U Maung Maung Ohn, chief minister of Rakhine state, claimed that over 100,000 local workers will be employed in Pone Nar island industrial zone.
He said construction work for the industrial zone has started last month following negotiation with construction firms.
The chief minister said the new project will provide local people job opportunities and solve the acute unemployment problem that persists in the country’s western state.
Job trainings have begun for local people to prepare them as skilled workers for the jobs that will be available when the industrial zone begins operations.
Many foreign investors, especially from South Korea and Taiwan, have shown interest in setting up factories in Pone Nar industrial zone, the minister said, claiming that the industrial zone will be as significant as Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone, one of the three big SEZ projects in Myanmar.
The industrial zone is set to be constructed on 1,833 acres (741.8 hectares) of land near Yepaukchaung village on Pone Nar island.
According to an official from the Rakhine regional government, garment factories, dairy plants, rice mills, seafood processing factories, among others, will be included in the industrial zone.
