Japan's Kansai keen to join Thailand's investment in Myanmar

BANGKOK, Feb 16 (TNA) - The Japan-based Kansai Economic Federation has expressed its interest in joining Thailand's new investment plans in the Dawei special economic zone and related projects in neighbouring Myanmar. Thai Industry Minister Prasert Boonchaisuk told reporters of the development after his meeting with a visiting Kansai delegation, led by its Chairman, Shosuke Mori, in Bangkok on Friday. Prasert acknowledged that the Japanese interest in coopeating with Thailand in the Dawei development projects happens after a recent official visit to Thailand by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on January 17-18, during which the Thai prime minister told her Japanese counterpart that Thailand would like Japan to co-invest in the Dawei projects. The industry minister said the Kansai Economic Federation also plans to expand its investment into Thailand, after he informed the visiting Japanese delegation of the Thai government’s new mega 2.2-trillion-baht infrastructure development plans, which, once completed over the next in 5-6 years, will help cut costs of local business operators and promote Thailand to become a business centre in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).(TNA)