High Commission of India, Dhaka
December 29, 2003
PRESS RELEASE
____________________India-Myanmar-Thailand
Ministerial Meeting on Transport Linkages
( New Delhi , 23 rd December 2003 )Joint Press Statement
The India-Myanmar-Thailand Ministerial Meeting on Transport Linkages was held in New Delhi on 23 rd December 2003.
2. The meeting was attended by His Excellency Shri Yashwant Sinha, Minister of External Affairs of India, His Excellency U Win Aung, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar and His Excellency Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand . They were accompanied by their senior officials.
3. His Excellency Shri Yashwant Sinha chaired the meeting. The Ministers reaffirmed their common commitment to promoting transport linkages among the three countries with a view to expanding trade, tourism and people-to-people contact. They further emphasized the importance of greater connectivity as a means of strengthening regional economic growth and integration and of cementing the bonds based on cultural and historical affinities.
4. The Ministers reviewed the progress made in the project for construction of the Trilateral Highway from Moreh in India to Mae Sot in Thailand through Bagan in Myanmar . The heads of the Task Forces on Technical and Financial Matters, whose meetings were held on 22 nd December, 2003 briefed the Ministers on the various developments with regard to the project.
5. The Ministers commended the members of the Technical Task Force for conducting the field survey of the 1360 km. long trilateral highway. They discussed the route alignment of the highway as recommended by the Task Force on Technical Matters in April 2003 as well as the route proposed by the Myanmar side. It was agreed to proceed first with Phase-I and to consider changes in the alignment in the middle sector proposed by Myanmar only in Phase-III. The Myanmar side would, however, reconsider its proposed alignment.
6. The Indian side agreed to consider offer of a Line of Credit at concessional terms to the Government of Myanmar for financing new constructions from Chaungma-Yinmabin (30 km.) and Lingadaw-Letsegan-Pakokku (48 km.). The Indian side also agreed to consider similar financing of the upgradation to two-lane standard of the Yinmabin-Pale-Lingadaw (50 km.). Further, the Indian side agreed to consider, subject to internal approvals, financing of the upgradation of the Bagan-Meiktila (132 km.) segments. The Indian side agreed to undertake the preparation of a Detailed Project Report(DPR) for a bridge over the Ayeyarwaddy River and for the causeways near Kyadet.
7. The Thai side agreed to extend concessional loans for financing the upgradation to two-lane standard of the Thaton-Hpa-an-Kawkareik section (136 km.) and Kawkareik-Myawaddy section (62 km.). The Thai side also agreed to assist Myanmar in financing of the route Thaton-Mawlamyine-Mudon-Kawkareik as a second phase of the same package.
8. The Myanmar side agreed to consider financing of construction of all weather intermediate lane approach roads at both ends from Pakokku to Bagan up to the existing ferry crossing and the rehabilitation/reconstruction of only distressed and weak bridges. The Myanmar side agreed to explore the possibility of important commercial segments of the highway being constructed, operated and maintained by operators on a commercial basis.
9. It was agreed that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of the various segments should be completed at the earliest so that concrete proposals for financing could be formulated. With a view to early completion of the project on a fast track basis, the Ministers authorized the Technical Task Force to consider other methods of implementation.
10. The Ministers agreed to meet again in 2004 in Mandalay . It was agreed to set up the Group of Senior Officials at the level of Director General/Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Myanmar agreed to convene the first meeting of this group early next year. The Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) would review the work done by the Task Forces, whose meetings would be convened early in Yangon . The SOM would specifically work towards signing of a Protocol that would address administrative and legal arrangements for free travel and transit of goods on the highway. The Myanmar side was requested to prepare a Concept Paper detailing all the issues covering road agreements, visa issues, transit, banking, emergency assistance, etc. and use the model of cooperation of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), where relevant. This paper would be considered at the level of SOM. Further, the SOM would actively explore the possibility of the participation of the private sector in the project.
11. It was agreed that due attention would be given to maintenance of the highway once constructed for which the members of the Technical Task Force were directed to submit recommendations for consideration at the next meeting of senior officials. India and Thailand offered training courses in road maintenance.
12. The Ministers reiterated their commitment to the importance attached to the deep-sea port at Dawei and its road link to Kanchanaburi. This matter would be reviewed in the SOM.