Border Trade with India

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Description: "India-Myanmar relations are rooted in shared historical, ethnic, cultural, and religious ties that have turned into a multi-folded trade and business partnership that helps in the economic growth of both the nation. To understand the challenges and way forward, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized an interactive webinar on “India-Myanmar Business Promotion, Challenges and Opportunities Post COVID-19” with delegates and panellists. The delegates who deliberated in the webinar were Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Ambassador, Embassy of India, Yangon, Myanmar; Mr. Moe Kyaw Aung, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, New Delhi, Republic of India; Mr. Sunil Seth, President, India Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Dr. Maung Maung Lay, Vice President, Union of Myanmar, Federation of Chambers of Commerce. Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Ambassador, Embassy of India, Yangon, Myanmar, emphasized the maintenance of high-level exchanges over the past few years and affirmed that the momentum should be carried forward. He further said that Myanmar has been an important centre of exchange of trade and business for India as it is a land bridge between India and countries of Southeast Asia. While India-Myanmar shares trade relations in many areas but post-COVID-19 it can expand their trade relations in areas such as pharmacy, healthcare, transport, Food Processing, Steel, Renewable Energy, communication, Education and others which can help both the countries to revive..."
Source/publisher: "Mizzima" (Myanmar)
2020-06-11
Date of entry/update: 2020-06-11
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Description: "Myanmar-India border trade is down by over 40% for the current fiscal year started October 1st, 2019, due to the temporary closure of border posts due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by Thura Swiss. According to the agency, the trade value went down from US$128 million to US$76 million for the same period, a decrease of 40%. India trades with Myanmar in Mizoram, Manipur, Tamu, Reed, and Thantlang borders. On March 10th, the local government on the Indian side decided to close border gates indefinitely at the Tamu (Sagaing Region) – Moreh (Manipur in India) crossing, Thura Swiss says. India is the fifth largest export destination for Myanmar and sixth largest source of imports according to figures from the Indian Embassy in Myanmar. Also in March, the two governments had announced plans to import 400,000 tonnes of black gram beans from Myanmar between May 2020 and March 2021, according to the report..."
Source/publisher: "Mizzima" (Myanmar)
2020-06-07
Date of entry/update: 2020-06-07
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Description: "The long-awaited bus service to cross the India-Myanmar border through India’s northeastern state of Manipur is set to operate from April. The 579-km service between Mandalay and Imphal, the capital of Manipur, will be the first bus link after 17 years of planning and government talks as part of India’s Look East policy. Shwe Mandalar Express Co., Ltd, a bus line in Myanmar, and Seven Sisters Holidays Co., Ltd in India signed a memorandum of understanding at the Indian Consulate in Mandalay on Feb. 14. “We’ve discussed this since 2018 with many delays because of the bilateral negotiations,” U Nay Lin Oo, the managing director of Shwe Mandalar, told The Irrawaddy. The bus is expected to run once a week with 27-seater buses passing through Monywa, Gangaw, Kalay and Tamu in Sagaing Region. Passengers will have to complete border checks at the Moreh checkpoint..."
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Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2020-02-21
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-21
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Topic: Act East, Arakan Army, ASEAN-India Free Trade Area, Bangladesh, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, Bimstec, Buddhist, China, Defense, Hindu, India, India-Myanmar relations, India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, Infrastructure, interconnectivity, Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport, KMMTT, Military, Muslim, Neighborhood First, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Rohingya, Security, Tourism
Topic: Act East, Arakan Army, ASEAN-India Free Trade Area, Bangladesh, Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, Bimstec, Buddhist, China, Defense, Hindu, India, India-Myanmar relations, India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, Infrastructure, interconnectivity, Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport, KMMTT, Military, Muslim, Neighborhood First, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Rohingya, Security, Tourism
Description: "As one of only two Southeast Asian countries invited to attend the swearing-in of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he won re-election in May 2019, Myanmar’s relations with India have been thrust into the spotlight. Here’s why Naypyitaw should matter to Delhi in 2020. For a start, Myanmar is an important member of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), a minilateral subregional organization that is committed to fostering bilateral or regional cooperation among Bay of Bengal countries. As the members of BIMSTEC were invited by Modi to his second inauguration, he will be looking to prioritize this body in his second term, which will include greater engagement with Myanmar. Myanmar is geopolitically significant to India as it stands at the center of the India-Southeast Asia region. Myanmar is the only Southeast Asian country that shares a land border with northeastern India, stretching some 1,624 kilometers. The neighbors also share a 725-km maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal..."
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Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2020-01-11
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-13
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Sub-title: Myanmar Permanent Secretary Han reaffirmed the high priority his government attaches to relations with India
Description: "India and Myanmar reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including bilateral trade relations and border cooperation on Friday. The 18th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Myanmar was held in New Delhi with the Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and the Myanmarese delegation by Permanent Secretary U Soe Han. The two sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, the status of India's ongoing projects in Myanmar, capacity building initiatives, bilateral trade relations, border cooperation and plans to enhance implementation of bilateral agreements, a Ministry of External Affairs statement said. Foreign Secretary Gokhale reiterated the priority India attaches to its partnership with Myanmar, a neighbour and an ASEAN partner which is at the intersection of India's 'Neighbourhood First' and 'Act East' policies. Myanmar Permanent Secretary Han reaffirmed the high priority his government attaches to relations with India, which were based on historic and civilizational contact, the statement said..."
Source/publisher: "Business Standard" (New Delhi)
2019-12-07
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-07
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Sub-title: India, Thailand and Myanmar are working on a 1,400-kilometre long highway that will link India with Southeast Asia by land for the first time in decades, giving a boost to trade and cultural exchanges between the three countries.
Description: "India, Thailand and Myanmar are working on a 1,400-kilometre long highway that will link India with Southeast Asia by land for the first time in decades, giving a boost to trade and cultural exchanges between the three countries. Indian Ambassador to Thailand Bhagwant Singh Bishnoi said 73 bridges in Myanmar, built more than seven decades ago during World War II, were being renovated with funding from India to allow vehicles to cross the highway safely. When the repair work will be completed in 18 months, the highway could be opened to traffic from all three countries, he said. The planned highway starts in the eastern region of India from Moreh to Myanmar's Tamu city. Negotiations are currently underway to conclude a tri-nation motor vehicle agreement for the use of the 1,400-km road that will reach Thailand at Tak, Mae Sot district..."
Source/publisher: "Business Today" (India)
2019-05-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-01
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Description: "In the wake of the overheated onion market triggered by an Indian export ban, the import of onion from Myanmar has risen significantly with 11,732 tonnes entering the country through Teknaf in November till Saturday, Bangladesh’s The Independent reported. On average, 733.25 tonnes of onion were imported every day through the port in the current month, said Absar Uddin, customs revenue officer at the port. He said a total of 20,843 tonnes of onion entered the country in October with 672.35 tonnes on average every day. Md Jasim Uddin Chowdhury, manager of the port was quoted as saying importers are bringing in Burmese variety of the cooking ingredient every day..."
Source/publisher: "Mizzima" (Myanmar)
2019-11-18
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-18
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Description: "Myanmar has planned to build a new Manipur River Crossing Bridge in Chin state on the main border trade route with India, according to the Road Transportation Ministry of Chin State Wednesday. Scheduled to start in December this year, the new river-crossing bridge, also known as the Mansaung Bridge, will be built near Tiddim and Reed border towns adjacent to the existing suspension bridge. The 557-feet-long and 30-feet wide Mansaung bridge will be a concrete one with two lanes. The project is expected to be completed in three years, said U Shwe Htee Ooe, minister of road transportation of Chin state. The existing suspension bridge was damaged by a natural disaster in 2015 and allowed only 16 tons of vehicles to cross the bridge, causing transportation difficulties, especially during the rainy season..."
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Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2019-10-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-30
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Description: "India’s ambassador for Myanmar, Shri Saurabh Kumar, exuded confidence on ‘enhancing bilateral relations between both the countries to new heights’ as the deeper engagements of recent years between both the countries has already started yielding results. Addressing a gathering at Myanmar’s premier foreign policy think tank, Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies, (MISIS) on Tuesday, the Ambassador pointed out, “ In the coming years, with India’s ambitious ‘Act East’ foreign policy, there is going to be a qualitative enhancement of relations between India and Myanmar. This would be realized not only through government to government efforts, but also through a sustained people’s awareness, promotion of investment and partnerships with the private sector, businesses and people; both countries need to work together and learn about each other. Delivering an invited talk to the august gathering of policy analysts, former diplomats and faculty of MISIS, Shri Saurabh Kumar provided an exhaustive presentation on the contemporary situation on relations between both the countries, issues and challenges and the future perspective..."
Source/publisher: "Mizzima" (Myanmar)
2019-09-05
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-29
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Description: "Myanmar's border trade using Individual Trading Cards (ITCs) totaled over 59 billion kyats (39.3 million U.S. dollars) in the fiscal year 2018-2019 which ended in September, according to figures from the Commerce Ministry on Tuesday. During the period, 163 ITCs were permitted by the ministry and its export value through border gates amounted to over 9.38 billion kyats (6.25 million U.S. dollars) while import value was 49.6 billion kyats (33.1 million U.S. dollars). From Oct. 1, 2018 to Sept. 30, 2019, Myawady border gate registered the highest trade using the ITCs with capital of 32 billion kyats (21.3 million U.S. dollars). Since FY 2012-2013, the ministry issued 1,687 ITCs and its total trade value amounted to over 169.2 billion kyats (112.8 million U.S. dollars), the ministry's figures showed. The country is conducting border trade with China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, fisheries, minerals and forest products to foreign countries while capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods are imported into the country..."
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Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2019-10-15
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-16
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Description: "Border trade between Myanmar and India hit 194.6 million U.S. dollars as of Sept. 13 in the current fiscal year 2018-19 ending September, said a statistical report of Myanmar's Commerce Ministry Friday. The border trade during the period increased by 57 million U.S. dollars compared with the same period of the previous fiscal year. The Myanmar-India total border trade during the period was shared by Myanmar's export of 171.3 million U.S. dollars and its import of 23.3 million U.S. dollars. The two countries carry out border trade mainly through Tamu, Reed and Thantlang cross-border trade camps, while a major part of bilateral trade are delivered through ships. Myanmar mainly exports to India fruits and vegetable, fishery and forestry products, while importing from India medicines, electronic products, motorbikes, cotton yarn, non-alloy steel and other construction materials. Meanwhile, Myanmar's border trade with four neighboring countries, China, India, Thailand and Bangladesh totalled 9.6 billion U.S. dollars, shared by 6.7 billion U.S. dollars in export and 2.9 million U.S. dollars in import..."
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Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2019-09-27
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-27
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Description: "An Ambitious China-backed railway project connecting two economic centers in Myanmar with Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province in southwestern China, will cost almost US$9 billion and final decisions on the specific details of the construction are expected to be made by the end of this year. As a part of the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), which is itself part of Beijing’s grand infrastructure plan, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a feasibility study for the Muse-Mandalay standard-gauge railway has been carried out. Last October, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by two state-owned companies, the China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group (CREEG) (formerly the China Railway Group Ltd.) and Myanmar Railways. During the second Belt and Road Forum held in Beijing in late April, China handed over a feasibility report on the Muse-Mandalay Railway project to Myanmar’s Minister for Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung. Myanmar Railways experts are currently scrutinising the Muse-Mandalay feasibility report and making serious decisions regarding routes, bridges, tunnels and the exact locations of stations. The Managing Director of Myanmar Railways U Ba Myint said in a press conference in Naypyitaw on Monday that the construction of the railway will cost $8.9 billion according to the study..."
Source/publisher: "Belt & Road News" (China)
2019-05-15
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-21
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Description: "Total trade using Individual Trading Cards (ITCs) through border gates reached over 55 billion kyats (36.7 million U.S. dollars) as of August in present fiscal year 2018-2019, according to the figures released by the Commerce Ministry on Thursday. From Oct.1, 2018 to Aug. 31 this year, Myanmar's export using ITCs via border checkpoints amounted over 8.7 billion kyats (5.8 million U.S. dollars) while its import shared 46.4 billion kyats (30.9 million U.S. dollars). The country is conducting border trade with neighbouring China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India. So far, a total of 1,681 ITCs have been issued by the Commerce Ministry since FY 2012-2013, amounting the trade value of over 165.3 billion kyats (110.3 million U.S. dollars). Myanmar's agricultural products, animal products, fisheries, minerals and forest products are mainly exported to foreign countries while capital goods, intermediate goods and consumer goods are imported into the country..."
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Source/publisher: "Xinhua"
2019-09-19
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-20
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Description: Conclusion: "The formal cross border Indo-Myanmar trade has now been reduced to a mere trickle and virtually the entire Indo-Myanmar border trade is now informal in nature. The commodities imported through the informal channels are largely third country products coming from further east and south-east of Myanmar, mostly consumer goods manufactured in China, ASEAN countries or even Korea and Japan. In contrast, the informal exports to Myanmar from the Indian side are manufactured in India itself. However, it is worth noting here that very little of these exported goods are produced within the North Eastern region. The trade in its present form is thus useful for the North East region, for that matter even for Myanmar, only to the extent that these commodity inflows satisfy local consumption demand. But boost to production and income generating activities from this trade is minimal on either side of the border. The prospect of border trade between North East India and Myanmar is not as bleak as may appear at the first sight. As of now the growth of orderly and legitimate trade between Myanmar and North East India has been kept in leash by factors such as poor infrastructure and, more fundamentally, the rigidities and tangles in the trading arrangement and the over-valuation of Myanmar?s currency as per the official exchange rate. Once border trade is allowed to take place in a transparent and orderly manner, many dynamic economic forces may be unleashed on both sides of the border leading to opening up of mutually beneficial areas of economic cooperation. Apart from substitution of informal trade by formal trade, an orderly and liberalised system of border trade and transit can make Myanmar-North East India an attractive and economical transit route for trade between China and other East Asian countries on one side and India and Bangladesh on the other. Such transit trade may not directly result in enhanced production of goods in the two regions, but will surely generate spin off growth impetus to services like hospitality, transport and communication linked activities. Whether the North East India and Myanmar can get to provide similar transit route to trade between South East Asia and India is, however, a matter of some debate. (Baruah, 2004: p 23). The answer will critically depend on the comparative transport cost by the alternatives of the maritime route across the Bay of Bengal and the continental route through Myanmar and North East India..."
Creator/author: M. P. Bezbaruah
Source/publisher: "Dialogue" July-September 2007, Volume 9 No. 1
2007-09-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-02-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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