"The new consortium includes ITD, Japanese-Thai joint venture Rojana Industrial Park Public Company and LNG Plus International Company, also from Thailand, according to a statement by Damien Dujacquier, a partner at consultant Roland Berger. Late last year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed he would support the economic zone in Tanintharyi Region which aims to link the Andaman Sea to Bangkok and the Gulf of Thailand. However, there was no mention of Japan?s participation in the August 5 statement. ?The agreement marks a significant milestone in Myanmar?s economic development,” said Mr Dujacquier. ?The zone is expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs in the long term and contribute up to 5 percent of Myanmar?s GDP [gross domestic product] by 2045.” The ambitious project has been in the works for many years. The governments of Myanmar and Thailand first signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the area in 2008, then in 2010 Myanmar granted a 60-year concession to ITD to develop a deep sea port, industrial estate, and road and rail link to Thailand..."