ASEAN Secretariat, Infrastructure Asia hold inaugural ASEAN Infrastructure Discussion Series

Over 150 participants, including representatives from the ASEAN Member States, financiers, multilateral development banks, private investors, and other infrastructure solution providers, participated in the webinar held on 14 May.

The platform offers opportunities for dialogue on the initial pipeline of ASEAN infrastructure projects with the private sector. The key focus of the first session was on the Yangon-Mandalay Expressway project.

The Yangon-Mandalay Expressway project involves the upgrading, operation, and maintenance of a 588 kilometres expressway – one of the most important logistics and transport corridors of Myanmar. It is part of the North-South Economic Corridor and a key priority in the Myanmar National Transport Development Plan.

During the one-hour webinar session, representatives from the private sector shared their insight, experiences, and perspectives in structuring the project with the project owner, the Ministry of Construction (MOC) of Myanmar.

Deputy Director General of the Department of Highways, MOC of Myanmar Kyi Zaw Myint stated that the platform provided the private sector with an opportunity to learn about the project.  “The webinar helped to enhance our understanding, as the project owner, of what private firms are looking for when investing in connectivity projects in the region,” he added.

The project is one of 19 infrastructure projects in digital, energy and transport sectors included in the Initial Pipeline of ASEAN Infrastructure Projects announced at the 24^th ASEAN Coordinating Council Meeting in Bangkok, on 2 November 2019. Further discussions will be organised to address other projects.