Bohtataung jetty in Yangon. Photo: Aung Myin Ye Zaw

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) is planning to build new port terminals  with financial assistance from the Japanese Government, minister U Thant Sin Maung said.

Myanmar has nine ports located in Yangon Region, Ayeyarwaddy Region, Mon State, Tanintharyi Region, and Rakhine State along the coast of the country. The Port of Yangon is the major port of the country and handles about 90 percent of the country’s exports and imports.

 

The country’s ports handled around 890,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in the fiscal year 2015-16. During the last fiscal year, Yangon ports had handled 1.2 million TEUs.

U Thant Sin Maung said the rise in throughput during the current government's term is due to higher productivity at new port jetties constructed along the Yangon River. "Currently, we are negotiating on the terms for a loan from the Japanese government to build additional ports to support trading," he said.

The MOTC is also planning to build new inland water ports in Mandalay, Monywa in Sagaing Region, Pakokku in Magway Region, and Bhamo in Kachin State.

“This year, we are upgrading Mandalay Port to be able to handle container throughput. And also, we are negotiating with the Busan Port Authority under the Korean government to conduct feasibility studies for the port project of Monywa in Sagaing Region," U Thant Sin Maung said.

The government has prioritised the development of ports as a core part of its economic reform program.