Transport

Building a modern transport network will be necessary if the government is to accomplish its ambitious development plans, with a host of air, rail and shipping upgrades planned for the coming years. Major projects include the proposed $1.1bn Hanthawaddy International Airport project, which will be able to accommodate 12m passengers with a plan to increase numbers to 30m per year, over 10 times the country’s current capacity. The existing network threatens to limit growth if air, rail and port facilities are not successfully upgraded in the coming years. The capital needed for improvements is significant, but Myanmar has great incentive to push for economic reforms and to further engage private parties and international development agencies. The state aims to be a major logistics player in the region, and given Myanmar’s strategic geographic position within the region, many believe this vision can be realised with sufficient injection of capital and international cooperation.

This chapter contains interviews with U Nyan Tun Aung, Minister of Transport; and U Si Thu, Managing Director, Myanmar Airways International (MAI).