India FS Kwatra concludes 2-day visit to Myanmar

New Delhi calls Myanmar an important pillar in its important "Neighbourhood First" Policy and promised to extend all kinds of support to help its neighbour overcome economic and health challenges.

NewsBharati 22-Nov-2022 12:13:21 PM

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New Delhi, Nov 22: Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, who was on a two-day official visit to Myanmar, held discussions on bilateral issues relating to border management and security. The friendship between India and Myanmar is age-old.

Taking to Twitter, Ministry of External Affairs' Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "Foreign Secretary @AmbVMKwatra paid a working visit to Myanmar on November 20-21. Held discussions on important bilateral issues relating to border management, security and ongoing bilateral cooperation projects & India's support to democratic transition in Myanmar."

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New Delhi calls Myanmar an important pillar in its important 'Neighbourhood First' Policy and promised to extend all kinds of support to help its neighbour overcome economic and health challenges. India has been building roads and bridges, schools, and healthcare centres in Myanmar under the India-Myanmar Border Area Development Programme. The annual grant of $5 million has elevated the lives of people living in around 82 villages in Myanmar.

India is building $484-million Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport project, which will connect India's Kolkata port with Myanmar's Sittwe port. While promoting regional connectivity and development, these projects would also create employment opportunities in Myanmar, especially in the conflict-ridden Chin and Rakhine provinces. Moreover, India has decided to provide debt service relief under the G-20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative to help Myanmar minimize the impact of Covid-19.

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Besides, Myanmar has also emerged as a key defence partner of India, accounting for 50 per cent of arms exports from the country. In 2021, Myanmar also received a remote-controlled, air-defence station from India, which would improve its capability to counter the enemy's airborne penetration. In order to boost its naval power, India also gifted Myanmar a submarine in 2020.