The major development projects aimed at strengthening the State economy should be assessed from four perspectives — political, administrative, defence and economic — and that both the advantages and potential drawbacks of such projects should be fully understood, said President U Min Aung Hlaing.
The President
addressed a coordination meeting on the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral
Highway and Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project yesterday.
In his
speech, the President said Myanmar shares borders with five neighbouring
countries and is connected to them through both land and water transport
routes. These road and waterway links play a vital role in facilitating
cross-border travel and trade. If border trade routes with neighbouring
countries are systematically implemented and developed, they will significantly
contribute to the country’s development and improve the socioeconomic
well-being of its people.
Therefore,
during the current government’s tenure, priority has been given to reviving and
upgrading existing connectivity projects with neighbouring countries that had
been initiated by successive governments but delayed due to various reasons. He
urged all relevant sectors to work together to ensure that these projects are
completed as quickly as possible during the current administration.
He continued
that the Kaladan Project was officially launched in 2008, while some sections
of the Myawady route were implemented under the government’s own programme,
others received assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He emphasized
the need for transport corridors to be interconnected. Regarding the
India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, he pointed out that the three
participating countries have different traffic systems, making it necessary to
establish systematic traffic management arrangements. He added that while
certain sections of the project are financed through the Union Budget, others
are being implemented with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and
the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). As these projects will bring
substantial benefits to Myanmar, he stressed the need to expedite the
implementation.
The President
said the Monywa-Yagyi-Kalay-Tamu route would create investment and business
opportunities through connectivity with six of India’s northeastern states. He
added that expanded trade with China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, Thailand,
and Laos through eastern Shan State would further boost economic growth and
regional development.
He emphasized
that Myanmar has numerous important trade routes with neighbouring countries
that should be implemented without delay. Successful implementation requires
coordinated efforts in construction, security and legal enforcement. Necessary
agreements between governments and relevant organizations should be finalized,
and once security conditions improve, construction work should proceed
simultaneously.
He further
stated that border trade should be conducted directly between the governments
of the two countries without the involvement of intermediary organizations. In
addition to promoting border trade, greater efforts should be made to
strengthen friendship and exchanges among ethnic communities living along the
border that share common religious and cultural ties. Such people-to-people
exchanges, he said, would also contribute to border security and stability.
These strategic connectivity projects with neighbouring countries are important
not only for the State’s development but also for strengthening bilateral
relations, and so they should be implemented systematically and efficiently.
Union
Minister for National Planning, Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U
Aung Kyaw Hoe, Union Minister for Transport, Digital Development and
Communications U Mya Tun Oo, Union Minister for Foreign Affairs U Tin Maung
Swe, and Union Minister for Construction U Myo Thant reported on joint
statement of Myanmar-India for the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway
(IMT Highway) Project and the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project
during the visit of the President to India, projects’ background and history,
inclusion in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) transport and economic
corridors, project alignments, financing arrangements for each road section,
progress made in implementation, and the construction of the two-lane
Paletwa-Zorinpui road, singing of MoU, assignment of port operators, opening
ceremony of Sittway Kaladan international port, arrivals of vessels and goods
handling processes at the Sittway Kaladan international port, facts on
framework for transport of passengers and cargo by road among India, Myanmar
and Thailand, benefits of the completion of IMT Highway Project, Asian Highway
(AH1), paving of Kalewa-Yagyi road, construction of 69 bridges on
Tamu-Kyigon-Kalewa road, Phase I of ICP construction at Tamu border, and
China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC).
Vice-President
U Nyo Saw and participants coordinated the discussion.
After hearing
the reports, the President delivered a concluding remark saying the major
development projects aimed at strengthening the State economy should be
assessed from four perspectives — political, administrative, defence and
economic — and that both the advantages and potential drawbacks of such
projects should be fully understood. He stressed the need for effective
supervision and enforcement to prevent strategic highway projects developed for
national progress from being exploited for illegal trade.
The President
provided instructions that roads along these corridors must be continuously
maintained to ensure they remain in good condition and meet the prescribed
engineering standards. Proper drainage systems should be constructed to ensure
effective water flow, and trees should be planted along the routes to create
greener surroundings. If road construction projects are completed within the
designated timeframe, trade and the flow of goods will increase significantly,
contributing to State economic growth and improving the socioeconomic
conditions of the people. He urged all relevant sectors to place special
emphasis on ensuring the timely and successful completion of the projects.
Regarding
border checkpoints, the President said that border management should be the
sole responsibility of the governments of the two neighbouring countries
concerned, and that no organization or third country should interfere in the
management of border crossings. He added that the establishment of border
checkpoints should also include systematic planning for staff housing,
communications systems, water and electricity supply, and security
arrangements.
The
operations of the two projects discussed today are being resumed, and all
should make an effort to accelerate the drive, and there should be proper
management for the Bago, Hpa-an, Kawkareik, and Myawady-Thai border highway. He
further pointed out that construction of strategically important highways
linked to the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), a component of the Belt
and Road Initiative, remains suspended and should be resumed as soon as
possible. He urged all relevant sectors to work diligently to ensure that the
strategically important highway projects included in major connectivity
initiatives with neighbouring countries are completed in full during the
current government’s term.
MNA/KTZH
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