Shinzo Abe, accompanied by a large business delegation, is visiting Myanmar – the first by a Japanese prime minister in more than three decades. The visit is being seen by security analysts as part of Japan’s attempt to reassert its position as a top economic partner of Myanmar after decades of poor relations with the previous military regime. Abe toured Myanmar’s mausoleum, which commemorates the national hero, General Aung San, and was due to meet Aung San’s daughter Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s democracy icon, and the current leader, Thein Sein, in the capital Naypyitaw. On Saturday, Abe promised to provide “all possible assistance” to help boost Myanmar’s economy, lauding a major industrial zone near Yangon as a symbol of development for the impoverished nation. “Japan is happy to support nation-building in Myanmar,” he said after visiting the Thilawa Special Economic Zone – a 2,400-hectare project which will include a port and industrial park – led by trading companies Mitsubishi Corp, Marubeni Corp and Sumitomo Corp.
Investment projects: At least 35 Japanese investment projects are under way in Myanmar, the biggest being plans to develop the Thilawa project. Abe was scheduled to sign agreements to provide Japanese grant money for human resources development and to extend the first Japanese government loan to Myanmar since it cancelled $3.58bn in debt in January. The last Japanese premier to visit Myanmar was Takeo Fukuda in 1977 during the Socialist regime of the late ruler, General Ne Win Japan, Myanmar’s largest aid donor, helped clear part of its unpaid debt in an effort to boost Myanmar’s democratic reforms and open ways to resume fresh loans for infrastructure building and major development assistance that will support Japanese business interests.
Chequered past: Japan had close ties with Myanmar before the junta took power in 1988, prompting the country to suspend grants for major projects. Although it scaled back most business activity and cut government aid when the US and other Western nations imposed sanctions in 2003 after the military regime put Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest, Japan did not impose sanctions on Myanmar.
