The Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems (DWRI) has indicated that construction of the Mandalay Port Development is expected to commence towards the end of 2018. 

DWRI will be working in conjunction with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) who have been a part of the Mandalay Port project since its initial planning stages in 2014.

According to a DWRI press release, the Mandalay Port Development will be the construction of a new inland port alongside the Ayeyarwady River. 

JICA conducted a number of feasibility surveys analysing not only design and cost of the project but the effect of the development on the Mandalay region and in a broader sense, Myanmar's trade operations. 

The driving concept of the project is to modernise Mandalay's trade operations, in particular, change the current process of handling cargo manually to a mechanised system. Not only will this process streamline cargo transfer between ship and land, but also modernise the current operational processes of Mandalay Port, particularly as it will be located along one of Myanmar's main trading routes. 

One of the main concerns which arose in the survey conducted by JICA was how fluctuating water levels due to Myanmar's rainy season would impact the development. According to the survey, water hight levels differ by eight metres between the dry and rainy season.

In an effort to combat this issue the JICA survey proposed two possible pier construction options. One, a fixed piled pier and two, a floating pier. These options were costed at JPY3.4 billion (USD$31.1. million) and JPY4.4 billion (USD$40.3 million) respectively.

The Myanmar Times recently reported that with the going ahead of the development plan, the project is expected to cost US$38 million. 

The Mandalay Port Development is one of the Myanmar Government's many initiatives to improve the region's infrastructure and attract greater foreign investment opportunities. 

Sources: Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA Feasibility Study, Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems, MyanmarTimes.

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