Residents of Kyauk Phyu will enjoy job opportunities if the Kyauk Phyu special economic zone is developed in Arakan State, Chinese ambassador to Myanmar H.E Mr Chen Hai said on July 26.

“One of China’s big companies, CITIC, is spearheading the Kyauk Phyu special economic zone project. I believe we can do this project successfully with the support of friends from both China and Myanmar, from our governments and our countries’ leaders. After implementing the project, we can offer more job opportunities to residents,” Mr Chen Hai said at a ceremony held in Kyauk Phyu’s No 1 High School to donate clothes to local students.

The clothes were donated by CITIC, which won a tender for the Kyauk Phyu special economic zone project.

The ceremony was attended by Myanmar government officials, elderly residents of the town and students. The ambassador also met some government department heads in Kyauk Phyu’s district administrative office and discussed their opinions on the Kyauk Phyu special economic zone project.

U Phoe San, a member of State parliament, complained of a lack of transparency, pointing out that the authorities did not explain to Arakan State Hluttaw lawmakers or residents anything about the job opportunities that the Kyauk Phyu special economic zone project would create.

“They have to show to the public what opportunities they will provide. And I think it will be more appropriate if they meet with representatives from the Hluttaw and tell us about their project. Now, I think that they don’t have much transparency,” he said.

He added that for a previous Chinese oil and gas project, residents had labouring jobs at first but when it was finished, people lost their jobs.

H.E Mr Chen Hai will go and see the Myanmar-China oil and gas pipeline project situated in Ma Dae Island in Kyauk Phyu Township.

DMG cannot confirm yet whether the ambassador will meet local people and how long the trip will be.