India Myanmar ties

Myanmar is the only ASEAN country bordering India which provides a gateway to South East Asia. In line with its Act East and Neighbourhood First policies, India has laid emphasis on boosting its cooperation with Myanmar.

Economic Relations:

• Bilateral trade between the two countries at around $107 million.
• Chinese, Singaporean, Korean, Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese businesses have actively seized business opportunities in Myanmar.
• Pulses form the single largest item in Myanmar’s limited export basket.
• Indian businesses could invest in the power, steel, automobiles and even textile sectors in Myanmar.

Defence Relations:

• Over 200 Myanmar military officers have been trained in the medical, airforce and navy fields in India.
• Myanmar has acquired rocket launchers, night vision systems, radar and engineering equipment, including $37.9 million worth of torpedoes, from India.

Cultural Relations:

• The 11th-century Ananda Temple in Myanmar was damaged during an earthquake and is being renovated with India’s assistance.
• People to people ties are the strength of India-Myanmar relations.
• grant-in-aid to Myanmar include:
• Kaladan multi-modal corridor
• Repair of 69 bridges on the Tamu-Kalewa road
• Construction of the 120-km Kalewa-Yargyi corridor
• Rhi-Tiddim road in the Chin state bordering Mizoram.

India’s assistance in Capacity Building:

• six centres imparting training in diverse subjects, from English language to industrial skills.
• Myanmar Institute of Information Technology set up in Mandalay with the collaboration of IIIT Bangalore
• The Advanced Centre for Agriculture Research and Education set up in collaboration with India’s ICAR

India’s primary interests in Myanmar:

• To build an economic and security relationship that prevent Myanmar from slipping into the orbit of China.
• Ensure the Myanmar military’s cooperation in preventing Northeastern militants, most notably Naga insurgents, from using Myanmar as a safe haven.
• Support the country’s transition into a full-fledged federal democracy.
• Ameliorate the plight of the Rohingyas as well as ensure the tense relations between Bangladesh and Myanmar do not spiral out of control.

Challenges

• Rohingya atrocities
• military coup removing democracy
• Negotiations on the deportation of Rohingya to Myanmar are a point of contention.
• Lack of basic infrastructure and low trading volume at the Indian border.
• The India Intelligence Agency stated that the smuggling of light arms, drugs and counterfeit currencies have been spotted along the border.
• Beijing is investing in projects to improve the Sittwe–Kunming route.
• Momentum of the Belt and Road Initiative may end India’s East Act Policy like Obama’s pivot to Asia.
• Both sides share a long maritime boundary and land border, which has led to concerns around transnational issues.