The Myanmar government has enlisted Roland Berger to manage the competitive bidding process for a major infrastructure project in Yangon – part of the Chinese Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) efforts in Myanmar, according to Consultancy Asia.

The overall project, New Yangon City (NYC), is among the key links the BRI, with Chinese President XI Jinping declaring it a key pillar of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). Part of the new development, situated on the western bank of the Yangon river, is an industrial zone, complete with two bridges, roads, power facilities, water treatment plants and an industrial estate.

Appointment of Roland Berger indicates a more transparent and open tender process. Rather than launching a tender for the project, authorising body New Yangon City Development (NYCD) awarded the contract for the project’s first phase to the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) back in 2018. The decision was labeled a time saving tactic.

In response to criticism, NYCD has now provided the option for other construction companies to challenge the CCCC bid with their own proposal, provided that the bid meets all the necessary project requirements.

This competitive process, known as a Swiss Challenge, is expected to take place in November this year, and global strategy consultancy Roland Berger has been brought on board to manage it.