India Secures Sittwe Port Rights in Myanmar

Context

India has gained permission to manage the Sittwe port in Myanmar following its management of the Chabahar Port in Iran.

Details

• Sittwe Port, which is a specific part of the multi-modal trans-boundary transport project called Kaladan, is the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project that plans to change the transport links between India and Southeast Asia. The port is designed to provide an alternative route for goods that are cheaper and thus more efficient, which bypasses the instance of Siliguri Corridor.
• Operational Control: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has approved of a plan for India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) to secure 100% tactical control in such a way that it takes complete operational handover of Sittwe Port. The added value would be assessed if regional connectivity and trade have been improved by this gesture.
• Inauguration and Impact: The port was unveiled by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, and Myanmar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Transport & Communications, Unyogy Aung San. The functioning of the port is likely to achieve a 50% cut in import/export procedure costs as well as reduce transportation time, these activities will be a boost to the local economy of Rakhine State and will help create jobs.
• India’s Overseas Port Ventures: The Bagamoyo project is India’s second port effort in a foreign land after the one in Chabahar in Iran. Turning the rights of Sittwe Port into India’s acts convey the intention of the Indian government to protect its interests and play the role of an important player in the implementation of ‘Act East Policy.

Sittwe Port

• The Sittwe Port in Myanmar’s Rakhine is, with no doubt, one of the most critical parts of the Kaladan multi-modal transit project.
• It was jointly endeavoured by India and Myanmar with an objective to develop as well as manage the transport complex on the Kaladan River by multipurpose transports.
• The port also functions as an entry point for marine traffic facilitating trade and economic integration of Bangladesh and Myanmar.
• The main goal of the project is to establish the sea harbour connection between Kolkata, India and Sittwe in the country of Myanmar.
• The project will also hook up the Sittwe Port up with the Paletwa in Myanmar by the means of the Kaladan river, and the Paletwa area will be connected to Zorinpui in Mizoram through the road.
• This will therefore give cargo owners the opportunity to choose the best and cheapest shipping mode to the northeastern region, while reducing the corridor dependency.

Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project

• The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project coordinates with the sea-port of Kolkata in India, links to Sittwe seaport in Myanmar, from which route goes all the way to the Mizoram state in the Northeast of India.
• Sponsored by the Government of India, the project’s mission is to cut down the 1,328 km-distance between Kolkata and Sittwe, by connecting the two North-eastern cities.
• Yet, the construction has undergone stalling owing to the existence of conflicts among ethnic groups in Chin State and Shayne State, as well as involvement of militant groups.
• A seaport, a river route, and a road route that include the ship line on the Kolkata-Sittwe sea route, the boat ride on the Sittwe to Paletwa river route, and road routes in Myanmar and India comprise our project.

Conclusion

The Sittwe Port agreement is a testament to India’s growing influence in the region and its efforts to foster economic growth and stability through enhanced connectivity. It is a strategic move that underscores India’s role in the development and prosperity of the region.

Source: BS

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q.Which regional project is Sittwe Port a key component of, aiming to enhance connectivity and trade between India and Myanmar?

a. Look East Policy

b. Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC)

c. Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project

d. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Ans – “c”

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