Myanmar's largest information and communication technology (ICT) park, the Yadanabon Cyber City, is nearing completion and two phases have been set for the opening of the cyber city, local media reported Wednesday.
The soft opening of the cyber city as the first phase is expected for the end of September this year, while the full inauguration as the second phase will follow in next January.
The 10,000-acre (4,050 hectare) Yadanabon cyber city project, located in hilly Pyin Oo Lwin near a highway, 67 kilometers east of the second largest city of Mandalay in the north, has been under hasty construction since last year after jungle areas there were cleared.
To attract foreign investments in the cyber city project, Myanmar has offered to grant both foreign and local entrepreneurs to be engaged in ICT business in the project to develop the silicon mountain town.
On completion of the project, investors will be allowed to directly export their computer accessories produced in the cyber city and one stop service center, which renders customs and banking services, will be established for the purpose, the local media said.
It was reported that green light has been given to national entrepreneurs to buy land for business engagement, while foreign investors are limited to lease land only for the purpose.
To enable prompt use of Internet in the cyber city, various systems including ADSL, CATV, Triple Play and Wi Max are being installed, experts said, adding that the present stage before the soft opening deals with fiber cable installation.
According to the experts, the Yadanabon cyber city stands at a point where new Internet lines linking China, Thailand and India meet.
An airport has been built in the cyber city which is 40-minute drive from Mandalay.
It is learnt that foreign investors proposing to engage in the cyber city are arranged to start their work in next January when it is formally inaugurated.
A latest local media report said Myanmar will use 300 million Chinese yuan (about 50 billion Kyats) to purchase communication equipment from the Alcatel Shanghai Bell Co Ltd of China under a contract signed in June.
An agreement between the Chinese company and Myanmar's private Htoo Company was also initiated on cooperation in the implementation of the cyber city project, the report said
Moreover, Malaysia's IP Tel Sdn. Bhd. Company is also seeking investment in the Yadanabon cyber city project, official media said.
Myanmar has been launching an ICT development master plan under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and detailed programs to link international networks are also being carried out in accordance with the master plan drafted by the Myanmar Computer Federation.
Being a signatory to the e-ASEAN Framework Agreement initiated at 2000 Singapore summit, Myanmar has formed the e-National Task Force to support the IT development.
Besides, the country has also signed a series of memorandums of understanding since 2003 with companies from Malaysia, Thailand, China and South Korea on ICT development.
Myanmar introduced e-education system in early 2001, establishing one ICT park (now known as Myanmar Info-Tech) in Yangon and another ICT park in Mandalay in two following years to provide ICT services in the country.
Meanwhile, some local private companies are set to provide new high-speed communication lines to Internet users under a cooperation program extended to the private sector by the state- run Myanmar Posts and Telecommunication under the ministry which is currently the only source of new Internet services in the country.
According to the telecommunications authorities, the number of Internet users in Myanmar has reached nearly 300,000.
So far, Myanmar has launched some e-government systems including e-visa, e-passport, e-procurement and e-D (departure) form to effect management of government bodies.
Meanwhile, the authorities have projected to introduce 400 public Internet service centers in 324 townships in the country within three years to facilitate communication links.
Observers believe that the emergence of the Yandanabon cyber city would not only narrow the development gap among the regional members but also boost Myanmar's ICT development and provide more job opportunities for the country's people.
Source: Xinhua
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