India and Myanmar to strengthen Defence ties

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj met Foreign Minister of Myanmar, U Wunna Maung Lwin, at the first meeting of the India-Myanmar Joint Consultative Commission in New Delhi.

Key points are:

• India has reaffirmed its commitment to support the modernisation of the Myanmar Armed Forces.
• Also India would be happy to share its experience in functioning in a democratic environment, cooperation in the field of IT, in dealing with emerging security challenges, and military to military cooperation including in training.
• Both leaders repeated the assurance that territories of either country would not be allowed to be used for activities inimical to the other.
• They also agreed that the first meeting of the India-Myanmar Joint Boundary Working Group, to address all outstanding boundary issues, would be held in New Delhi at the earliest.
• Sushma Swaraj extended the services of the Election Commission of India, in view of the general elections in Myanmar in November.
• Investments by Indian companies in areas like ports, power, agro-industries, forest products, mining, construction industry, consumer goods, highways, oil and gas, plantation, manufacturing, hospitality and ICT would be specifically encouraged.
• Both leaders also agreed that both governments would work to identify and remove various impediments to bilateral trade.
• India proposed to consider granting a license to an Indian bank to open a branch in Myanmar so as to facilitate greater Indian trade and investment into that country.
• Both ministers emphasised the need for closer cooperation to further energy security and agreed to encourage investment by Indian companies in the petroleum industry.