GMS members and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will initiate infrastructure development projects worth 552 billion baht over the next decade.
Among the priorities for ADB are an improvement in the 198-kilometre road linking Gorgarek, Thaton and Myawaddy in Myanmar to Tak’s Mae Sot district, which is part of the East-West Corridor linking Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam’s Danang.
Another priority is the infrastructure development of the border towns of Aranyaprathet in Thailand and Poipet, Cambodia.
ADB believes the southern corridor will be the most significant new trading route, as it will link Dawei, Myanmar to Bangkok, Phnom Penh and Ho Chi Minh City.
Thailand asked ADB at the latest meeting in Mandalay to discuss the details of developing the Neighboring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (Neda).
Thailand will host the next meeting.
Pairote Potivong, a senior adviser to the National Economic and Social Development Board, said Thailand and Myanmar plan to improve the first bridge on the Mei River and construct a second one.
Myanmar has asked Neda to conduct a feasibility study for road construction from Thailand to Myanmar and India, as well as construction of a 180-km road from the Singkorn temporary permit area in Thailand to Mor Tong and Marid in Myanmar.
Mr Pairote said the private sector has also asked the group to upgrade the Three Pagodas Pass from a temporary border checkpoint.
However, the Myanmar government remains concerned about continued unrest in this area.
Singkorn will likely be upgraded to a temporary checkpoint, he said.
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/302600/infrastructure-upgrades-for-mekong-region
