A master plan for Myanmar's Thilawa Special Industrial Zone designed by Chinese experts was formally handed over to the Myanmar government in Yangon Tuesday.

The Thilawa special industrial zone master plan was worked out by experts from China's Shanghai city after 10 months of efforts under an agreement on economic and technical cooperation between the two countries signed on March 24, 2004.

The industrial zone, 25 km south of Yangon and covering an area of 12.8 square-kms, is generally regarded as an export processing zone (EPZ), the first of its kind in Myanmar, according to a Myanmar construction official.

Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Guan Mu and Myanmar Deputy Minister of Construction U Tint Swe attended the design presentation ceremony.

Observers here said that if the Thilawa zone is built in accordance with the master plan, it will absorb huge foreign investment to promote Myanmar's industrial development, export and economic development.

(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2005)