The industrial zones which are currently operational are faced with an insufficiency of electricity, even though there are new industrial zone projects being opened across the nation, said entrepreneurs who have invested in the industrial zones.
Although efforts are being made to launch the new industrial zones, the old industrial zones need to be improved, they said. Small-and-medium sized enterprises comprise the majority of businesses in the zones and are facing monetary difficulties. The lack of reliable electric power has made them dependent on the manual labour force in the manufacturing process instead of machines that require electricity. The infrastructures in the zones are seriously under-developed, said U Ko Lay, an industrial entrepreneur.
Assistance with this problem is a must for promoting manufacturing in the industrial zones, entrepreneurs said.
Although there are over 1,300 acres of land in the Shwe Pyitha industrial zone, only half of factories are operational. Some plots of land are vacant.
“I would like to request the government to intervene in the land price in this zone and the government’s subsidy is required to bring better transportation system,” said U Min Thu Myint, an entrepreneur from the Shwe Pyitha industrial zone.
According to announcements released by the Ministry of Industry, there are a total of 19 industrial zones which are currently operational and six industrial zones under construction in Myanmar. Yangon is the biggest city in Myanmar and consumes about half of the country’s electricity. But the electricity supply for the industrial zones is still insufficient, said the entrepreneurs.
The industrial zones which are under construction are Yadanarpon and Naypyitaw industrial zones in Mandalay, the Ponna Kyun industrial zone in Rakhine State, the Phaya Thonezu and Myawady industrial zones in Kayin Sttate and the Nant On industrial zone in Shan State. Special economic zone projects were scheduled to open in Yangon, Dawei, Taninthayi Region and Kyauk Phyu in Rakhine State in the previous government’s period.
Source: Global New Light of Myanmar
