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.