India signs port partner pact with Myanmar

New Delhi has steppedup constructive engagement with friendly neighbours in the backdrop of expanding Chinese economic influence in the region.

On Monday, foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale visited eastern neighbour Myanmar to ink a pact for appointment of a “private port operator” for Sittwe Port in that country, which is part of the crucial IndoMyanmar Kaladan Multi Model Transit Transport Project. The Rohingya issue is also understood to have been discussed during the visit.

The project would also “contribute to job creation and development in the whole region, particularly in the Rakhine and Chin states of Myanmar.” Rakhine state has been affected by sectarian violence in Myanmar, which has seen many Rohingya Muslims flee from there to Bangladesh.

“The foreign secretary called on the state counsellor, HE Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. All matters relating to bilateral cooperation as well as matters pertaining to international and regional matters of common interest, including developments in Rakhine state were discussed,” New Delhi said.

The Kaladan project “will provide an alternate access route to the north- eastern region of India” and is also envisaged to “promote economic, commercial, and strategic links between India and Myanmar.”

The project was jointly identified by India and Myanmar “to create a multi- modal mode of transport for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar”.