Thailand
Myanmar: dry port sets hopes on Belt and Road
The country’s first dry port will be built near Myitnge, in Amarapura township, Mandalay Region, and join the Belt and Road network, said U Myo Win, general manager from Myanma Railways (Upper Myanmar).
“It is a two-year project under UNESCAP agreement between governments,” he said.
UNESCAP refers to the United Nations Economic Social Commission Asia Pacific.
The dry port is 75-acres wide and will feature all functions like a sea port, he added.
A dry port is a port situated near sea. It is an inland terminal which is directly connected to a maritime port.
“After customs clearance procedures are completed at the dry port, goods can be loaded on board at once without having to go through customs clearance in Yangon. This is our plan,” said U Myo Win.
Of the eight companies which applied for tender for the dry port construction, Hong Kong-based Kerry Logistics and Resource Logistics, a domestic firm, have been selected and the contracts were signed on April 3.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, Kerry Logistics is a logistics services provider which specialises in third party logistics, freight services, warehouse operations and supply chain solutions. The firm is active in Hong Kong, greater China as well as the ASEAN region. It has established international freight offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar.
“Kerry Logistics has been allowed to operate on 42.674 acres of land and Resource Logistics has been allowed to operate on two separate land areas, 18.47 acres and 13.36 acres.
“Myanma Railways has prepared to make the transfer of land in the first week of June. Companies will start their construction works as soon as we transferred the land,” he said.
U Myo Win added that the dry port will be eventually connected with the China-led Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure network, through the planned Lashio-Muse railway.
Source: http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/business/26395-dry-port-sets-hopes-on-belt-and-road.html