The Export-Import Bank of Korea could assist Incheon International Airport Corp to finance Myanmar’s new airport project as the state-run airport operator is currently looking into ways to fund the potential deal worth some $600 million, said sources familiar with the situation.

IIAC could seek Korea Eximbank, which has a non-binding agreement with IIAC to support the export of its airport operation know-how, to back its consortium through the policy bank’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund or low-interest loans with long-term maturity, sources said.

A consortium led by the operator of the world renowned airport met the requirements to further its build-operate-transfer bid for the development of Myanmar’s Hanthawady International Airport in Yangon. A preferred bidder among seven consortia from Japan, China and Europe is expected to be chosen by June this year.

Yangon’s second airport would be able to handle over 10 million passengers a year, and its size would be equivalent to Gimhae International Airport, one of Korea’s biggest regional airports along with Gimpo and Jeju, one source said.

The new airport would also be one-quarter the size of Korea’s Incheon Airport in terms of annual passenger handling, he added.

The development cost would be around $600 million, and it is highly likely the final potential bidder would have to come up with a majority of funding given Myanmar’s lack of financial resources as it has been recently freed from international sanctions, the sources said.

IIAC has begun to seek out financial institutions such as investment banks and commercial banks to assess their interest in investing in the project should it win the infrastructure bid.

The state-run Korea Development Bank is one of the banks in talks with IIAC for financial advice, local media reported.

The Eximbank said last month that it would increase its support in project financing to help Korean firms win deals in Southeast Asia and other developing markets against China and Japan.

It plans to extend funds worth 21 trillion won for overseas projects, including power plants and water treatment, up from 19 trillion won last year, while setting aside 1.4 trillion won EDCF, up from 1.2 trillion won in 2012.

Another source said that it expected tough competition in Myanmar especially against Japan, which has traditionally been a strong player in Southeast Asia’s infrastructure market.

For instance, Japan has been spending about $1 billion for infrastructure development in Vietnam annually, compared with Korea’s $200 million in the region. Japan allocates about 65 percent of its official development assistance finances to Southeast Asia, he noted.

The new Yangon airport could be structured as a joint venture between the winning operator and the Myanmar government as the latter is likely to hold a share equivalent to some 36 square-kilometers it offered for the development, an industry source said.

By Park Hyong-ki
(hkp@heraldcorp.com)



<관련 한글 기사>

수은-인천공항, 양곤 신공항 위해 협력

한국수출입은행은 미얀마 양곤 신공항 수주 및 개발을 위해 인천국제공항공사의 프로젝트 금융 지원을 할 수 있다고 업계관계자는 말했다.

수은은 대외경제협력기금(EDCF) 또는 장기저리대출 통해 인천국제공항공사에 대한 지원이 가능하다고 했다. 수은과 인천공항공사는 해외공항사업의 금융지원 및 진출을 위해 업무협약을 체결한 바 있다.

인천공항공사 컨소시엄은 최근 미얀마정부로부터 7개 컨소시엄과 함께 양곤에 위치한 한타와디국제공항 개발 프로젝트의 자격심사를 통과했고 본 입찰 중이며 신공항의 우선협상대상자 선정은 6월쯤 발표 될 예정이다.

수은은 올해 국내 기업들이 동남아 개발도상국가에서 각종 인프라 프로젝트 수주할 수 있도록 적극적으로 금융 지원할 것이라고 밝힌 바가 있다.

수은은 해외 발전 플랜트, 수처리 같은 인프라 사업에 21조원 공급 할 예정이고 원조자금인 EDCF를 작년 1.2조원에서 1.4조원 규모로 확대할 것이라고 했다.

자원이 풍부한 미얀마는 경제제재 풀린 후 인프라 개발을 위해 해외투자자를 유치 중이라고 업계 관계자는 설명했다.

미얀마를 포함한 동남아 인프라 또는 공적개발원조(ODA) 시장에서 한국 기업과 일본의 치열한 경쟁이 예상된다. 일본은 그 동안 한국보다 동남아 인프라 사업에 투자를 많이 해왔으며 특히 베트남시장 같은 경우 연간 10억 달러 투자를 했고 한국은 2억 달러 정도를 투자했다.

미얀마는 양곤 36km2 부지에 한국의 김해국제공항 규모인 신항공 건설을 계획하고 있다.

미얀마정부는 부지 내 놓은 만큼 신공항의 지분을 소유할 가능성이 높으며, 개발 후 양곤 신공항은 수주한 기업과 조인트벤처로 운영될 가능성이 높다고 업계 관계자는 설명했다. (코리아헤럴드/ 박형기 기자)