""Construction of a Yangon deep-sea port is one of the projects included as second priority in the National Transport Master Plan. Work is being made and the location can be finally selected and approved within 2020," U Aung Ye Tun, assistant secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, told The Myanmar Times. Asked about the cost and project details, he said an analysis would be conducted before construction work begins. "Only after the analysis is completed, approval will be made regarding the implementation method, that is, whether it is done by a public-private partnership model or by a loan." In addition, the government will establish six inland ports in Bhamo (Bamaw), Upper Myanmar in Mandalay, Pakokku and Magway, and Monywa on Chindwin River, the official said. "Our priority is in Mandalay and we will start construction in this coming October. The port [in Mandalay] will finish [construction] in March 2021. We intend to construct the remaining ports in the near future." Businesses welcomed U Aung Ye Tun's intervention. "U Aung Ye Tun has made a very helpful clarification on an issue which the industry is watching closely. A deep-sea port will be important for Myanmar's trade growth in the long term because existing capacity won't be able to cope. Larger vessel also lowers the ocean logistics cost," an industrialist, who asked not to be named, commented. "The government is right to start planning this early on. The location will be a key factor in determining the logistics cost deriving from the land transport connecting the port. It is also equally important that the government pays attention to more pressing problems as well, such as improving the customs process," he added. During an industry discussion in Nay Pyi Taw last month, U Aung Ye Tun listed some criteria for the facility, including water depth, transport infrastructure and connectivity to industrial zones..."