with China to upgrade Kyaukphyu jetty to international standards. In addition, the discussions are underway with Japan and Thailand to upgrade Dawei jetty in Tanintharyi region to a high standard.

Since 1996, the government has allowed entrepreneurs to invest in the jetty projects. The investment ratio between the government and private sector is 93.6 per cent to 6.4 per cent.

(Eleven Media Group: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/13394 )

​