The fall of Rakhine in Myanmar and its implications for India
04-Feb-2025
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Arun Anand
Contd from previous issue
This region has historically lagged in development due to geographical challenges and periods of instability, an issue the Indian government seeks to address urgently.
The KMTTP encompasses a deep-sea port at Sittwe and a road network linking Mizoram to this port, thereby facilitating cross-border trade, commerce, tourism, and other activities that could stimulate economic growth in the Northeast. However, the project traverses Rakhine state, where Sittwe is located, raising concerns that the Arakan Army’s control over the region may introduce uncertainties and disruptions to India’s infrastructure initiatives.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, while the waterways segment of the KMTTP has been completed at a cost of approximately Rs 983 crore, only 20 kilometres of the road link from Mizoram to Sittwe port has been constructed out of the total 109.2 kilometres, as the deadline of July 2025 approaches.
Conversely, China maintains a substantial presence in Myanmar through the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which poses a potential challenge to India’s interests in the region. (To be contd)