Long isolated under a socialist regime, following its return to the international community, Myanmar attracted vast investments from overseas. Japan has long had an amicable relationship with Myanmar, and 2014 marked 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two. Kubota has also held strong ties with the country. Japan’s support work in Myanmar has been through the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the development of the Thilawa SEZ, which started in 2012, was seen as an important way to support the nation’s sustained economic growth.

A new urban development concept, the Thilawa SEZ aimed to attract foreign investment by creating an advanced level of infrastructure, while simultaneously creating employment opportunities in the country for other projects in the country to emulate, ultimately benefiting nationwide development. In addition to an industrial park, the Thiwala SEZ framework was to include residences, universities, and research institutions, and become an eco-friendly smart city. The development of this special economic zone was an important project that would shape the future of Myanmar.

The development first required the creation of land, electricity, waterworks, and other large-scale, high-quality infrastructure. However, the impact of the country’s rainy season on construction work was huge, and delays were a matter of course. This presented Japanese corporations with the opportunity to showcase their unique ability to move forward with construction on schedule, both within Myanmar and worldwide. The reputation of both nations was on the line, and work proceeded with the view that all was for the benefit of Myanmar and Japan—all Japanese corporations came together to create a so-called Japan Model.

Penta-Ocean Construction was tasked with Phase 1 of the land development work, and Kubota took part as a subcontractor, taking control of all construction work accompanying the project’s water environment, including water intake and supply equipment, water purification plants, and sewage treatment systems. Water was to be drawn into the purification plants from the Zamani reservoir—approximately 3.5 km from the SEZ—via ductile irons pipes^*1 laid along roadways, before being supplied to each factory. Wastewater and sewage from each factory would be collected in a sewage treatment system, cleaned, and released into a regulating reservoir.

Kubota had been involved in the creation of water infrastructure in various Southeast Asian countries, and knew the importance of working with its customers to identify and propose solutions to both visible and hidden issues. In the Thilawa SEZ, responding to a request to keep purification and treatment costs as low as possible, Kubota proposed its own unique treatment methods to drastically lower electricity charges, exceeding expectations to provide a comprehensive solution. This project enabled Kubota to demonstrate its value as a global corporation. Looking ahead, while taking on board local requests, Kubota will work to solve regional water issues and link its accumulated technologies and expertise to the development of global solutions.