Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today suggested discussions between India and ASEAN countries for finalising transit transport agreement by 2015.
He also said that India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway could be extended to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
In his address at the 11th India-ASEAN Summit, Singh said that he was looking forward for setting up the Maritime Transport Working Group between the two sides.
“I would suggest that our officials begin discussions on an ASEAN-India Transit Transport Agreement with a view to completing it by 2015. I also look forward to the proposed Maritime Transport Working Group being set up soon,” the Prime Minister said.
The two sides have already decided to establish a Working Group on Soft Infrastructure along their corridors of connectivity.
Emphasising that connectivity is a strategic priority in India-ASEAN relationship, Singh said the Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo sector of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway is nearing completion.
“Repairs to 71 bridges on this road and work on upgrading a 120 kilometre sector between Kalewa and Yargyi are to begin soon. We will work closely with Thailand and Myanmar to ensure that this project is completed by 2016,” he noted.
“It would be useful to look at the extension of this Highway to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, its further linkage with ports in ASEAN countries and its integration with models like Special Economic Zones. This would call for innovative financial and institutional mechanisms. I hope our Ministers and officials can discuss these ideas further,” Singh said.
The first meeting of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee and India took place this year.
Trade between India and ASEAN stood at USD 76 billion last year.
“I remain confident that we can meet our target of USD 100 billion by 2015 and double that volume by 2022,” Singh said.
Source: http://m.business-standard.com/wapnew/storypage_content.php