Plans for the Dawei special economic zone have inched ahead after the Burmese government agreed to borrow 4.5 billion baht ($128 million) from Thailand to finance the construction of a road from Dawei’s proposed deep­-sea port to Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province.

Thai firm Italian­Thai Development Plc (ITD) says it is ready to restart construction of the long­delayed Dawei deep­sea port and special economic zone over the next few months if the Thai and Burmese governments approve continuation of the megaproject at a joint meeting on 10 February.

The Thai private sector is being urged to set up industrial estates or special economic zones (SEZs) in Burma as the neighbouring country emerges as a magnet for foreign investment.

The Thai government is stepping up efforts to boost the Rangoon-­Mae Sot trade link by approving a 1.8 billion baht ($53 million) budget to help Burma develop part of its road along the transnational route.

Thailand’s deputy prime minister, Somkid Jatusripitak, will be leading major Thai businesses to meet a team of Burmese officials and businesses to seek further cooperation in developing industrial estates in Burma and border trade operations on 3-4 February.

Plans are afoot to revitalise the role of two committees that aim to rev up the multibillion-dollar project.