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Republic of Union of Myanmar / NEXI Provides Overseas Investment Insurance for Telecommunication Infrastructure Business


December 19, 2019

Nippon Export and Investment Insurance

Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI; Chairman and CEO: Atsuo Kuroda) has decided to provide Overseas Investment Insurance to Sojitz Corporation (Sojitz) to help remove the risk of its indirect acquisition of a stake in edotco Myanmar Limited (EML), a major integrated telecommunications infrastructure service company in the Republic of Union of Myanmar (Myanmar).

Sojitz has acquired a stake in EML through Yoma Strategic Holdings Ltd., by purchasing 12.5% shares owned by EDOTCO INVESTMENT SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., the largest parent company of EML.

In recent years mobile phones have become increasingly more common in Myanmar since the country’s opening up of mobile telecom sector in 2012, with the cell phone penetration rate reaching over 90%. However, the vulnerability of the country’s communication infrastructure still remains ahead for further development of the sector. This telecom infrastructure business is therefore subject to special taxation provisions by the government of Myanmar to promote overseas investments into the sector.

Under such an environment, EML currently manages and operates over 2,000 telecom towers as the third-largest independent telecom tower operator, and has already been in lease agreements with several telecommunications carriers. While working on the development of a new telecom tower against the backdrop of surging demand for mobile phones in the country, EML will also focus on micro grids business that can help converting existing diesel power generation used for telecom towers into renewable energy utilizing solar power generation.

By participating in this business, Sojitz will extend its positive impact to the Myanmar’s communication infrastructures development, standard of living and its further economic growth. Sojitz is set to broaden the scope of business entering into the telecom tower market where future growth is expected, by using this business as a strong foothold in the market.

Since this business is specialized in telecom tower that is vital to social infrastructure, it can be considered as a project that is in line with the Japanese government’s “Infrastructure Systems Export Strategy” aiming at Japan’s overseas development in the field of information and communication. It is for this reason that NEXI finds a significant value in supporting this business as a governmental financial institution of Japan.

NEXI will continue to actively support Japanese companies in the expansion of their business overseas and infrastructure exports.


Contact: Overseas Investment Insurance Underwriting Group, Underwriting Department
Tel: +81-(0)3-3512-7668

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