Anand Sharma Meets Aung San Suu Kyi on Sidelines of Wef on East Asia 2013  Discusses Energy Cooperation with Myanmar Energy Minister

The Union Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles Shri Anand Sharma today met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD), Myanmar at Nay Pyi Taw. Shri Sharma conveyed to Ms. Suu Kyi that India stands ready to extend all necessary assistance to the people of Myanmar in their developmental efforts. “Myanmar is a vitally important neighbour for us. The relations between our two countries have broadened and deepened in the past two years,” said Shri Sharma to Ms. Suu Kyi. Both the leaders exchanged views on the issues of mutual interests. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi expressed keen interest in building linkages with the textiles sector of India. Stressing the preference of the people of Myanmar for natural fiber, Ms. Suu Kyi said that the handloom sector of India has immense potential for Myanmar. Pointing to the conducive ecology, Ms. Suu Kyi sought India’s help in developing a full value chain for silk production in Myanmar. Shri Sharma conveyed the greetings from Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Ms. Sonia Gandhi to the Myanmarese leader.  Later in the day, Shri Sharma met Mr. U Than Htay, Minister of Energy, Myanmar. In his meeting with the Myanmarese Minister, Shri Sharma conveyed the interest of Indian banks in setting up their branches in Myanmar. “India will also be happy to assist in strengthening the banking system in Myanmar as we inherit common banking laws,” said Shri Sharma. The two Ministers set a bilateral trade target of USD 3 billion by 2015.  Shri Sharma also conveyed India’s interest in deepening cooperation in procuring energy, oil and natural gas from Myanmar. “Our companies are interested in securing more exploratory oil and gas blocks both onshore and offshore,” said Shri Sharma to Mr. Htay. The issue of the revival of the discussions on the gas pipeline connection between India and Myanmar through Bangladesh was also discussed. Shri Sharma said that India stands ready to continue to assist Myanmar in the development of its infrastructural projects. “We are encouraged by the progress that has been made on implementation of several of the decisions taken during the State visit of President of Myanmar in October 2011 and that of our Prime Minister in May 2012,” said Shri Sharma. He also expressed happiness over the progress made in the Inland Waterway component of the Kaladan project.  The need to improve air, road and water connectivity between India and Myanmar also came up for discussion between the two Ministers. “A Joint Working Groups (JWG) to determine the technical and commercial feasibility of cross-border rail links and the commercial feasibility of direct shipping links between the two countries are working with the sole aim to boosting the trade ties between the two countries,” said Shri Sharma. While in 2011, the total trade between the two countries stood at USD 1.708 billion, it was USD 1.872 billion in 2012. India is the fourth largest trading partner of Myanmar after Thailand, Singapore and China

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India Committed to be a Steadfast Partner of Myanmar: Anand Sharma

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The Union Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles Shri Anand Sharma today asserted that with democracy tightening its grip in Myanmar, which has provided a right enabling environment to inspire investors’ confidence, India remains committed “to be a steadfast partner of Myanmar as it charters its path to growth and progress.” Speaking during a session entitled “The Long-Term View” at the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2013 in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar today, Shri Sharma highlighted that India’s engagement with Myanmar is premised on a strong development partnership and that India would like to align its cooperation with the economic priorities of Myanmar.  With India concluding a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with ASEAN, Shri Sharma stressed that this over-arching framework will act as a catalyst to boost trade and investment ties with countries of the region including Myanmar. “India is working closely with Myanmar and Thailand to develop the tri-lateral highway as we call it… we are half-way there and am sure that by 2015-2016, this should be fully operational,” announced Shri Sharma.  Shri Sharma also spoke on the importance of investment in human resource, by adding that India has always believed that it will reap dividends in the long run. “We have already established Centre of Excellence in IT sector in Yangon. We are going to establish now Information Technology institute like a university in Mandalay. In addition to that we have also established an Industrial Training Centre in Pakokku to develop skilled labour for Myanmar industry,” said Shri Sharma. During the visit of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2012, India announced doubling the number of training slot to Myanmar from 250 to 500.  Shri Sharma also added that India would also like to share her experiences with Myanmar in the enhancement of agricultural productivity and agricultural extension. “With this end in view, we are establishing an Advance Centre for Agricultural Research and Education at Yezin and a Rice Bio Park is also being established in Myanmar through grant assistance by India,” said Shri Sharma.  Speaking during the session, Shri Sharma also highlighted the importance of developing high-quality infrastructure. Putting stress on the fact that sound infrastructure will help in the creation of a robust economic linkage between India, Myanmar and beyond, Shri Sharma said that “India is developing Kaladan Multimodal Transit-Transport Project which will connect Mizoram to Sittwe port in Myanmar.”