6th India-Myanmar Joint Trade Committee Meeting Focuses on Building Multimodal Connectivity
27 June 2017
The Governments of India and Myanmar held their 6th India-Myanmar Joint Trade Committee Meeting on 27 June 2017 in New Delhi, India to discuss how to further enhance this bilateral economic partnership.
Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry (Independent Charge), India, sought active cooperation of India and Myanmar in improving multimodal connectivity to tap the large potential of India-Myanmar bilateral trade. She noted
India's progress in the Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project, and the need to expedite work on the project areas covered by Myanmar;
- Need to fast-track completion of the inland waterway linking Sittwe Port to the Myanmar hinterland;
- Need to move forward with the Motor Vehicle Agreement negotiation to facilitate seamless movement of cargo;
- Feasibility of creating direct shipping lines between Sittwe Port and the Visakhapatnam Port and Chennai Port; and
- Need to create direct air connectivity between Myanmar and Chennai and Guwahati.
As India’s link to Southeast Asia, Myanmar shares over 1,600 kilometers of land border with India. Minister Sitharaman expressed hope that the two countries can create a better regional platform for trade and commerce. She discussed other ways to increase economic ties, including finalization at the earliest possible time of the Mode of Operation for the border haats along the India-Myanmar border, potential new border trade points at Pangkhuwa and Zoninpuri, and participation of Myanmar and its business community in India's initiatives to bolster its manufacturing capacities in initiatives including "Make in India."
Dr. Than Myint, Union Commerce Minister, led the Myanmar delegation.
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