Myanmar Japan Thilawa Development (MJTD), the developer and operator of the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Thilawa SEZ locators, held a ceremony in Thilawa SEZ last week to hand over a new two-storey school building, for the first time. 

 It was added to Myaing Thar Yar sub-basic education high school in Thilawa, according to MJTD.

Work on the new school building started in March 2017. It marks a major contribution by MJTD and Thilawa SEZ locators to help the development of transportation and education in the area, and to raise the living standard of the local community, said the spokesperson of MJTD.

The two-storey building, which is composed of several furnished classrooms, cost K180 million. MJTD provided an additional K50.6 million for a fence and a tube well.

Moreover, MJTD also covered the K57.7-million cost of paving a new 1900ft-long, 12ft-wide concrete road connecting Myaing Thar Yar village to the Thanlyin-Kyauktan main road, according to the MJTD announcement.

U Set Aung, chairman of Thilawa SEZ Management Committee, said the Special Economic Zone wants the local community to be the main beneficiary of the work.

“We all wish to raise not only the standard of their lives but also to improve the infrastructure of the area. This is our main intention in developing Thilawa SEZ here,” U Set Aung said.

He added that 77 percent of the factory employees who are working at the Thilawa SEZ are from Thanlyin and Kyauk Tan areas.

“Constructing this school building will benefit the people of the area in the long term. Greater education in the area means more opportunities to work in higher positions in the SEZ. It is a win-win situation for both the local community and the SEZ. This is our ultimate long-term hope, and Thilawa SEZ will continue to support and contribute to the education of students in the area,” U Set Aung said.

The Thilawa SEZ is a joint venture, owned 10pc by Myanmar, 10pc by Japan, 41pc by a consortium of nine local companies – Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings (MTSH), and 39pc by a Japanese private-sector consortium, said, U Myint Zaw, general manager of MTSH.