The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) has issued a request for proposals for the Kawthaung Airport upgrade project in Tanintharyi Region. The interested teams must submit their proposals until November 2019. The teams must form a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) company with 65% stake held by citizens of Myanmar.

The scope of work includes construction of new runways, terminals, airport aprons, control tower, warehouses and parking. The project can be developed under private investment or in partnership with DCA. The terms of the agreement include allowing the private companies to run the airports under a 30-year upgrade, operate and maintenance contract, which comes with an option to extend for another 10 years.

Kawthoung airport is one of 14 airports earmarked for upgrades to promote tourism and boost regional development. The upgrades would involve setting up customs, immigration and quarantine facilities in the first stage and then bringing in other facilities to raise it to international status in the second stage.