YANGON, Aug 5 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar said it mainly permitted investment which is eco-friendly and creates better job opportunities to local people in Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) which has 5,000 employees on the outskirts of Yangon, official media reported Saturday.
To date 84 companies have been permitted to invest in Zone A and the first phase of Zone B.
Of the Thilawa SEZ's total area of 2,400 hectares, 400 hectares, which represents Zone A, has been put into operation in September 2015.
Zone B with 101 hectares is set to be leased this year and is scheduled for completion next year.
Thilawa SEZ represents the first of its kind being developed in Myanmar with the other two -- Dawei and Kyaukphyu SEZs being in progress.
Myanmar and Japan signed an agreement on Oct. 29, 2013 to set up the Thilawa SEZ which is operated by Myanmar-Japan Thilawa Development Company, a joint venture between Myanmar and Japan formed by two Myanmar companies and two Japanese companies sharing a ratio of 51 to 49.
Foreign investment in the zone hit 1.7 billion U.S. dollars so far since the zone was launched four years ago.
