U Phyo Min Thein, Chief Minister of the Yangon Region Government met representatives of parliament and the departments of relevant ministries to discuss plans to construct the new industrial zones last week.

The new industrial zones are expected to increase the flow of foreign direct investments into Yangon as well as create more job opportunities for the locals.

“We want to implement these projects quickly,” said U Nay Win, representative of Pyithu Hluttaw in Thongwa township of Yangon region, who attended the meeting on December 2.

The Yangon Region Government has earmarked 11 townships in which an industrial zone can be constructed. These include townships from the southern districts of Yangon, such as Khayan, Thongwa, Thanlyin, Kyauktan, Kungyangon, Dala, Kawhmu and Twantay as well as the northern districts such as Hmawbi, Hlegu, Htantabin, Taik Gyi.

The size of each industrial zone will be 1,000 acres. However, their exact locations were not revealed to prevent speculation in land and property within the area.

While such industrial zones are expected to contribute to the economy by drawing FDI and creating jobs, the government must first ensure sufficient and reliable infrastructure such as electricity, roads and water, several companies involved in constructing the zones commented.

Even the existing industrial zones have limited access to electricity, said U Ko Lay, chair of South Dagon industrial zone.

There are currently over 30 industrial zones in Yangon. The largest of these is Hlaing Tharyar industrial zone, where around 300,000 people work in more than 700 factories.

Construction of such industrial zones however, has notoriously resulted in friction with local communities displaced by the developments. In 2015, the number of temporary houses in Hlaing Tharyar hit 10,000, rising from just 1,000 in 2012, according to media reports.

The Yangon Region Government will also compensate land owners affected by development of the industrial zones. Construction is expected to begin before the end of the fiscal year, said U Nay Win.

Source: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/new-industrial-zones-planned-11-townships-yangon-region.html