Yadanabon Cyber City Explained

Yatanarpon Cyber City (Burmese: ရတနာပုံ နည်းပညာ မြို့သစ် in Burmese pronounced as /jədənàbòʊɰ̃ nípjɪ̀ɰ̃ɲà mjo̰ðɪʔ/) is the largest information technology center in Myanmar. The 4050-hectare (10,000-acre) ICT park is located near Pyinoolwin, about 67 km east of Mandalay.[1] Partly operational since December 2007, tenants in the park reportedly include over 30 local and foreign investors, mostly from Asia.

History

When the ICT park was established in June 2006,[2] the master plan called for simultaneously developing nine "zones"—the teleport building; seven single-story “incubation units”; local and international software zones; a park and convention center zone; a commercial and services zone; a research and development zone; a training centre; and a residential area.[3] To encourage private housing, the government has offered land lease grants for 30 years, not for resale or transfer within the first ten years.[4]

In June 2008, the military government announced that twelve local and foreign information technology companies had been given permission to invest in the center. The Burmese companies included the semi-government-owned Myanmar Teleport and eight privately-owned companies, including FISCA Enterprise, MCC and Fortune International, Htoo Trading, Myanmar World Distribution, Nibban, Tamoenyel Chantha Tun Wai Tha, Yatanarpon Cyber Corporation, Jadeland Myanmar, High-Tech Princess, and Myanmar Info-Tech. Foreign investors reportedly included: Shin Satellite from Thailand; ZTE and Alcatel Shanghai Bell of China; IP Tel Sdn Bhd of Malaysia; and CBOSS of Russia. The 12 companies agreed to invest a total of US $22 million in the Yatanarpon site.[2]

By December 2008, the Burmese government had allotted 150 hectares to 35 local and foreign IT companies.[5]

Notes and References

  1. News: Burma’s Largest IT Center Opens—But For How Long? . Shah Paung . The Irrawaddy . 2007-12-21.
  2. News: Junta Approves Investment in Cyber City . Min Lwin . . 2008-07-29.
  3. Cyber city’s centrepiece nears completion . Htar Htar Khin . November 12–18, 2007 . The Myanmar Times.
  4. News: Housing Project to Be Implemented in Myanmar Cyber City . https://archive.today/20130115215351/http://english.cri.cn/6966/2009/03/04/1461s460451.htm . dead . January 15, 2013 . Xinhua News . 2009-03-04.
  5. News: ICT exhibitions mark Myanmar rapid development in advanced technology . https://web.archive.org/web/20090111054720/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-12/16/content_10512270.htm . dead . January 11, 2009 . China View . . Feng Yingqiu . 2008-12-16.