On August 28, 2020, India granted the 4th tranche of $5 million to Myanmar for the development of the India-Myanmar Border Area. In this regard, the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Saurabh Kumar handed over the ceremonial cheque to Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Minister for Border Affairs, Myanmar. This funding is on the lines of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by ex-Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2012 according to which India would grant a total of $25 million to Myanmar, divided into five tranches of $5 million each annually, starting 2017, for projects on India-Myanmar border.
- The Myanmar-India Border Area Development Programmes include providing infrastructure and socio-economic development in Chin State and Naga Self-Administered Region.
- Myanmar shares around 1600 km border with four Northeastern Indian states — Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.
Key Points:
-Under border area development project 141 projects including 43 schools, 18 health centres and 51 bridges and roads have been constructed over the last three years in Chin State and Naga Self-Administered ZoneÂ
-In Chin State, projects have been undertaken in nine townships with 82 beneficial villages, and an estimated 28,000 beneficiaries.
-In Naga Self-Administered Zone, projects have been undertaken in around three township areas covering 80 villages, and 49,000 villagers.
Recent Related News:
On July 22, 2020, India and Maldives inked an agreement to set up Geydoshu Mas Plant (Neighbourhood Fish Processing Plants) at two islands in the Addu city of Maldives namely Maradhoo and Hulhudhoo. The Contract signing ceremony was held virtually in Addu City, which was attended by Maldives’ Foreign Secretary Abdul Ghafoor Mohamed, High Commissioner of India to the Maldives Sunjay Sudhir, along with other members of Maldives’ Ministry of Foreign affairs.
About Myanmar:
Capital– Naypyitaw
Currency– Burmese kyat
President– Win Myint