Economic revival: Japan vows help for Myanmar economy
Unlike its Western allies, Japan maintained trade ties and dialogue with Myanmar during junta rule.
YANGON:
Japan’s premier on Saturday pledged “all possible assistance” to kick-start Myanmar’s ailing economy, hailing a major industrial zone near Yangon as a symbol of development for the impoverished nation.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is touting the potential of Japanese businesses to boost the once junta-ruled nation’s economy, visited the jointly developed Thilawa project, a 2,400 hectare (6,000 acre) site which will include a port and industrial park.
During his trip Abe is pushing the expertise of Japanese firms, in particular in infrastructure building, to Myanmar which desperately needs investment to drive a much-anticipated economic revival. Unlike its Western allies, Japan maintained trade ties and dialogue with Myanmar during junta rule which ended in 2011, saying a hard line could push it closer to China. Abe is also expected to unveil almost $1 billion in development aid and a plan for a nationwide electricity grid.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2013.
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Japan’s premier on Saturday pledged “all possible assistance” to kick-start Myanmar’s ailing economy, hailing a major industrial zone near Yangon as a symbol of development for the impoverished nation.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is touting the potential of Japanese businesses to boost the once junta-ruled nation’s economy, visited the jointly developed Thilawa project, a 2,400 hectare (6,000 acre) site which will include a port and industrial park.
During his trip Abe is pushing the expertise of Japanese firms, in particular in infrastructure building, to Myanmar which desperately needs investment to drive a much-anticipated economic revival. Unlike its Western allies, Japan maintained trade ties and dialogue with Myanmar during junta rule which ended in 2011, saying a hard line could push it closer to China. Abe is also expected to unveil almost $1 billion in development aid and a plan for a nationwide electricity grid.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2013.
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