On 10 February 2017, Ambassador Pisanu Suvanajata led Mr. Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Minister of Transport of Thailand, and his delegation, to pay a courtesy call on U Henry Van Thio, Vice President of Myanmar, and Chairman of the Myanmar Special Economic Zone Central Body, and to meet with Dr. Tun Naing, Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy of Myanmar, and Chairman of the Dawei Special Economic Zone Management Committee in Nay Pyi Taw. Both sides agreed on the importance of the Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Project, in generating employment and income for the Myanmar people, as well as economic benefits for the CLMV group of countries (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam). In addition, the Dawei SEZ Project will also contribute to the East West Economic Corridor, the Southern Economic Corridor, and ASEAN Connectivity. As such, both sides expressed their wish to implement the project as soon as possible, and to convene a meeting of the Joint Coordinating Committee at the earliest opportunity.

                   In addition, both sides gave importance to road connectivity, especially road construction between the Dawei SEZ and the Thai-Myanmar border, which will facilitate businessmen and tourists in travelling between Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, and Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar, which is where the Dawei SEZ is located. Minister Arkhom also informed the Myanmar side of the Royal Thai Government’s commitment to improve Thai-Myanmar connectivity, including Thailand and Myanmar’s connectivity to ASEAN, by upgrading roads, borders, and facilitating border crossings in areas such as the Mae Sot-Myawaddy Border, the Singkhon Border, and the Ban Phu Nam Ron Border.