UM for Transport visits modern storage facility project in Thilawa port, meets BOT officials

UNION Minister for Trans­port U Mya Tun Oo, along with Deputy Minister U Tun Lu and Yangon Region Minister for Electricity, Energy, Industry and Transport Dr Myo Thaw, visited the construction site of the modern warehouse project being implemented under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) system in the Thilawa port area, Kyauktan Township, Yangon Region, and met officials from the BOT jetties yesterday morn­ing.

At the construction site of a modern warehouse project to be implemented by the Myan­ma Port Authority and Myanma Agricultural & General Devel­opment Public Limited (MAG­DPL) at the plot 29 in Thilawa Port Area, the Union minister inspected the Myanmar In­ternational Terminal Thilawa (MITT) port facilities, including ongoing port service operations and planned works under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) system for the remaining jetties to be constructed. The Union minister coordinated the nec­essary measures.

The Union minister then said that since Myanmar’s an­nual maritime trade accounts for an average of 70 per cent of total international trade, it is necessary to promote pub­lic–private cooperation for the sustainable development of the entire port sector, includ­ing Yangon and Thilawa ports as key maritime gateways; to increase freight handling ca­pacity at Yangon Port beyond domestic demand by effectively utilizing the country’s strate­gic geographical location and developing a land-water mul­timodal transport system for regional imports and exports; to continue expanding and con­structing port facilities to sup­port transshipment and transit trade services through Yangon Port; and, to ensure national en­ergy security, to encourage pri­vate investors who have already allocated land for fuel terminals and storage facilities to contin­ue development, to modernize port operations through digital systems, to adopt solar energy to reduce power consumption, and to shift to battery-powered freight handling equipment and vehicles.

Next, the Union minister met officials from departments under the Ministry of Trans­port at the Myanma Port Au­thority head office, where they discussed the activities to be implemented by each depart­ment and provided necessary information and coordination.

In the afternoon, he visit­ed the construction site of a new 1,500 BHP harbour tug at the Theinbyu Shipyard under the Myanma Port Authority for inspection and instructed the construction team to prioritize workplace safety, timely com­pletion, and compliance with standards. — MNA/TH