Thailand and Myanmar's leaders
must understand that rectifying social problems is as important as investment
and balance sheets.
Prime Minister Yingluck
Shinawatra is leading a group of Cabinet members on a visit to Myanmar this
week. Economic cooperation is high on the agenda, but will Thailand's business
interests in Myanmar be for the benefit of the Myanmar people?
Yingluck's official visit runs
from September 19 to 21. The entourage consists of Foreign Minister Surapong
Towichukchaikul, Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapirom, Industry Minister MR
Pongsawat Sawasdivat and Deputy Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt. The
high-level delegation shows that Thailand means business.
The trip is meant to foster
economic ties, especially regarding development of the Dawei deep-sea port and
the Dawei industrial zone in Myanmar. The Dawei development projects are
intended to eventually link with economic zones in Thailand.
Nonetheless, this economic
cooperation should ensure the support of Myanmar's people. This can only be
achieved by fully communicating with local people in the areas of interest.
Every effort must be made to ensure that economic benefits will be spread out.
These people should be entitled
to take part in discussions early on, to ensure that their concerns, such as on
environmental effects, are addressed. New investment should create
opportunities for local people and should not adversely affect their way of
life.
The coming of foreign investment
and improved infrastructure should be designed to help Myanmar raise its people
from poverty after decades of political deadlock that kept the country in the
economic wilderness. It should not lead to a greater widening of the gap
between the affluent and the poor.
The Thai government's plan to
build closer economic ties with Myanmar is an obvious strategy, due to
Thailand's geographical location and the long history between the two nations.
In spite of sporadic border conflicts, millions of people cross the border
every day to do business.
Thailand should maximise its
strategic significance to create wealth in a sustainable manner. Easier access
and logistical improvement should provide the opportunity for people on both
sides of the border to utilise available resources sustainably in order to
improve their standard of living.
Investments in infrastructure and
communications systems will help both Thailand and Myanmar realise their
economic potential in the long run. It will also help promote regional trade
and investment, not only within Asean but also with China and India. Improved
transport and logistics systems will enable Asean to become better connected
and serve as an important gateway for distribution of goods and raw materials
to the world. But local people's concerns must be addressed to prevent feelings
of mistrust or the feeling that foreigners are trying to exploit resources.
Other issues such as the
treatment of minority groups along the border, and the condition of migrant
workers from Myanmar in Thailand, should also be brought into the discussions.
If economic prosperity in Myanmar is managed well, it could encourage migrant
workers to return and enjoy new opportunities at home.
Following Myanmar's remarkable
progress over the past year, the Thai government should look for opportunities
to help its neighbour achieve lasting political and democratic reform, and to
smooth the process of further integration into the Asean community.
The diplomatic relationship
should have positive implications in all areas of concern, not only economic
cooperation. Long-term, sustainable peace and prosperity depend also on social
factors and the elimination of distrust, as well as economic ones. This is an
opportunity the Thai government should not miss.
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