“Four members of the Rakhine State Hluttaw debated the proposal, and then parliament decided unanimously [to support it],” said U Tun Thar Sein, an Arakan National Party member who put forward the suggestion on February 20.

Work on the Mrauk-U airport began in 2015, but was suspended the following year due to budgetary restrictions and the length of time it would take to complete construction if solely funded by the government. Earlier this year, the state government expressed interest in having a private sponsor take on the project.

State planning and finance minister U Kyaw Aye Thein told The Myanmar Times last week that the state government would invite tenders for the airport construction.

MP U Tun Thar Sein said that after the March 6 state-level endorsement, the proposal for restarting the airport will be forwarded to Union parliament.

“My part is complete. Now the Union parliament has to do its part,” he told Narinjara News.

MPs hope the airport will boost tourism to the historic archaeological zone. More than a thousand temples and pagodas are interspersed throughout the ancient capital, which is bidding for UNESCO world heritage status.

Translated by Zin Linn
Edited by Laignee Barron for BNI