IMPLEMENTATION of a 30-year National Transport Development Master Plan for Myanmar is expected to commence by year-end.
Current chairman of the ASEAN Air Transport Working Group and director general of Myanmar’s Department of Civil Aviation, Win Swe Tun, said: “The presentation of the drafted master plan was given last week. Officials from all transport sectors, not just aviation, are happy with the plan drawn up by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
“This is an important master plan that links not only ASEAN member countries but also India and China via air, land or marine corridors.” Win Swe Tun was speaking on the sidelines of the 30th ASEAN Air Transport Working Group Meeting held at Chatrium hotel in Yangon from September 22-26.
However, JICA representatives contacted by TTG Asia e-Daily gave no details of what the plan would involve. It would only say its survey report on national transport development will be available by the end of this month.
Myanmar’s transport industry industry, particularly aviation, looks set for growth in the coming years as an increasing number of international airlines eye opportunities in a market buoyed by a growing tourism market and a government intent on attracting increased investment.
Josep Niubo, director of Yangon-based travel agency Lotus Bonita, said: “Yangon now has better connections internationally, and other destinations, namely Mandalay and Naypyidaw, are also better connected.”
He noted that with the increasing number of airlines coming in, a corresponding rise in the new connections to international destinations is likely.
Elaborating, Niubo said: “We know that there are many Burmese living in the US, and we have a lot of bookings to and from San Francisco. So I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw increased connections to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, so people can connect onwards to the US.”
