According to the commerce ministers of different nations and provinces participating in the business conclave which the ICC (Indian Chamber of Commerce) and the MEA (ministry of external affairs) hosted on Tuesday, the trilateral highway linking Kolkata with Bangkok as a part of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) project might be ready within the subsequent 3 to 4 years.
The highway will extend from Bangkok to Kolkata
According to the proposed plan for the project, the trilateral highway is going to commence right from Bangkok and would be going via cities such as Mae Sot, Sukhothai in Thailand, Mandalay, Yangon, Kalewa, Tamu in Myanmar prior to reaching India. It will probably go through the cities of Kohima, Moreh, Srirampur, Guwahati, and Siliguri, right up to Kolkata in India. The highway is going to cover a distance of more than 2,800 km in total. The longest extension of the highway is going to be in India and the smallest stretch will be in Thailand.
Vijavat Isarabhakdi, the minister of foreign affairs of Thailand, confirmed that the part of the highway mentioned here has come to completion already. Aung Naing Oo, the commerce minister of Myanmar, mentioned that this part is probably going to be ready within 3 years in his country. The commerce minister also mentioned that there has been a lot of progress in the connectivity of the trilateral road up to Kolkata and it is almost finished in Thailand.
Nevertheless, the completion of the highway will depend on the advancement made in the Indian portion and Myanmar. The minister from Thailand also stated that the total extension of the road might be more than 2,500 km. As per the commerce minister from Myanmar, there has been a resumption of work on this highway and he expected it to be completed within 2 to 3 years.
The commerce and industries minister, Shashi Panja, also attended the conclave and he expressed the anticipation of the state for the road link.
Possibility of a boost in trade between India and ASEAN
Individuals are of the notion that there will be a boost in trade between these ASEAN and India by linking these nations. The Group of commerce ministers mentioned that the transboundary highway is coming up as an integral part of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) while they participated in a 3-day business conclave which the MEA and the ICC hosted in Kolkata.
This plan was endorsed in the month of April 2002 in a meeting between some ministers of India, Thailand, and Myanmar. In the recent conclave, more than 600 business delegates took part from as many as 7 nations which included 190 individuals from global delegations.
The India-Myanmar Friendship Road, which happens to be 160 km in length, was inaugurated officially on 13th February 2001.
