A 1400 km long highway will soon connect India with South-East Asian countries. India, Thailand and Myanmar have come together to work on this project that will, it is believed, give a big boost to India’s trade with South-East Asian countries.
The realization of the India-Myanmar-Thailand highway calls for the renovation of 73 bridges erected in Myanmar during the Second World War period and India has accepted the responsibility of this renovation which is expected to be complete by the end of 18 months. Bhagwant Singh Bishnoi, the Indian Ambassador to Thailand informs that the completion of the repair and renovation work will open the route to vehicular road traffic from all the three countries.
The highway takes off from Moreh in Manipur on the India-Myanmar border and runs to the Tamu city also in Manipur. At present all the three countries are in the process of talks over the ‘Motor Vehicle Pact’ which will take the highway further on to the city of Tak in the Mae Sot district of Thailand.
This road that runs through three countries will for the most part, bring in large benefits to small and medium scale industries of North-Eastern India. The trilateral highway project is believed to be a fruit of the success of the Indian ‘Act East’ Policy.
Besides, the Dawei port of Myanmar and the industrial project developing near the Thai border too are expected to benefit India. Efforts are being made to link the Dawei port that is being developed in Myanmar with the Chennai port in India. The Thai port of Laem Chabang will also eventually be linked with it.
India is preparing to negotiate with 10 countries for the ‘Regional Comprehensive Economy Partnership’ (RCEP). It may be noted moreover, that the trade between India and Thailand amounted to $8 billion and this highway will go a long way in bolstering further the trade between these two countries.
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