Shipping service to Myanmar, Bangladesh

India will soon launch regular shipping service to Myanmar and Bangladesh, a move that would help strengthen ties with the two immediate neighbours.

While Shipping Corporation of India is likely to start fresh shipping lines to run container ships between India and Myanmar in October, sources said commercial trial run of vessels on India-Bangladesh coastal routes will begin in the same month. Officials said that the regular coastal shipping between Bangladesh ports and India's eastern ports such as Paradip and Haldia may commence by this year end.

With the commencement of India-Myanmar direct shipping service the transit time for Indian exports to Myanmar and Indian imports from the eastern neighbour would reduce considerably. Sources said the SCI would get some subsidy for the first six months.

"We will give national treatment to all certified vessels to operate along our coast. We will follow same standard as it is in the case of our domestic vessels to promote the trade and cooperation," said a government official.

Launching of the regular coastal shipping service will not only reduce burden on road network but will also increase trade between the two countries. As of now, there is only riverine protocol between the two countries for movement of small vessels on rivers flowing in both the countries.