The Indian government has revealed its initiatives to resume the operation of the Sittwe-India port, which was disrupted by the ongoing conflict in Arakan State.
In an interview with The Hindu Business Line on October 1, Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), conveyed this information.
The minister also announced that the Indian government is working in collaboration with Myanmar authorities to ensure the smooth operation of the Sittwe Port, which is crucial for the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP). This project aims to facilitate the transportation of goods to northeastern states via the Kaladan River in northern Arakan State.
The Sittwe-India Port, located in Sittwe, Arakan State, is currently under the control of the military junta, along with the town itself. The port is an integral part of the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, which enables direct transit of goods between Myanmar and India. While both the Indian government and the Myanmar military junta are collaborating to ensure the continued operation of the port, it’s worth noting that the role of the Arakan Army (AA) remains significant.
Arakanese businessman U Maung Saw Win emphasized that the success of the KMTTP hinges on India engaging in discussions with the AA regarding the sustained operation of Sittwe Port. Currently, the AA occupies and controls Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, and Paletwa townships along the Kaladan River, with Sittwe being an exception.
“In this scenario, I firmly believe that discussions between India and Myanmar cannot proceed without the involvement of the Arakan Army (AA),” he told Narinjara News.
The Sittwe-India port, which has ceased operations, was constructed by the Indian government at a cost of $120 million in 2009 and was fully completed by the end of 2022.
Upon completion, the port facilitated the trial shipment of over 2,600 tons of rice to Bangladesh on January 13.
Sittwe Port was officially inaugurated by Myanmar and Indian government officials on May 9, 2023. Following the opening, the junta permitted domestic coastal ships, including international cargo vessels and Sittwe-Yangon cargo ships, to dock starting on September 20.
The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, which encompasses Sittwe Port, was established through a Framework Agreement signed between Myanmar and India in April 2008, with India investing approximately $500 million. The project intends to make it easier for commodities to be transported by waterway from Sittwe to Paletwa, and then by road from Paletwa to the Myanmar -India border in.Mizoram, India
Ports have been built in Sittwe and Paletwa Town in Chin State to facilitate waterway transportation.
A two-lane highway spanning 117 kilometers is now being constructed from Mizoram’s Lawngtlai District to the border with Myanmar.
The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project will start up after the road is finished.
The Indian government recently announced that, as part of the KMTTP, electric power will be sent from Paletwa in Chin State to Sittwe, the capital of Arakan State.
During his visit to Mizoram on September 12, Indian Joint Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs B. Shyam made this announcement at a meeting with Pu F. Rodingliana, the Minister of Power & Electricity of Mizoram, at his office.
Analysts, however, contend that without the Arakan Army’s cooperation, the Indian government’s plan to begin construction on the Kaladan project or supply energy from Paletwa to Sittwe will not be successful.
Additionally, analysts predict that the Arakan Army’s current presence and territorial supremacy would be acknowledged and accepted by the Indian government.
India has made an unprecedented invitation to opposition forces, including the Arakan Army (AA), which opposes the Myanmar military junta, to participate in a federal seminar scheduled to be held in New Delhi next November, funded by the Indian government.
Among the groups invited by India include the Arakan Army (AA), which controls significant territories in Arakan State, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of Myanmar’s most powerful armed groups, and the National Unity Government (NUG).
India has extended an unprecedented invitation to opposition forces, such as the Arakan Army (AA), which opposes the military junta in Myanmar, to take part in a federal seminar that will be funded by the Indian government and held in New Delhi in November of next year.
The Arakan Army (AA), which governs a sizable portion of Arakan State, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), one of Myanmar’s most potent armed groups, and the National Unity Government (NUG) are among the organizations that India has invited.