MEA's Press note on India-Myanmar Cooperation
Prime
Minister’s visit to Myanmar is taking place after a period of 25 years (the last
such visit was undertaken by PM Rajiv Gandhi in December 1987) and
represents a major landmark in bilateral relations.
2.The visit comes
at a time when Myanmar is undergoing rapid transformation towards a
constitutional democracy after nearly five decades of military rule. India has
built a multi-faceted relationship that has gained further strength under the
newly elected government over the last one year. The visit of the Prime Minister
will enable us to build on our existing ties and leverage this to secure a
stronger and mutually beneficial relationship with a neighbouring country that
is integral to India’s ‘Look East’ policy.
3.The visit
provides an opportunity to enrich the substance of our relations, both
qualitatively and in scope, and lay down a long term vision and roadmap for a
mutually reinforcing bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas. In this
context, several decisions and announcements on new initiatives in the areas of
economic cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, trade and
investment promotion, capacity building and human resource development, culture
& people to people contacts, and academic exchanges, have been made by the
two sides.
4.The projects,
inter alia, seek to fill vital gaps in our connectivity and physical
infrastructural linkage with Myanmar in the area of highways, railways and civil
aviation.
5.During the
visit, twelve MoUs were signed. Details of these and other announcements/
decisions during the visit are listed below:
I.Infrastructure and Cooperation Developments
A package of assistance was announced was announced by
the Prime Minister during the visit. This includes:
(a)Financial assistance for Border Area Development:
The Prime Minister announced India’s support extending
financial assistance of US$ 5 million per year for five years for undertaking
small developmental projects such as schools, health centres & dispensaries, small roads &
bridges, agriculture and agro-processing projects and related training
programmes in the Naga Self Administered Zone (in Sagaing Division bordering
Manipur) and the Chin State (bordering Mizoram) in Myanmar.
(b)Supply of Bailey Bridges for use in
border areas, including in Naga Self Administered Zones to gain access to
hitherto accessible areas that would facilitate development of the
area.
(c)Construction of Kalewa-Yargyi road sector of the Trilateral
Highway:Myanmar side has requested for Indian assistance in the
construction/upgradation of the 120 kms of Kalewa-Yargyi road segment as a part
of the Trilateral Highway, which also constitutes part of the proposed Asian
Highway network. On its part, Myanmar would take up the construction of
Yargyi-Monywa road segment. It is estimated that the road would take three years
to complete and would allow the proposed Imphal-Mandalay bus service to be
operational throughout the year (the road is currently unusable during the rainy
season).
(d)Construction/upgradation of 71 bridges along Tamu-Kalewa
sector of the Trilateral Highway; The road
between Tamu- Kalewa- Kalemyo (TKK), about 160 kms long, in Myanmar has been
constructed by Border Roads Organisation (BRO) under the grant assistance of the
Government of India. 132 kms have already been completed and handed over to
Myanmar in 2009. The remaining 28 Kms is expected to be completed later this
year. The Myanmar has requested India for upgradation/ reconstruction of 71
bridges on the TKK Road which are in poor condition and impede the flow of
traffic. This would also improve connectivity and facilitate early
operationalisation of the proposed Imphal-Mandalay bus service. The project is
expected to take three years for completion.
II.CONNECTIVITY
(a)Imphal-Mandalay Bus Service: India and
Myanmar have held discussions at the technical level on issues related to
introduction of the bus service including the route, frequency, possibility of
switching of buses at the border, security, etc. The Prime Minister of India and
the President of Myanmar have agreed to introduce a bus service and necessary
agreements and infrastructure would be put in place by both sides for
operationalising the same at the earliest.
(b)Air: India and
Myanmar signed a new Air Services Agreement during the visit of the Prime
Minister of India to Myanmar. The agreement provides for expansion of air
connectivity between the two countries to cover more carriers, flights and
destinations. It provides for 5th freedom rights that would enable
our carriers to combine their flights to Myanmar with other destinations in
South East Asia and elsewhere. The agreement is expected to lead to enhancement
of direct flights, including by private carriers, between India and Myanmar.
(c)Railways: Recognising
the need and importance of working towards rail connectivity, both sides agreed
to the setting up of a Joint Working Group on Cooperation in
the Railway Sector to examine the issues involved in enhancing rail
connectivity, the feasibility of movement of freight from India to the South
East Asian Region and cooperation in the railway sector between India and
Myanmar.
III.DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
Building upon
the extensive developmental cooperation projects that have been taken up under
grant assistance to Myanmar, the following initiatives were agreed to and MOUs
signed during the Prime Minister’s visit:
(a)MOU on Setting up of an Information Technology Institute:
It
has been agreed to establish an IT Institute to be named ‘Myanmar Institute of
Information Technology (MIIT)’ with India’s assistance. While the physical
infrastructure, including building, faculty and technical staff would be
provided by the Government of Myanmar, India would supply the equipment,
identify a suitable partner institute in India for exchange programs and
knowledge sharing, help in formulation of syllabi, course structure, training
modules and conduct training programs for the faculty and technical staff
through train-the trainer programmes. Indian support in the areas specified
would extend for a period of 5 years to enable the Institute to become
self-sustaining. Shri S. Ramadorai, PM’s advisor on Skills Development is
associated with the Project as advisor for the establishment of the Institute.
An MoU on the establishment of the MIIT was signed during PM’s visit. External
Affairs Minister of India and the Minister for Science and Technology from the
Myanmar side signed the MoU.
(b)MoU on Establishment of Advanced Centre for Agriculture
Research and Education (ACARE): Realising the
acute need to strengthen agricultural research, education and extension in
Myanmar for the overall improvement of agricultural production and productivity,
it has been agreed to establish an Advance Centre for Agricultural Research and
Education (ACARE) at the Yezin Agriculture University in Myanmar to be
implemented by Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). The ACARE will
have the vision of becoming a 21st century institution using cutting
edge science along with traditional knowledge and ecological conservation and
will primarily focus on three areas, namely breeding of better quality and high
yielding crop varieties, facilitating access to advanced technology and
awareness of better farming practices; and capacity building programmes for
training faculty, technicians and entrepreneurs in modern methods of research,
latest techniques and technology adoption & application. An MoU on the same
was signed during the visit. The signatories were the Foreign Secretary from
India and the Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation from Myanmar.
(c)MoU on Setting up a Rice Bio: In the
context of the centrality of rice in the Myanmar agricultural economy and the
importance of producing value-added and market-driven rice and rice-related
products that would lead to improving food and income security of small farm
families, project has been initiated for setting up a Rice Bio Park
demonstrating the various techniques in rice biomass utilisation in the
Integrated Demonstration Farm at Nay Pyi Taw. The MS Swaminathan Research
Foundation (MSSRF), from the Indian side and the Department of Agricultural
Research, Ministry of Agriculture of Myanmar (DAR) would be the nodal agencies.
The Project is expected to be implemented over a period of four years, involving
procurement, supply and installation of all necessary equipment; training of
Myanmar personnel in India; deputation of Indian experts for commissioning and
for on-the-job training of Myanmar faculty and experts in Myanmar. A MoU on the
same was signed during Prime Minister’s visit. Foreign Secretary from India and
the Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation from Myanmar side signed the
MoU.
IV.TRADE AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION
(a)MoU on Establishment of Border Haats: During the
4th Joint Trade Committee (JTC) Meeting held in New Delhi in
September 2011, both sides agreed on the utility of setting up Border Haats at
various locations along the India-Myanmar border. The establishment of Border
Haats would benefit people living in the area and would function on the lines of
Border Haats already in operation on the India-Bangladesh border. The MoU
provides for the setting up of a Border Haat on a pilot basis at Pangsau Pass,
Arunachal Pradesh and for the establishment of other Border Haats as mutually
agreed upon. Foreign Secretary from India and the Deputy Minister for Commerce
from Myanmar side signed the MoU.
(b)Cooperation in the Banking Sector: Both sides
have agreed to enhance banking arrangements for the promotion of trade. It was
agreed that Indian banks such as the United Bank of India and other interested
Banks would be allowed to open representative branches in Myanmar; India would
extend assistance to Myanmar in training and capacity building in the financial
sector; RBI and the Central Bank of Myanmar would enter into an MoU for currency
arrangements and for enhancing cooperation between the Central banks of the two
countries. It was also agreed that the State Bank of India or other banks as
mutually agreed would provide technical knowhow to Myanmar
Banks.
(c)MoU on establishment of Joint Trade and Investment Forum:
A
MOU on the establishment of a Joint Trade and Investment Forum involving
representatives from industry and Government to enhance bilateral trade and
investments was signed during the Prime Minister’s visit. The MoU provides for
the forum to hold meetings annually, alternately in India and Myanmar, and be
co-chaired by one senior business leader of each side. The Forum would monitor
and review the existing mechanisms for enhancing bilateral trade and recommend
specific measures to achieve the bilateral trade target of doubling trade
volume, encourage private sector investments; and provide trade facilitation.
The MoU was signed by the Foreign Secretary from India and the Deputy Minister
of Commerce from the Myanmar side.
V.Economic Cooperation
(a)A MoU on the EXIM Bank’s US$ 500 million Line of Credit to
Myanmar: A new concessional facility of US$500 million Line of
Credit (LoC) to Myanmar was announced during the visit of Myanmar President in
October 2011. A MoU for operationalisation of the Line of Credit was signed
between the EXIM Bank of India and the Myanma Foreign Trade Bank. The Myanmar
side identified various areas, like agriculture and irrigation, railways, power,
etc. to be covered under the Line of Credit.
VI.CAPACITY BUILDING AND HUMAN RESOURCE
DEVELOPMENT
India already
has a undertaken a number of projects related to training and capacity building.
This has been appreciated by the Myanmar side. During the visit, the Prime
Minister announced the following:
(i)Increase in ITEC Slots to 500: Prime
Minister announced the doubling of training slots under the Indian Technical and
Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme to Myanmar from the current 250 to 500.
(ii)Training Programmes for Myanmar Parliamentarians and staff:
A
programme for training of Myanmar parliamentarians and staff by the Bureau of
Parliamentary Studies and Training. The programme is expected to start form June
2012.
(iii)Upgradation of the India-Myanmar Center For Enhancement of IT
Skills (IMCEITS) in Yangon: IMCEITS was
set up in 2008 with financial assistance from Government of India by C-DAC.
Since its establishment, IMCEITS has become a premier institution for advanced
ICT training in Myanmar, providing specialised training in disciplines
identified by the Government of Myanmar. The Centre is also connected to seven
Communication Information Centres through VSAT and has since trained nearly 1300
IT professionals in five ICT courses. It has been agreed that India would assist
Myanmar in further upgradation of the Centre, including its IT infrastructure;
supply of course material; training/workshops; and new upgraded
programs.
(iv)Assistance in production of large Cardamom in Naga Self
Administered zone (NSAZ): On a request
from the Myanmar side, Prime Minister announced India’s assistance in the
production of cardamom in Myanmar. The Spices Board of India would be involved
in implementation of the project that includes technological support for
commercial production of large cardamom in the NSAZ to be undertaken over a
period of four years. The components of Indian assistance include training
farmers/NGOs and officials of Agricultural Department of Myanmar which would be
organised in two/three locations, and of duration of two days at each location,
supply of quality seeds and support to farmers/exporters in establishing market
linkage. The support would be extended for a period of four
years.
(v)Training of Myanmar Diplomats in Conference
Management: At Myanmar’s request, India has agreed to provide training
in conference management and logistics to Myanmar diplomats in the context of
Myanmar's preparation for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2014. In the above context,
a training programme is proposed on (i) International Treaties {Vienna
Conventions on Diplomatic/Consular Relations, UN (Privileges and Immunities)
Act} and (ii) Conference Management. The training is proposed to be in the
nature of "Training of Trainers" and conducted for 25-30 participants over 10
working days.
(vi)Setting up of Language Lab and e-Research centre for Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar: At Myanmar’s
request, Prime Minister announced India’s support for setting up language labs
facilities in Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon and an e-Research Centre in Nay Pyi Taw for
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar. It would assist Myanmar as it
prepares to take over the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2014.
(vii)Indian Fellowships for Myanmar researchers in Science &
Technology: Pursuant to the Programme of Cooperation in Science &
Technology for the period of 2012-15, signed during the visit of the President
of Myanmar in October 2011, 10 (ten) new fellowships per year have been
instituted for Myanmar Researchers to work in Indian Universities and Research
Institutions in the areas of Atmospheric and Earth Sciences, Chemical Sciences,
Engineering Sciences, Medical Sciences, Mathematical and Computations Sciences,
and Physical sciences. These would be offered in the 3 categories- Post Doctoral
(6 month), senior fellowship (3-4 months) and visiting fellowship (1-2 months).
(viii)Gifting of Rice Silo at Model Integrated Farm, Nay Pyi
Taw: A modern and cyclone proof rice silo that has been
constructed with the financial assistance of the Government of India in the
Model Farm in Nay Pyi Taw was handed over to the Myanmar side. India had, in
March 2011, in the aftermath of the cyclone Nargis extended cash assistance of
US$ 2 million for the construction of ten Rice Silos, some of which were
inaugurated by EAM during his visit to Myanmar in June 2011.
VII.CULTURAL Cooperation
(a)Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) 2012-2015: A cultural exchange programme for the period 2012-15
was signed during the visit of the Prime Minister to Myanmar. The Programme
provides for exchanges including in the fields of art, architecture, archaeology
and media and involves the visit of experts, holding of exhibitions, joint
seminars, visits of artistes and troupes etc. It would also facilitate cultural
exchanges between the States in the North East of India and Myanmar that share
close cultural and ethnic affinities.
(b)Gifting of a 16-foot replica of the Sarnath
Buddha: Government of India would gift to the Government of
Myanmar a 16 foot statue replica of the Sarnath Buddha to be installed at the
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon. The statue will be unveiled in the margins of the
International Conference on Buddhism to be organised jointly by India and
Myanmar in December 2012. During his visit, the Prime Minister will symbolically
unveil a smaller replica (about three and a half feet) of the statue during his
visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda.
VIII.ACADEMIC EXCHANGES
(a)MoU on Cooperation between Dagon and Calcutta
University: A MoU on academic cooperation between Dagon University in
Myanmar and the Calcutta University in the areas of exchange of faculty members,
students, Administrative Managers/Coordinators, academic materials and other
information, joint research activities, participation in seminars and academic
meetings, special short-term academic programmes, joint cultural Programmes and
study tours of Administrative Managers/Coordinators was signed during the PM’s
visit to Myanmar in May 2012. The Vice Chancellor of the Calcutta University
signed the MoU from the Indian side.
(b)MoUs on Cooperation between Myanmar Institute of Strategic
and International Studies (MISIS) and ICWA and IDSA: Both IDSA and
ICWA entered into separate MoUs with the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and
International Studies (MISIS). The MoU envisages cooperation in capacity building, organization of
joint events and undertaking research projects of mutual interest. Signing of the MoUs would be helpful in facilitating
greater and more frequent interaction on an academic level.
(c)Setting up of an Indian School in Yangon: The size of the Indian origin community in Myanmar is
estimated at between 1.5 million and 2.5 million and includes people speaking
Tamil, Telugu, Oriya, Bengali, Punjabi and Hindustani. Also, the number of
Indian nationals in Myanmar for trade/businesses/projects has also been on the
rise. The need for an Indian School in Yangon has been felt given the large
number of children of the Indian community studying either in local schools or
in private schools in Myanmar. During his visit, the Prime Minister announced
India’s support to set up an Indian school with technical assistance of Kendriya
Vidyalaya Sangathan to provide children with quality education.
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