Thailand invests in Burma: Deep-sea port & industrial estate

203 Thai projects worth 30 billion baht get government go-ahead after easing of US economic sanctions against Burma.

Photo above is an artist's impression of the development at Dawei in Myanmar of a deep-sea port and industrial estate. 

Also read an article today on the easing of US economic sanctions on Burma: Italian-Thai relieved at US sanctions lifting.

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THAILAND-MYANMAR

Massive investment for Dawei

21/05/2012
Manop Thip-Osod

KANCHANABURI : The cabinet yesterday approved 203 projects worth over 30 billion baht to support the development of a deep-sea port and an industrial estate in Dawei city of Myanmar.

The government also approved short-term measures to curb the cost of living.

Acting government spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said the mobile cabinet meeting approved projects worth 33.11 billion baht to be implemented in eight provinces in the lower Central Plains to support development projects in Dawei. Of these, 60 projects worth about 1 billion baht are ready for immediate implementation

They include building new roads, constructing an overflow dam on Huai Yang stream in Ratchaburi province and developing an information system for food security and health services in Suphan Buri province.

The cabinet agrees with the proposal of the National Economic and Social Development Board to support Myanmar in developing its deep-sea port and industrial estate in Dawei.

"[Dawei] can be a gateway for trade with the western side of the Asean region and a bridge to link Southeast Asia with other countries in the region. It will increase the GDP of Thailand by 1.9%," Mr Anusorn said.

The national logistic development committee, headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, will implement the supporting projects in three stages.

In the first stage, running until 2015, projects will focus on developing the southern zone of the Dawei port.

These will include constructing a four-lane road linking Dawei and the Thai-Myanmar border, a 93 million cubic metre reservoir, a coal-fired power plant, roads at the industrial estate, new residences, new government offices and water, drainage and wastewater treatment systems

The second stage, lasting from 2013 to 2018, will include the expansion of the area's drainage system, the widening of the road to Dawei to an eight-lane highway and the construction of a shopping centre in the area.

In the final stage from 2016 to 2020, projects will aim to develop the northern part of the Dawei port. During this phase, railway tracks, electricity lines and gas and oil pipelines will be extended into the area from Thailand.

Meanwhile, deputy government spokesman Pakdeehan Himathongkham said the cabinet has extended reductions in excise tax on diesel for another month.

The measure will cost the government about 9 billion baht but should help curb the cost of living for the general public, Mr Pakdeehan said.

He said the government would continue to consider extending the tax reduction on a monthly basis.

Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan said the Mass Rapid Transit Authority will direct its Bangkok subway concessionaire Bangkok Metro Co Ltd to postpone its planned fare rise for three months from July 3 to Oct 2.

The current fare range of 15-40 baht is now scheduled to be increased to 16-40 baht on Oct 3 this year.

Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD) has big plans for Dawei (formerly Tavoy) in Myanmar, as this recent artist's impression shows. (Image courtesy of ITD).

(Source: Bangkok Post, THAILAND-MYANMAR, Massive investment for Dawei, 21/05/2012, Manop Thip-Osod, link) 

Burma Investment Vocabulary

investment - taking your money and putting it into projects to make a profit or earn interest (buying stock shares, bonds, real estate)
massive - very large in size, amount or number ใหญ่โต  มหาศาล
massive investment for Dawei - very large investments to be made in coastal town of Dawei, Burma

economic sanctions - punishment for countries that have broken international law (restricting trade and official contact)
easing economic sanctions - reducing or ending the punishment

relieved - happy that something unpleasant has not happened or has ended โล่งใจ, เบาใจ, หมดกังวล, ผ่อนคลาย

impression - an feeling about something that you see or read about ความรู้สึก,ความประทับใจ
artist's impression

port - an area of water where ships stop, including the buildings around it ท่าเรือ
deep sea port - a port that can handle large ships sending goods between countries
industrial estate - an area with special infrastructure for factories (electricity water suppply, transport, rail, waste disposal) (See Wikipedia)

approve projects - say that projects can start, be done

support - help สนับสนุน
development - the gradual growth and formation of something

projects that support the development of a deep sea port

The cabinet yesterday approved 203 projects worth over 30 billion baht to support the development of a deep-sea port and an industrial estate in Dawei city of Myanmar.

cost of living - how much things people need to buy everyday cost in a certain area

curb - stop or reduce ลดหรือยุติ to control or limit something that is harmful ระงับ, ควบคุม
curb the cost of living - stop the rise of the cost of living  

measures - actions taken to deal with a problem มาตราการ
short-term measures - actions to solve problems right now and the near future  
short-term measures to curb the cost of living

the government also approved short-term measures to curb the cost of living

meeting - when a group of people come together to discuss issues and make decisions การประชุม
cabinet meeting
mobile cabinet meeting - a cabinet meeting at some place outside of Bangkok (the normal place for meetings)

implement - when a plan is put into action, actually doing the things in a plan (See glossary) นำ (แผนการ) มาบังคับใช้
implement projects - do the the things in the project plan (to achieve the project goals)
ready for immediate implementation - can do it now

Acting government spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard said the mobile cabinet meeting approved projects worth 33.11 billion baht to be implemented in eight provinces in the lower Central Plains to support development projects in Dawei. Of these, 60 projects worth about 1 billion baht are ready for immediate implementation

security - the activity of making safe or protecting from harm ความปลอดภัย
food security - taking action to make sure that the country has enough food to feed its people

services - บริการต่างๆ things produced in service industries, not a physical good that can be bought, a waitress and a cook in a restaurant provide a service, technically: a sequence of activities that does not result in ownership of the outcome (See Wikipedia on services and the goods and services continuum)
health services - providing hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses to the people to help treat diseases and medical problems

They include building new roads, constructing an overflow dam on Huai Yang stream in Ratchaburi province and developing an information system for food security and health services in Suphan Buri province.

proposal - a plan or suggestion for a group to consider ข้อเสนอ
National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) - the government agency that makes long-term plans for economic development of the country (5-year plans, for example)
proposal of the National Economic and Social Development Board

The cabinet agrees with the proposal of the National Economic and Social Development Board to support Myanmar in developing its deep-sea port and industrial estate in Dawei.

trade - the buying and selling of goods การค้าขาย
gateway for trade - a place that goods pass through when they are being bought and sold

bridge - an area of land that connects two places or areas (like a "bridge" over water)
link - to connect เชื่อม
bridge to link Southeast Asia with other countries in the region

"[Dawei] can be a gateway for trade with the western side of the Asean region and a bridge to link Southeast Asia with other countries in the region. It will increase the GDP of Thailand by 1.9%," Mr Anusorn said.

logistics - the moving of goods from factory to warehouses and then to stores
national logistic development committee

implement - to put a plan into action, make a plan work; o make something such as an idea, plan, system or law start to work and be used นำมาใช้ นำ แผนหรือนโยบายมาปฏิบัติ

supporting projects - projects that help achieve some goal
implement supporting projects - do or carry out supporting projects

stage - a part of an activity or process or a period of development ระยะ, ช่วง, ตอน จังหวะเวลา ระยะเวลา ช่วงเวลา
implement the supporting projects in three stages

The national logistic development committee, headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, will implement the supporting projects in three stages.

focus on - be concerned with one main thing ให้ความสำคัญ
focus on developing the southern zone of the Dawei port.

In the first stage, running until 2015, projects will focus on developing the southern zone of the Dawei port.

four-lane road - a very wide road with four "lanes" for cars

border - the official line separating two areas, regions or countries เขตแดน อาณาเขต
the Thai-Myanmar border

reservoir - a natural or artificial lake where water is stored อ่างเก็บน้ำ

power - energy in the form of electricity produced in large quantities and used to operate lights, machines, and heating
plant - factory
coal-fired power plant - a big factory for generating electricity from coal

drainage - the system of water or waste liquids flowing away from somewhere into the ground or down pipes การระบายน้ำ
treatment - the process of taking care of something; doing something to improve condition of something การรักษา

wastewater - dirty water used by homes or businesses and then sent away down the drain
wastewater treatment - making wastewater useable again or safe for disposal
wastewater treatment systems

These will include constructing a four-lane road linking Dawei and the Thai-Myanmar border, a 93 million cubic metre reservoir, a coal-fired power plant, roads at the industrial estate, new residences, new government offices and water, drainage and wastewater treatment systems

lasting - continuing to exist or have an effect for a period of time ที่กินเวลานาน
lasting from 2013 to 2018 - existed from the year 2013 to the year 2018

expansion - when something increases in size, number or importance การขยายออก
expansion of the area's drainage system

construction - the work of building or making something, especially buildings, bridges, etc. การก่อสร้าง
construction of a shopping centre in the area

The second stage, lasting from 2013 to 2018, will include the expansion of the area's drainage system, the widening of the road to Dawei to an eight-lane highway and the construction of a shopping centre in the area.

aim - purpose; goal; the thing you hope to achieve by doing something เป้าหมาย จุดมุ่งหมาย
develop - build up an area (improve an area by building things in an area to improve it such as roads)
aim to develop - have as a goal to develop and build up an area

phase - one part of a many part project (a time period during a project during which certain goals are achieved) 
phase of a project

railway tracks
electricity lines
gas and oil pipelines

In the final stage from 2016 to 2020, projects will aim to develop the northern part of the Dawei port. During this phase, railway tracks, electricity lines and gas and oil pipelines will be extended into the area from Thailand.

excise - dealing with taxes made by a government on some types of goods produced and used within their own country ภาษีสำหรับสินค้าในประเทศ
reductions in excise tax
extended reductions in excise tax - continue the excise tax reductions for a longer period of time
extended reductions in excise tax for another month

Meanwhile, deputy government spokesman Pakdeehan Himathongkham said the cabinet has extended reductions in excise tax on diesel for another month.

measure - an action taken to solve a particular problem มาตรการ
consider on a monthly basis - every month make a decision to continue or not continue

The measure will cost the government about 9 billion baht but should help curb the cost of living for the general public, Mr Pakdeehan said.  He said the government would continue to consider extending the tax reduction on a monthly basis.

concession - a company with permission from the government to run a certain business (must pay government for this)
concessionaire - the owner of a concession
subway concessionaire

fare - the amount of money paid to ride on a bus or train to some place
fare rise - fare increase (will cost more to travel on Sky Train)
planned fare rise

postpone - to delay; to decide that something will be done at a later time เลื่อนออกไป
postpone planned fare rise
postpone its planned fare rise for three months

direct - request to do; tell someone to do something
direct subway concessionaire to postpone its planned fare rise for three months

Transport Minister Jarupong Ruangsuwan said the Mass Rapid Transit Authority will direct its Bangkok subway concessionaire Bangkok Metro Co Ltd to postpone its planned fare rise for three months from July 3 to Oct 2.

range - all the amounts between two amounts
current - of the present time ปัจจุบัน
current fare range of 15-40 baht

scheduled - planned to happen at a particular time or day ตามตารางเวลา
scheduled to be increased

The current fare range of 15-40 baht is now scheduled to be increased to 16-40 baht on Oct 3 this year. Italian-Thai Development Plc (ITD) has big plans for Dawei (formerly Tavoy) in Myanmar, as this recent artist's impression shows. (Image courtesy of ITD).