Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the bilateral trade between Myanmar and India has a much larger untapped potential. “She sought the cooperation of the Myanmar side in actively pursuing enhanced road, sea and air connectivity between the two,” an official statement quoted the Minister as saying. The matter among other trade and investment related issues were discussed during the sixth India Myanmar Joint Trade Committee (JTC) meeting. From Myanmar side, it was co-chaired by Commerce Minister Than Myint. Further the statement said that Indian side highlighted the progress made by it in various components of the Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project (KMTP). Sitharaman sought the cooperation of Myanmar to expedite work on their side. She also highlighted the need for the Myanmar side to allow expeditious completion of the inland waterway works linking the Port of Sittwe to the Myanmar hinterland.
The Indian side urged them for expeditious negotiations of a motor vehicle agreement to facilitate seamless movement of cargo vehicles. “Discussions were held on exploring the feasibilities of direct shipping lines with Sittwe port and Vizag/Chennai. Similarly, the need for direct air connectivity with Chennai/ Guwahati was also discussed,” it added. Both the sides also agreed to explore opening of two new border trade points at Pangkhuwa and Zoninpuri. Further, it said the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) on currency exchange rate fixing need to be expedited. Myanmar side requested to explore the suggestion of opening of a Counsellor Office in the Northeast. On the project development fund for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV), Sitharaman said the fund is under implementation.
Projects have been identified for preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPR) and new areas have been identified for conducting pre-feasibility studies. Project identified for Myanmar for preparation of DPR includes setting up of a multi-specialty hospital and/ or medical college and an educational institute in Myanmar. It is proposed to consider nursing and paramedics’ education for the pre-feasibility studies for 2017-18. Indian side sought the cooperation of Myanmar in extending all assistance to EXIM Bank to facilitate implementation of the projects. The Indian minister requested Myanmar and its business community to actively partner in India’s initiatives to strengthen manufacturing capacities. Myanmar is India’s gateway to Southeast Asia and ASEAN with which India is seeking greater economic integration through ‘Act East’ Policy. The neighboring country shares a long land border of over 1600 km with India as well as a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal. India’s trade with Myanmar grew by 6 per cent from $ 2.05 billion in 2015 -16 to $ 2.18 billion in 2016-17. The total export achieved in 2016-17 was $1.11 billion, reflecting an annual growth of 3.79% while the imports from that country were at $1.06 billion reflecting a growth of 8.43%.
