New Delhi, Jan 30 (IANS) Describing Myanmar as the “gateway” for enhancing ties between South Asia and Southeast Asia, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphu Rio Monday called for more investment in the northeast so that it became a “springboard” for enhanced trade ties with the eastern neighbour.
Rio, who inaugurated a seminar on ‘Myanmar: Bridging South and Southeast Asia’ at the Jamia Millia Islamia’s Academy of International Studies and the Yangon-based Tampadipa Institute, said Myanmar is very close to the hearts of the Indian people, especially for people in northeast India, who have common borders and cultural affinities with the neighbouring nation.
Asking India to use the northeastern states as a “springboard” for its ‘Look East’ policy, he said the Indian sub-continent was to connect with the Asean countries through a corridor that would bring millions of people closer to each other.
“Bilateral trade has expanded significantly from $12.4 million in 1980-81 to $1,207.56 million in 2009-10. India needs to invest more and scale up its trade links as a big brother,” he told a gathering of strategic affairs thinkers and international studies students here.
Referring to the economic crisis in Europe, US and the global markets, he said it is perhaps time to strengthen inter-regional trade times.
“As India and Myanmar are both signatory to the India-Asean Trade in Goods Agreement, signed in August 2009, I would call upon both sides to work out concrete steps to facilitate this positive development, including promotion of people-to-people contacts,” he said.
Taking advantage of the proximity of northeastern states to Myanmar, Rio said the cross-border development of the two nation’s people, cutting across international and historical divides, should help in bringing about a socio-cultural renaissance in the region.
“Peaceful and tranquil borders are best ensured through developmental efforts. Thus far, the border between the two countries is relatively safe and peaceful. There exists a goodwill on both sides and more importantly, the people across the boundaries are ready to reach out to each other and co-exist. This is certainly a plus-point for all stake-holders to exploit,” he added.
Noting that India and Myanmar had “multi-faceted and comprehensive” relations, Rio said cooperation ranged from security to trade and commerce, with a number of major Indian projects in both infrastructure and non-infrastructure sectors such as information technology, roads, energy and education.
Under the aegis of regional cooperation organisations, BIMSTEC and Mekong Ganga Cooperation, the Nagaland chief minister pointed out, there is further scope for cooperation in tourism, culture, transport and communication sector.
“Energy cooperation, in particular, holds tremendous potential and I urge Myanmar to consider the use of the northeastern states’ territory in India for transhipment of oil, gas and transmission of power,” he said.
On border trade, Rio said two points at Moreh-Tamu in Manipur and at Zokhawthar-Rhi in Mizoram were operational. “Recently, an agreement was reached on the third border trade point in Avangkhu, which falls in Nagaland and Myanmar border.
Apart from these, he said, some grand projects such as the trans-Eurasian Highway and the Trans Asian Railway, which will pass through northeast India, will connect the South Asian and Southeast Asian regions.
“I invite both Indian and Myanmar business houses to invest in the northeast, and use the area as a natural springboard for trade and commerce,” he added.
The two-day seminar is chaired by Jamia Millia Islamia Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung, with Academy of International Studies’ Prof. Veena Sikri, a former diplomat, coordinating the proceedings of the event.
The meet also witnessed participation from several member of the Myanmar parliament, including Win Myint, adviser fo the Myanmar’s ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, Tampadipa Institute Director Dr. Khin Zaw Win and Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) Director General Sudhir T. Devare.
