Sittwe Port in Myanmar To Be Under Indian Operational Control After Chabahar

India is all set to operate the Sittwe Port in Myanmar after getting the operational control of Iranian Chabahar Port. India has been rapidly increasing its global footprints and with Sittwe Port in Myanmar, New Delhi takes another step in countering China’s BRI initiative.

Setback For India, Afghan Government Asks Pakistan To Negotiate With Taliban

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.” 

Sittwe Port: Why is it Important?

The construction of Sittwe Port is part of the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project and its aim is to build 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 plan would promote 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.

More News at EurAsian Times