India for talks to boost connectivity with Thailand, Myanmar

Posted by Webmaster on Wednesday, 27 August 2014 in Business

India for talks to boost connectivity with Thailand, Myanmar

HANOI: India today said it has proposed three-way talks with Myanmar and Thailand on negotiations
over a Transit Transport Agreement for the Trilateral Highway to boost connectivity and trade with the
strategic region.
Addressing representatives of Think Tanks from ASEAN countries and the ASEAN-India Centre, Anil
Wadhwa, secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said the relationship with the ASEAN
countries continues to be the foundation of India's Look East Policy.
"We see it as a strategic partnership with implications for the ASEAN India region, its integrated economic
space and its 1.8 billion people. We also agree with our ASEAN friends on its relevance as an anchor of
peace and stability in East Asia and the contribution that we can bring collectively to issues on the global
agenda," he said.
He recalled External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's statement yesterday that connectivity in all its
dimensions is receiving the highest priority on the ASEAN India agenda.
Progress in intra-ASEAN connectivity will also assist the objective of enhancing connectivity between
ASEAN and India. But the physical infrastructure can be utilised only if we also agree on the soft
infrastructure necessary to permit movement of traffic and goods on these economic corridors.
"We have, therefore, proposed that India-Myanmar-Thailand begin negotiations on a Transit Transport
Agreement for the Trilateral Highway," he said.
"We need to see suggestions on how Tier II and Tier III cities in India can develop business and tourism
linkages with destinations in ASEAN on a scale that is sustainable the year round. This will assist efforts
to broaden air connectivity beyond just some of the big capitals in ASEAN and the metros in India," he
added.
"We had made available 18 such routes to ASEAN some years ago and we are keen on their utilisation at
the earliest. We have also offered the ASEAN an Open Sky Policy on Cargo on quid pro quo basis,"
Wadhwa said.
The FTA on Trade in Goods, which India signed in 2009, has helped to bring about steady increase in
trade volumes between ASEAN and India. It now stands at $ 76 billion annually and we are pursuing a
target of $ 100 billion by 2015, he said.
"There is a trade imbalance in favour of the ASEAN but that sometimes comes naturally. This will be
discussed at the meeting between ASEAN Economic Ministers and their Indian counterpart in Nay Pyi
Taw," he said.
Wadhwa expressed hope that ASEAN members will be able to discuss practical ways in which ASEAN and
India can take advantage of this new FTA to increase jobs, standards of life, industrial and economic
capacities and opportunities for partnership.