MYANMAR FOR CLOSER INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION WITH INDIA

Myanmar is seeking closer cooperation with India in the field of Industry, particularly in the machine tools and transport sectors. This was conveyed by Mr.U.Thein Tun, Deputy Minister for Industry of Myanmar when he called on the Minister of State for Industry, Shri Sukhbir Singh Badal here today. Mr.U.Thein Tun who is leading a four-member delegation to India which includes senior executives of Myanmar Machine Tools, Automobile, Electrical and Diesel Engine Industries, told Shri Badal that Myanmar was keen to have Indian expertise in establishing machine tool units and construction of bus bodies.

Shri Sukhbir Singh Badal assured all cooperation from India and said that the areas for industrial cooperation should be identified soon. He also suggested that joint ventures could be set in Myanmar with participation of Indian industrial establishments.

Trade between India and Myanmar during 1997-98 was US$265 million, which was 19 per cent more than the previous years’. There is immense scope to diversify and broadbase cooperation in trade and industrial fields between the two countries.

The delegation consisted of senior officials of the Ministry of Commerce, External Affairs, and Steel & Mines and senior representatives of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the United Bank of India. The Commerce Secretary’s delegation was also accompanied by a 10-member Indian business team, comprising representatives of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and public & private sector industry. India has now become the largest export market for Myanmar, accounting for 23% of its total export. Number of measures were discussed by the two sides to achieve higher volume of trade, with a more reasonable balance of trade. These included the possibility of counter trade.

Both sides recognised the importance of border trade, which currently takes place through Moreh (Manipur) on the Indian side and Tamu (Sagaing Division) on the Myanmar side. It was agreed that traditional border trade on a headload basis for the benefit of residents in the border areas of both countries, would continue as in the past, without restrictions. The border point could also be used for normal trade transactions between the two countries, subject to their normal Export/Import rules. For this purpose, both sides agreed to conclude at an early date, inter-bank arrangements between their designated banks, to facilitate border trade.

Commerce Secretary also had meetings with several important leaders and Cabinet Ministers in the Myanmar government. He called on Lt.Gen.Khim Nyunt, Secretary-I of the State Peace and Development Council, on October 30, 1998 at the conclusion of his official visit. Earlier, he called on the Deputy Prime Minister of Myanmar, Vice Admiral Maung Maung Khin, on October 28 and held a series of very fruitful and productive meetings with the Myanmar Ministers of Commerce, Science & Technology, Agriculture and Irrigation, and Mines. In all these meetings, the Myanmar side expressed keen interest in enhancing bilateral cooperation with India in their respective fields. A number of projects were discussed for early follow up. At Shri Prabhu’s meeting with the Myanmar Minister of Mines, it was decided that the two sides would exchange technical level delegations to identify specific areas for joint exploration and exploitation. The Commerce Secretary also called on Brig.Gen.Abel, Minister in the office of Chairman, SPDC, and discussed regional economic cooperation within the framework of Indo-ASEAN partnership and BIMST-EC and issues relating to the international economic and trading system. The Myanmar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) held a luncheon in honour of the delegation on October 29 at the premises of the Chamber and the CII and the MCCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of Shri Prabhu.

The business delegation accompanying the Commerce Secretary also had a round of very useful meetings. The delegation called on the Deputy Minister of Industry-I and Deputy Minister of Industry-II and held business discussions with Ministries of Agriculture, Electric Power, Commerce and Science & Technology, besides paying a visit to the Industrial Zone on the outskirts of Yangon. The representatives of RBI and UBI held separate discussions with the Myanmar Finance Ministry, Central Bank and several public and private sector banks, in order to strengthen banking links between the two countries.

INDIA-MYNAMAR SIGNED AGRICULTURE MOU

April 27, 1998

The Minister of State for Agriculture Shri Som Pal told a press conference here today that India and Mynamar have signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) during his visit to Yangon last week. The MoU was signed on April 25th, 1998. The agreement seeks to promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture, science and technology through joint activities and exchanges in the areas of crop science, research, agricultural extension, sericulture, horticulture, jute, sugarcane, arid zone agriculture, cooperative farming, agricultural mechanisation, agricultural statistics, geographic Information System (GIS), fertiliser and pesticides use, agricultural joint ventures, agro based industries in sugar, jute, cotton, tea-processing industries, exchange of information on germplasm, rainfed farming, watershed development and water resources development including irrigation. The MoU will be valid for a period of 5 years and shall automatically be renewed for a subsequent period of five years. During his visit to Mynamar Shri Som Pal also addressed the 24th Regional Conference of FAO for Asia and the Pacific. The conference for the first time discussed progress made towards implementation of the plan of action adopted by the World Food Summit of the FAO in November 1996. In his country statement Shri Som Pal drew the attention of the conference to the strides made by India in agriculture. He informed the session that the Government is working on a comprehensive plan of conserving, augmenting and upgrading bio-resources. The government is also in the process of coming out with an integrated watershed management plan to harvest rain water and store it on the surface and below ground. The plan is proposed to cover the whole of the country within a span of 15-20 years. During his meeting with the Mynamar Agriculture Minister, Major-General Nyunt Tin the leaders discussed areas of cooperation. The Minister of State for Agriculture was told that Mynamar provides opportunities for investment in commercial enterprises in agriculture, trade and agro-based industries. Mynamar also seeks investment in production of agricultural machinery, fertilisers, seeds,sugar, edible oils amongst other items. Mynamar offers for export items like rice, maze, gram, chick pea, rubber and coffee.

The Fifth National Meeting of the Civilian Authorities of India and Myanmar was held in Yangon on 27th and 28th April, 1988. The Indian delegation was led by the Union Home Secretary, Shri B.P. Singh while the Myanmar delegation was led b y Brig. Gen. Thura Myinty Maun g, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs.

The talks which were held in a cordial atmosphere, reviewed the implementation of the decisions taken at the Fourth National level Meeting held in New Delhi in 1996 and discussed measures to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields. The meeting agreed upon a number of practical steps to ensure cross border security, cooperation in the control of Narcotics and implementation of mutually beneficial cross border projects. Agreed minutes of the meeting were signed by the leaders of the two delegation on 28th April, 1998 at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Yangon.