Yingluck urged to seek investors beyond Japan
A Naresuan University researcher sees a bright future for the Dawei deep-sea port development and industrial project between Thailand and Myanmar.
The project's prospects, however, depend on whether the government will try harder to invite foreign investors to participate in it.
Phitsanulok's Naresuan University research development vice-president, Pupong Pongcharoen, said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra was on the right track in trying to persuade Japanese businessmen to invest in Dawei.
Japan has already invested a lot of money in heavy industries in Myanmar, he said.
Ms Yingluck has just wrapped up a trip to Tokyo, but Mr Pupong said the premier must expand her search beyond Japanese investors.
"We don't know how many Japanese will show an interest in the project," Mr Pupong said. "The government should focus on inviting more foreign businessmen to invest in Dawei."
He said the government must present specific information about the investment plan to help show foreign investors the potential returns.
Mr Pupong said he had seen little evidence of Ms Yingluck attempting to attract other investors to the project beyond Japan.
He said his team recently completed research on the project to learn how it will benefit the country. The research team travelled to Myanmar three times to conduct interviews with business groups, transport officials and local villagers. They also went to the deep-sea port construction site.
The project is located in Dawei City on the shores of the Andaman Sea in Tanaosri district, the southernmost part of Myanmar. It is 230 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, 160km from the Thai-Myanmar border, 370km from Bangkok and 500km from Thailand's Eastern Seaboard.
Mr Pupong said the port would be the largest seaport in the region _ 10 times larger than Thailand's Eastern Seaboard.
It would connect the Andaman Sea in the west with the Gulf of Thailand in the east and will be set up at a depth of 25-40 metres, compared to the 14-16m-depth of Laem Chabang port.
The depth would allow large container ships to load and unload with ease.
"We found the Dawei deep-sea port could further extend and play a significant role in regional trade and international trade," Mr Pupong said.
The project would become a gateway to Southeast Asia and would maximise connectivity between East Asia and Western markets. Moreover, the port would offer new transport options other than the Strait of Malacca.
Thai ambassador to Myanmar Pisanu Savanajata said Myanmar is working on several major projects in addition to the port and Thailand is working closely with its neighbour.
"We have to compete for investment opportunities in this project," he said. "We are sure that we will also benefit."
