Japan has agreed to provide Myanmar with grant aid of up to JPY 6.03 billion ($53 million) to help the emerging economy modernise its key commercial inland port. Under the grant agreement with JICA, Myanmar plans to build berthing facilities and mechanise cargo handling at the river port in Mandalay, the country’s second largest city, as part of its efforts to develop the northern economic zone. The upgraded port is expected to mechanically handle up to 200,000 tonnes of the current total manual capacity of 800,000 tonnes per year. JICA will support and oversee a 33-month process of designing, bidding, procuring materials and building a 180 metre long pier, a container terminal, a warehouse and an office, among other facilities.
