Kyodo

Tokyo March 1, 2013 1:00 am

Japan agreed with Myanmar on Wednesday to provide technical support for road construction and maintenance in the country.

Japanese Infrastructure Minister Akihiro Ota and Myanmar Construction Minister Kyaw Lwin signed a memorandum of understanding stating that the two sides will hold workshops periodically and mutually dispatch engineers to exchange information.

With Myanmar undergoing democratic reform and foreign investment in the country growing, infrastructure development is expected to pick up speed.

Viewing it as a major business opportunity, the Japanese government has been backing infrastructure exports and many Japanese companies are involved in projects for road and railway construction, operation and maintenance in Myanmar.

Following the meeting, Ota met with Asian ambassadors to Japan, including those from China and Vietnam, to exchange views on how to promote Japanese infrastructure exports.

"In order to take in the growth in Asia, the state needs to be involved, rather than having companies working at it on their own," Ota said.

Source : http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/Japan-to-help-build-roads-30200967.html