Question : STRENGTHENING OF BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH MYANMAR



(a) whether any bilateral discussions were held recently between India and Myanmar on trade and development and on a bilateral access route to the North-East;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government in pursuance thereof?

Answer given by the minister


THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS(SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)

(a) to (c) The Minister of State for Commerce and Power Shri Jairam Ramesh visited Myanmar in July 2008 and later on October 14-15, 2008 for holding the 3rd Session of India-Myanmar Joint Trade Committee.Foreign Secretary visited Myanmar in November 2008 for annual Foreign Office Consultations.The Minister of Commerce of Myanmar, H.E. Brig. Gen. Tin Naing Thein also visited India in July 2008.

During the visit of the Minister of State for Commerce to Myanmar in July 2008, the two countries signed Bilateral Investment Promotion Agreement (BIPA) and agreements on banking arrangements between the two countries.At the 3rd Session of Joint Trade Committee, the two countries agreed inter alia to:

# convert the existing border trade at Moreh in Manipur and Zowkhathar in Mizoram into normal trade;

# develop Avankhung in Nagaland as a third border trade point with Myanmar;

# expand the list of commodities under Indo-Myanmar Border Trade Agreement from the existing 22 items to 40 items; and

# operationalise the banking arrangements.

As regards access route to the North-East, a framework Agreement on the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, a Protocol on the Transit Facilitation of the Project and a Protocol on the Maintenance and Administration of the Project were signed during the visit of Senior General Maung Aye to India on 02 April 2008.The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project envisages connectivity between Indian ports on the eastern seacoast and Sittwe Port in Myanmar and then through riverine transport and by road to Mizoram.