India, Myanmar ink pact on bus service, developing Rakhine - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India, Myanmar ink pact on bus service, developing Rakhine.

According to the joint statement, the two sides will start coordinated bus service between Imphal and Mandalay on April 7. Bus operators on both sides have already signed the agreement.

Bus service between Manipur’s Imphal and Myanmar’s Mandalay, more Rakhine state development programme projects, medical radiation equipment for treatment of cancer patients, cooperation on petroleum, including in refinery, stockpiling, blending and retail — these are some of the major takeaways as visiting Myanmar President U Win Myint met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

The two sides on Thursday signed 10 agreements with a focus on socioeconomic development of Myanmar.
According to the joint statement, the two sides will start coordinated bus service between Imphal and Mandalay on April 7. Bus operators on both sides have already signed the agreement.
India’s assistance in the construction of Integrated Check Point at Tamu, Myanmar, bordering Manipur, will also be done. For ease of people-to-people movement across the border at Moreh Tamu, the two countries signed the Land Border Crossing Agreement in 2018, which allowed bona fide travellers with valid document to cross the border at two international points of entry/exit: Moreh-Tamu and Zokhawathar- Rih.
India will offer medical radiation equipment Bhabhatron II for treatment of cancer patients, and strengthen cooperation in the health sector. The two sides also agreed to have government-to-government cooperation in petroleum, including in refinery, stockpiling, blending and retail.
They also decided to extend the Quick Impact Project schemes to Myanmar. Under this, India takes up capacity development work in the form of small projects which yield quick beneficial results for the local people.
On the side of governance, India will help Myanmar with the project of e-ID cards, which is modelled after the Aadhaar project.
The two sides decided to provide more projects to Rakhine State Development Programme. India had committed $25 million grant assistance to Myanmar over a period of five years and phase-I involved completion of 250 prefabricated house in Rakhine State.
The two sides also expressed commitment to continue negotiations on various pending treaties like Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and Extradition Treaty. India will also support establishment of Myanmar’s diplomatic academy, and extend National Knowledge Network to Myanmar.
Win Myint, who arrived in India on Wednesday, received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He and First Lady Daw Cho Cho were welcomed by President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Modi.
They also reiterated Indo-Pacific concept, as both sides agreed to work together to promote principles of openness, inclusiveness, transparency, respect for international law and ASEAN centrality in Indo-Pacific.
The agreements included an MoU on ‘Cooperation for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons; Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation and Re-Integration of Victims of Trafficking’. An agreement regarding Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIP) was also signed between the two sides. Three agreements for development projects in the conflict-torn Rakhine state were also signed during the president’s visit. The Rakhine state has witnessed a lot of violence in the past and scores of Rohingyas had fled the state facing persecution.(Source: The Indian Express)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

India, Myanmar ink pact on bus service, developing Rakhine.

India, Myanmar ink pact on bus service, developing Rakhine - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India, Myanmar ink pact on bus service, developing Rakhine.

According to the joint statement, the two sides will start coordinated bus service between Imphal and Mandalay on April 7. Bus operators on both sides have already signed the agreement.

Bus service between Manipur’s Imphal and Myanmar’s Mandalay, more Rakhine state development programme projects, medical radiation equipment for treatment of cancer patients, cooperation on petroleum, including in refinery, stockpiling, blending and retail — these are some of the major takeaways as visiting Myanmar President U Win Myint met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.

The two sides on Thursday signed 10 agreements with a focus on socioeconomic development of Myanmar.
According to the joint statement, the two sides will start coordinated bus service between Imphal and Mandalay on April 7. Bus operators on both sides have already signed the agreement.
India’s assistance in the construction of Integrated Check Point at Tamu, Myanmar, bordering Manipur, will also be done. For ease of people-to-people movement across the border at Moreh Tamu, the two countries signed the Land Border Crossing Agreement in 2018, which allowed bona fide travellers with valid document to cross the border at two international points of entry/exit: Moreh-Tamu and Zokhawathar- Rih.
India will offer medical radiation equipment Bhabhatron II for treatment of cancer patients, and strengthen cooperation in the health sector. The two sides also agreed to have government-to-government cooperation in petroleum, including in refinery, stockpiling, blending and retail.
They also decided to extend the Quick Impact Project schemes to Myanmar. Under this, India takes up capacity development work in the form of small projects which yield quick beneficial results for the local people.
On the side of governance, India will help Myanmar with the project of e-ID cards, which is modelled after the Aadhaar project.
The two sides decided to provide more projects to Rakhine State Development Programme. India had committed $25 million grant assistance to Myanmar over a period of five years and phase-I involved completion of 250 prefabricated house in Rakhine State.
The two sides also expressed commitment to continue negotiations on various pending treaties like Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty and Extradition Treaty. India will also support establishment of Myanmar’s diplomatic academy, and extend National Knowledge Network to Myanmar.
Win Myint, who arrived in India on Wednesday, received a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He and First Lady Daw Cho Cho were welcomed by President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Modi.
They also reiterated Indo-Pacific concept, as both sides agreed to work together to promote principles of openness, inclusiveness, transparency, respect for international law and ASEAN centrality in Indo-Pacific.
The agreements included an MoU on ‘Cooperation for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons; Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation and Re-Integration of Victims of Trafficking’. An agreement regarding Indian Grant Assistance for Implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIP) was also signed between the two sides. Three agreements for development projects in the conflict-torn Rakhine state were also signed during the president’s visit. The Rakhine state has witnessed a lot of violence in the past and scores of Rohingyas had fled the state facing persecution.(Source: The Indian Express)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

India, Myanmar ink pact on bus service, developing Rakhine

India, Myanmar conduct coordinated operation against insurgents posing threat to Kaladan project - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India, Myanmar conduct coordinated operation against insurgents posing threat to Kaladan project.

• The Indian Army did not cross the border during the operation
• The focus of the operation was to crack down on the members of the Arakan Army, an insurgent group in Myanmar
The armies of India and Myanmar conducted a "coordinated operation" from February 17 to March 2 against insurgents in Myanmarese territory to avert a possible threat to the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project, official sources said.

However, the Indian Army did not cross the border during the operation, they said.
The focus of the operation was to crack down on the members of the Arakan Army, an insurgent group in Myanmar, the sources said. The members of the Arakan Army had also moved close to the international border along Mizoram, they said.
The sources added that during the operation, the Indian Army beefed up the security along the border from Nagaland and Manipur to ensure that the insurgents do not cross over to the Indian side.
The Indian Army also helped the Myanmarese Army by providing them intelligence, they said. There were also inputs that some members of the Arakan Army were also planning to sneak into India.
The sources said setting up of camps by the insurgent groups was being viewed as a grave concern by armies of the two countries.
The operation was also undertaken keeping in view the safety of Indian workers engaged in the project.
After a series of meetings between personnel from both the countries, it was decided to carry out the coordinated operation. Additional troops were moved to the international border areas, besides deploying the Assam Rifles personnel.
The Assam Rifles has the responsibility to guard the international border with Myanmar.
The Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project is being viewed as India's gateway to the Southeast Asia.
India entered into a framework agreement with Myanmar in April 2008 to facilitate implementation of the project. On completion, the project will help connect Mizoram with the Sittwe Port in Rakhine State of Myanmar.
On the Indian side, work is on to extend the Aizawl-Saiha National Highway by 90 km to the international border at Zorinpui. (Source:Livemint)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

India, Myanmar conduct coordinated operation against insurgents posing threat to Kaladan project.

India all set to take over ops in Myanmar's Sittwe Port after Chabahar - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India all set to take over ops in Myanmar's Sittwe Port after Chabahar.

India after Chabahar Port in Iran is all set to take over operations of Myanmar's Sittwe Port that will enable to counter-balance China's BRI in the Indo-Pacific region.

In a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of state for Shipping, Road transport and chemical & fertilizer Mansukh L Mandaviya informed that the "infrastructure at Sittwe Port in Myanmar, constructed with India’s assistance, is ready for operation."
The construction of Sittwe Port is part of the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project and its objective is to create a multi-modal sea, river and road transport corridor for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar through Sittwe port as well as to north-eastern part of India via Myanmar.
The approved construction cost of Sittwe Port and Inland Water Terminals at Sittwe and Paletwa is Rs. 517.29 crore.
India and Myanmar signed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 22nd October, 2018 for operationalisation of the port at Sittwe and Inland Water Transport (IWT) Terminals at Sittwe and Paletwa. Once fully operational, the project would encourage investment and trade and also open up alternate routes for connectivity to India’s north-east region.
The development comes even as India took over the operations of a part of Shahid Beheshti Port, Chabahar in Iran during the Chabahar Trilateral Agreement meeting that was held on December 24th, 2018.
The heads of Indian, Iranian and Afghanistan delegation jointly inaugurated the office of the Indian SPV - India Ports Global Chabahar Free Zone (IPGCFZ) at Chabahar. The physical take-over of the terminal area, cargo handling equipment and Office building was completed by December, 29th last year.
Commercial operations began at IPGCFZ with the arrival of a vessel. A Cyprus registered bulk carrier had arrived at Chabahar with 72458 MT of corn cargo. The vessel MV MACHERAS berthed at the terminal a few days back on December 30th.
According to the ministry of shipping, "this step marks the beginning of a long journey. India has written history with its engagement in Chabahar and is now leading the regional cooperation and joint efforts to support landlocked Afghanistan."
Interestingly, this is the first time India will be operating a port outside its territories. India started interacting with Iran on Chabahar Port around 2003 but a major push was received in the second half of 2014, resulting in the signing of an MOU between the two countries for the development of Chabahar Port in May 2015.
This MOU translated into a formal 10-year contract for equipping and operating the Chabahar Port, which was executed on May 23rd, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Tehran.
The US has already provided a wavier to India on the port as well as the railway line from the port to Afghan, after Delhi stood firm on its engagement with Tehran. (Source:defencenews.in)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

India all set to take over ops in Myanmar's Sittwe Port after Chabahar.

India, Myanmar draw up counter-insurgency cooperation plan - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

India, Myanmar draw up counter-insurgency cooperation plan.

The home ministry also added that both sides had agreed to cooperate to prevent smuggling of wildlife and narcotic drugs.

India and Myanmar held a national level meeting here today to chalk out strategies to crack down on insurgent groups operating in the region.
While Union home secretary Rajiv Gauba, represented India, the Myanmar delegation was led by Major General Aung Thu, who is the deputy minister in the ministry of home affairs.
“During the meeting, both sides agreed to take action against insurgent groups operating within their territories. The two countries agreed on providing security cooperation along and facilitating movement of people and trade across the international border,” the home ministry said in a statement on Friday.
The ministry also added that both sides had agreed to cooperate to prevent smuggling of wildlife and narcotic drugs. The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in international border management, including construction of subsidiary pillars to better demarcate the border. (Source: Livemint)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

India, Myanmar draw up counter-insurgency cooperation plan.

Myanmar joins International Solar Alliance - Pragnya IAS Academy - News Analysis.

Myanmar joins International Solar Alliance.

Myanmar on Thursday joined the India-initiated International Solar Alliance (ISA), becoming the 68th member of the grouping that is aiming at optimum utilisation of solar energy.

Myanmar Minister for International Cooperation Kyaw Tin handed over the ISA Framework Agreement to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during a bilateral meeting here on the margins of this year's Delhi Dialogue, the premier annual track 1.5 event to discuss politico-security, economic and socio-cultural engagement between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) bloc.
"Myanmar became the 68th signatory to the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted following the meeting.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then French President Francois Hollande at the Paris climate summit in 2015, the ISA was conceived as a coalition of solar resource-rich countries to address their special energy needs and provide a platform to collaborate on dealing with the identified gaps through a common, agreed approach.
It is open to all 121 prospective member countries falling between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.
Kumar also said that the two sides also exchanged views on cementing bilateral cooperation.
India is a key development aid partner for Myanmar and is implementing a number of infrastructure projects in that country.
These include the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project connecting Mizoram with Sittwe port in Myanmar, the Trilateral Highway Project connecting India with Myanmar and Thailand and the Rhi-Tiddim road.
India is also offering economic and humanitarian aid to its eastern neighbour's Rakhine State in the wake of the Rohingya refugee crisis. (Source: The Business Standard)


The above Article can also be read using the link below:

Myanmar joins International Solar Alliance.