Myanmar has been important for India ever since the Look East policy was adopted in 1991 to establish political ties with the South-Eastern nations and as a part of the Act East Policy, which replaced the Look East Policy, the government has been working since 2014 to improve India’s relations with South-East Asian nations. Myanmar is an important channel of communication with Northeast India and hence Sittwe Port has been developed on 5 May 2023 in Myanmar, situated at the mouth of the Kaladan River as a part of the $484 million Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) funded under grant-in-aid assistance from the Indian government. It aimed at developing transport infrastructure in southwestern Myanmar, interlacing with northeastern India and hence, becoming an important channel of trade and connectivity.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the transit of cargo ships from Shayma Prasad Mukherjee port in Kolkata, India, to Sittwe port in Rakhine state of Myanmar, thus establishing an economic potential for the entire Bay of Bengal, acting as a bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asian regions.
SIGNIFICANCE AND CONNECTIVITY OF SITTWE PORT:
The Kaladaan Multi-Modal Transport TP will provide an alternative route from the eastern coast of India to the northeastern states via Sittwe port once it is fully operational. Compared to the current route via Siliguri to Kolkata, this is a more practical route for trade and commerce in Northeast India, saving time and money and maximizing efficiency. It will also augment the people-to-people ties between both regions and will boost the economic and cultural development of the North East under the “Act East Policy” 2014. Thus, previously a small fishing village that developed into a bustling port, Sittwe is now poised to become a maritime hub. It also served as an alternative to the chicken corridor, which poses a security threat to the mainland. Furthermore, it will also counterbalance China’s presence in India’s neighbourhood region.
CHALLANGES OF SITTWE PORT:
Hard terrains and monsoons caused a hindrance in the development of Sittwe Port. The presence of China in the region is also an upcoming challenge with the help of the development of a deep sea port in the capital of Rakhine state, Akyab and a special economic zone in Kyaukphyu, 100km south of Sittwe. The large ambitious project might suffer tough competition from Chittagong port in Bangladesh as it is better connected to India. It also raised environmental concerns in the area, followed by large-scale protests from the people due to displacement, loss of fertile farmland, land degradation and massive soil erosion. The area of Kaladan River is home to endangered species like dolphins, tigers, elephants, rhinos, gibbons and Rakhine forest turtles which is under great threat with an expected increase in flood and drought. Also, any dispute between the two nations regarding the ongoing Rohingya crisis can hinder the movement of products leading to severe delays.
Nevertheless, the development of Sittwe Port is an important landmark decision in the friendship of both nations. It will also provide an alternative route for India’s northeast trade and connectivity.
Author: Tanya Jain, Research Assistant, CS3, USI.