Thilawa Port plays a crucial role in Myanmar’s freight and logistics sector, underscoring the need for ongoing improvements in infrastructure and operational efficiency.
President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by union ministers, the Yangon Region chief minister, senior military officers and relevant officials, toured Yangon Region yesterday afternoon to inspect port operations and plans to expand the country’s port and logistics infrastructure.
At Thilawa Railway Station, Union Minister for Transport U Mya Tun Oo briefed the President on the existing Toegyaungkalay-Thilawa railway section, surveying works and plans to upgrade the line to a double track. He also reported on the Thanlyin Bridge I, proposed double-track access to Thilawa station yards, yard expansion plans and the progress of railway maintenance and upgrading works.
The President said Thilawa Port is one of Myanmar’s key ports and that upgrading the railway to a double track would enable faster, smoother and more cost-effective freight transportation from the port and Thilawa Special Economic Zone. He instructed officials to conduct systematic site surveys and engineering assessments, particularly at bends, gradients and bridge crossings. He also called for extending the railway directly into the port, beginning preparatory works early and making technical provisions for future electric train operations.
The President subsequently inspected completed track maintenance and replacement works at the station yard and provided guidance.
At Myanmar International Terminals Thilawa (MITT), Union Minister U Mya Tun Oo presented an overview of Myanma Port Authority, the country’s ports along its 1,260-nautical-mile coastline, maritime trade, terminal development and Yangon Port’s annual cargo-handling capacity.
The briefing also covered efforts to expand maritime trade and exports, upgrade general cargo berths, improve transhipment and transit trade, develop inland container depots and domestic coastal ports, and double export volumes. Other initiatives included a semi-smart container port pilot project, digital transformation of port operations and studies of foreign seaports.
The President stressed the importance of annual maintenance dredging to keep navigation channels from the sea estuary navigable and highlighted the benefits of introducing a semi-smart port. He said the planned double-track railway would help speed up container transportation, particularly during peak vessel-berthing periods, while road and bridge upgrades would facilitate smoother truck movements to and from Yangon’s port terminals.
He also highlighted plans to upgrade Panmawady Port in Ayeyawady Region to accommodate large vessels carrying 20,000 to 30,000 tonnes along the Pathein River. The development would facilitate domestic and international shipments of regional rice and general cargo, as well as the transport of goods needed in the region.
Describing Thilawa Port as strategically important to Myanmar’s freight and logistics sector, the President urged officials to continue developing port infrastructure and services.
Regarding the Dawei Deep-Sea Port, he noted that several countries had expressed interest in developing the Southern ASEAN land corridor. He also highlighted Kawthoung’s potential for border trade and stressed the importance of tourism in regional development.
The President said Pathein, Yangon and Dawei ports would become major maritime gateways in the future, with Dawei serving international transit trade and Yangon and Pathein supporting domestic freight transport. He urged all stakeholders to work together to ensure efficient port operations.
The President then toured MITT by motorcade to inspect daily port operations.
Later, at Ywathagyi Dry Port in Dagon Myothit (East) Township, U Mya Tun Oo briefed the President on the Ywathagyi station yard project, dry port operations, project details, container freight train services on the Ywathagyi-Myitnge-Ywathagyi route and the completed boundary fencing along railway-owned land beside the station access road.
The President raised questions about the presentations and instructed officials to assess land use systematically to ensure efficient and compact utilization during project implementation. He also directed authorities to ensure that land allocated for operational activities in Yangon Region was used strictly for its designated purposes.
He subsequently toured the dry port complex by motorcade to inspect logistics and freight-handling operations. — MNA/ST
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