New Delhi, Sep 7: India resolved on Wednesday to spur development in Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine province, one of the poorest and least connected areas and home to over a million Rohingya Muslims, even as the two countries condemned extremist violence as the biggest threat to peace and stability.
A joint statement issued at the end of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Myanmar and his talks with state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said India would help to “bring about overall socio-economic development in the state by undertaking both infrastructure and socio-economic projects”.
While Modi supported the Myanmar government in its efforts to contain extremist violence, India also impressed upon the need for economic development of Rakhine province in the context of security.
The statement said India will work on projects in areas of “education, health, agriculture and allied activities, agro-processing, community development, construction of small bridges, upgradation of roads, small power projects, livelihood activity, setting up of training centres, promotion of household crafts, conservation of environment and cultural heritage”.
The statement says, “Myanmar welcomed India’s offer of assistance under the Rakhine State Development Programme and the two sides agreed to finalise the implementation modalities within the next few months.”
To make up for India’s past record of delivering infrastructure projects, the government promised the Myanmarese leadership that the trilateral highway and current road projects would be completed in a couple of years.
India has also jumped into development of a number of new projects including an airport in Pakokku which Airports Authority of India will help develop. In his speech, Modi announced gratis visas to all Myanmar citizens visiting India. India also released 40 Myanmarese citizens from jails in India.
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