India calls for closer economic ties, connectivity with neighbouring Myanmar

NEW DELHI, Oct 7 (KUNA) — India Sunday called for closer economic ties with neighbouring Myanmar and said that a series of trans-border development projects with Myanmar was aimed at better communication links between the two countries.
“India is involved in a variety of projects with Myanmar in diverse fields such as roads, railways, telecommunications, IT, science and technology, and power,” External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said today at a meeting entitled “India’s Look East Policy – Challenges for Sub-Regional Cooperation”, in Guwahati, the main city of Indias Northeastern state of Assam.
“These initiatives are aimed at improving connectivity between northeastern India and western Myanmar and are expected to give an impetus to the local economies as well as bilateral trade,” Mukherjee stressed.
The Minister also spoke about the importance of the Indo-Myanmar agreement on the connectivity of the waterways.
“Probably among the most important is the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport facility, which envisages connectivity between Indian ports on the eastern seaboard and Sittwe Port in Myanmar,” Mukherjee said.
India shares more than 1,400 kilometer-long border with Myanmar along its Northeastern states and closer ties with it was necessary to boost India’s Look East Policy.