Myanmar Unrest Halts Asian Highway Project: S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar announced that the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral (IMTT) Highway, a key project under India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, has been stalled due to the ongoing unrest in Myanmar. Speaking at the Advantage Assam Summit in Guwahati, he stressed the importance of finding practical solutions to advance the initiative, despite current challenges. The 1,400-km highway, which aims to strengthen trade, business, health, education, and tourism ties between India, Myanmar, and Thailand, is expected to connect Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. By July 2023, about 70% of the construction work had been completed, but the project has faced repeated delays, missing its earlier target of a December 2019 launch. Jaishankar highlighted India’s growing engagement with ASEAN nations and the progress made with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Myanmar. He also noted the increasing role of Japan and South Korea in northeast India’s development and the potential for expanded partnerships in education, skill development, and mobility. Despite the challenges, Jaishankar reaffirmed the Modi government’s commitment to the ‘Act East, Act Fast, and Act First’ approach, emphasising the need for continued regional cooperation to drive growth. (NDTV)