Hutchison Port Holdings has exported its expertise to Burma.The first purpose-built container port in Burma (Myanmar), dubbed Myanmar International Terminals, Thilawa (MITT), has been officially opened.
MITT, a subsidiary of major international terminal operator Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), will provide berthing capacity for four ocean-going vessels to world-class standards and will be able to handle an annual capacity of one million TEUs.
With the operation of MITT, HPH is planning to develop intra-Asia services for Burma. Located at Thilawa, close to the mouth of the Ayeyarwady River Delta, the port is strategically positioned to answer that call.
The port has a total area of 75 hectares which includes 20,000 square metres of warehousing facilities. The berth is 1,000 metres long with a minimum water depth alongside of 10 to 12.5 metres. Equipment at the port includes seven quay cranes, 30 forklifts, 23 tractors, and 46 trailers.
Excellency lieutenant general Khin Nyunt, secretary of the Burmese State Law and Order Restoration Council, officiated at the opening ceremony, which was attended by state officials, ambassadors of ASEAN countries and shipping executives.
In his welcoming remarks to participants at the ceremony, Hutchison HPH group managing director, John Meredith, thanked the Burmese government and all involved in the MITT project for their support for their support
"The opening of MITT presents an opportunity to further increase Burma's trade with the international community after its recent entry into ASEAN," he said. "With the support of the resident professional management team backed by the dedication and efforts of the Hutchison group in Hong Kong and worldwide, HPH will ensure that MITT develops into a truly world-class container port."