Information technology, energy and power, communications and infrastructure will be on the agenda for talks between India and Myanmar?s civilian government during the June 20-22 visit of external affairs minister SM Krishna to the country.
Krishna, accompanied by foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, will meet Myanmar President Thein Sein to discuss measures to increase trade and cooperation in areas such as energy and defence. ?The governments will also discuss work on the Kaladan project that will improve transport links across their border,? Krishna told mediapersons before departing for Yangon on Monday. India, like China, is investing in ports, railways and oil and gas pipelines in Myanmar.
?Three of the ten rice silos being set up in Myanmar with India?s assistance following the devastating Cyclone Nargis that hit the country three years ago would be inaugurated (during the visit). A number of MoUs to further strengthen bilateral cooperation are expected to be inked,? the minister said.
The minister is visiting the country on the invitation of his counterpart in Myanmar. ?This will be India?s first high-level engagement with the civilian government in Myanmar after its assumption of office on March 30, 2011,? said Vishnu Prakash, official spokesman of MEA.
Considerable progress has been made in implementing the decisions and agreements inked between the two countries in 2010. Construction has commenced on the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, while plans are afoot to initiate a few more projects.
Myanmar, situated between India and China, is a resource rich country, with a proven 20 trillion cubic feet (570 billion cubic metres) of natural gas and mines, which are potentially the world?s greatest source of high-quality rubies and jadeite jade.