"U Khin Maung Lwin, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, told the Myanmar Times that the country’s central committee for the Border Economic Cooperation Zone (BECZ), which met recently, decided on the areas for the core zones at Muse and Chin Shwe Haw in the northern part of Shan State and Kan Pite Tee in Kachin State. He said the ministry would initiate a call for applications for expressions of interest (EOI) soon, adding that for the agreed upon Muse core zone, an export product manufacturing processing and warehouse area would be located at Panghsang (KyuKoke)-Wantain-Nwan Yin (Kyin San Kyawt)-Mantman (Shweli) while an import processing and warehouse area would be located at Salant (Manhiro)-Salin and Namkhang-Naungtaung. The Chinese have also started processing works on their side of the border. However, only Myanmar-owned companies will be allowed to participate in the bidding although foreign investors can still participate by holding up to a maximum 35 percent stake in such companies. “We won’t allow 100pc foreign investment. It is important because it is border trade zone,” said U Khin Maung Lwin. Local companies will have to present a detailed concept plan of their potential investment and source of their capital investment. “They will have to present EOI application on how they would implement projects,” he said..."