DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
India Myanmar Development Cooperation 
Embassy of India
Yangon
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Brief on Development Cooperation
Development Cooperation has long been a prominent feature in India’s overall bilateral engagement with Myanmar. Our involvement and assistance extends from setting up of major connectivity infrastructure to significant initiatives in establishing long-term; sustainable and relevant institutions for capacity building and human resource development in some of the critical areas such as agricultural research and education, IT and skill development. An important aspect of these initiatives is that they are, for most part, completely grant-funded, though India also extends a considerable amount of assistance by way of concessional finance for projects ranging from transport and communications to agriculture and farm mechanization and highway development. The total portfolio involving Indian assistance is valued at approximately US$ 2 billion, of which projects worth nearly US$ 1.25 billion are completely grant-funded.
Infrastructure Projects
(i) In the field of infrastructure, the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) is the most significant project undertaken by India in Myanmar. The objective of the project is to create a multi-modal transport corridor for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as North-Eastern part of India via Myanmar. The project includes a waterway component of 158 km on Kaladan River from Sittwe to Paletwa and a road component of 109 km from Paletwa to Zorinpui on the India-Myanmar border in Mizoram State. The Sittwe port was jointly inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister for Shipping, Ports and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Admiral Tin Aung San, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Communications of Myanmar on 9 May 2023. The road works from Zorinpui towards Paletwa for the stretch of 109 Km has commenced and is under progress.
(ii) The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway is the other major connectivity project that India is involved on two segments;
On the Tamu-Kalewa-Kyigone sector, 69 bridges of World War II vintage are to be replaced with new Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) bridges. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been identified as the implementing agency for the project.
Separately, on the 120-km long Kalewa-Yargi sector of the Trilateral Highway, the track is being upgraded to national highway standard. The Kalewa-Yargi project road is amongst the most challenging stretches of the Trilateral Highway and with steep gradients and sharp curves, will have to be reconstructed along with additional measures for slope stabilization. The project is now under implementation. NHAI is the implementing agency.
(iii) In addition to these major infrastructure projects, a large number of community focused projects are undertaken in partnership with the Ministry of Border Affairs, Government of Myanmar under India-Myanmar Border Area Development Programme (BADP). It involves extending infrastructure and micro-economic development assistance through a grant-in-aid of US$ 25 Million for 5 years [US$ 5 million per annum]. Under this, 49 schools, 18 health centres, 72 bridges & roads and 3 infrastructure projects were constructed/built as first, second, third and fourth year projects in Chin State and Naga Self-Administered Zone of Myanmar. The 5th year cycle consisting for 18 roads/bridges, 1 community building and 1 education centre in Chin State and 19 roads/bridges, 2 education centres in Naga Self-Administered Zone has also been developed.
(iv) Government of India signed a MoU for Rakhine State Development Programme (RSDP) with Government of Myanmar in December 2017. Under the provisions of the MoU, Government of India provides assistance through a grant-in-aid of US$ 25 Million for 5 years i.e. 5 million /annum. In the 1st cycle, a project to build 250 prefabricated houses in the Rakhine State for rehabilitation of displaced persons was undertaken. The construction of 250 pre-fabricated houses in Rakhine was completed and handed over to Rakhine State in July 2019.
Six project agreements (consisting of 13 projects) were signed in the year 2020 as 2nd cycle of RSDP. These project agreements are in the areas of Solar Electricity, road construction, school construction, water supply system and education. In the 2nd cycle, the solar power plant project in 5 identified townships of Rakhine State has been completed.
(v) Government of India has signed Project Agreement for establishment of Modern Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Tamu with Government of Myanmar on 16th September 2022. The construction of a new ICP on the Myanmar side of the Moreh-Tamu border will facilitate trade and movement of people between India and Myanmar. The crossing at Moreh-Tamu is the most important one on the India-Myanmar border. Establishment of Modern ICPs on both sides of the border will give impetus to border trade and tourism and also boost socio-economic development of the border regions. The Integrated Check Post (ICP) has already been established at the border town of Moreh in India.
Capacity Building Projects
(vi) Under capacity building, the follwing flagship projects have been completed.
The first is Myanmar Institute of Information Technology (MIIT) in Mandalay. IIITB provided assistance to MIIT in developing courses on i. B.E. (Hons.) in Computer Science & Engineering, ii. B.E. (Hons.) in Electronics & Communication Engineering and iii. M.E. in Computer Science. It was handed over to GoM on 31 March 2022. IIITB supported via digital means till May 2023.
The other is the Advanced Centre for Agricultural Research and Education (ACARE) at Yezin Agricultural University in Nay Pyi Taw. This centre envisions to benefit Myanmar agriculture through enhancement in agricultural production and productivity, enhancing agricultural income, improved employment opportunities and creating a pool of skilled agricultural scientists and managers. ACARE was handed over to GoM on 25 March 2022.
Both these are amongst the premier institutes in their respective fields in Myanmar and are contributing to building a highly skilled and well-qualified cadre of IT professionals & agricultural research scientists respectively.
(vii) Rice Bio-Park in Nay Pyi Taw that aims to demonstrate the full potential of paddy/rice value chain was also set up. The Rice Bio-Park was handed over to Myanmar during the State visit of Hon’ble President of India in December 2018. This is particularly important in the context of Myanmar, which is a significant producer of rice and farmers are expected to benefit enormously by utilizing the commercial opportunities offered by rice husk and rice bran oil.
(viii) Four Indo-Myanmar Industrial Training Centres (IMITCs), at Pakokku (the centre was handed over in 2010), Myingyan (the centre was handed over in October 2013), Monywa & Thaton. IMITC, Thaton was officially inaugurated on 10 January 2024. The centres are providing training to local youth who are then employable in the industries being set up in Myanmar, thus contributing to the country’s industrialization and economic growth.
(ix) The Government of India has also partnered with the Government of Myanmar in setting up centres of excellence in the field of English Language training, Entrepreneurship and Information Technology. It continues to extend support to these centres such as the India-Myanmar Centre for Enhancement of IT Skills (IMCEITS); the Myanmar-India Centre for English Language Training (MICELT) and the Myanmar-India Entrepreneurship Development Centre (MIEDC), which are based in Yangon. As per the request from these centres, fresh assistance packages have been drawn up, which aimed at building and enhancing local capacity and human resource.
(x) The Centre of Excellence for Software Development Training (CESDT) in Myitkyina under the ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund was inaugurated on 5 October 2020. This centre provides IT training and has been sent up through Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC).
(xi) To promote computer literacy among the Rakhine youth, Government of India provided assistance in supplying 40 computers and other associated peripherals to the Sittwe Computer University, under Small Development Project (SDP). The project was completed in March 2019.
(xii) Assistance in supply of 15 tractors and 15 crawler harvesters to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry & Minerals (Rakhine State Government) under Small Development Project (SDP) was completed in 2019. This project is aimed towards uplifting the lives of the farmers and would promote agricultural mechanization in the region, as Rakhine is a predominantly agricultural-based economy.
Health-care
(xiii) Upgradation of Yangon Children Hospital and Sittwe General Hospital
Sixty-seven medical equipments including CT Scan machine, multiple parameter monitor (neonatal), Oxygen Concentrator with air compressor and piping with vacuum outlets, ENT equipments, Orthopaedic equipments, etc., were supplied to Yangon Children Hospital and Sittwe General Hospital in April 2019.
(xiv) Construction of 200 bedded Women Hospital, Monwya
Supported in construction of 200 bedded Women Hospital at Monywa and provided assistant in funding for supply of 36 medical equipment (ventilator, cardiac table, CTG machine, coagulation analyser, etc.,). The project cost was around US$ 2 million. The project was completed in February 2019.
Culture
(xv) Conservation and restoration of Ananda Temple
India has contributed to the restoration of the Ananda Pagoda in Bagan. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was the implementing agency. The project was completed on 30 June 2018.
(xvi) Structural Conservation and Chemical preservation of Identified Earthquake Damaged Monuments at Bagan, Myanmar
Government of India has provided to extend technical and financial support to the Government of Myanmar for conservation and restoration of damaged structures including chemical preservation of mural paintings. Myanmar welcomed India’s assistance in the socio-economic development of Bagan while preserving and conserving its heritage. Prime amongst these is the project to restore and conserve 92 ancient pagodas and structures, by Archaeological Survey of India, that were damaged during a severe 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on 24th August, 2016.
The first phase of restoration and conservation of 12 structures out of 92 structures started from January 2020. So far 6 structures have been restored and the work is under progress.
Quick Impact Projects (QIP)
Agreement for implementation of Quick Impact Projects (QIP) was signed on 27th February 2020. Quick Impact Project (QIP) framework, targets at bringing positive effects in the lives of local community in Myanmar.
The following 5 project proposals has been proposed under the current FY:
- Construction of 20 feet Bailey bridge and four (5x5x26) feet Box Culverts from 3/6 miles junction road of Lahe-Nanyun to Laungkyannaukkone-Taikyan-Lanhtain junction in Naga Self-Administered Zone by Ministry of Border Affairs
- Construction of 60x30x12 feet Steel Structure Multi – Purpose Community Hall near Tikeyan Village, Lahe Township in Naga Self-Administered Zone by Ministry of Border Affairs
- Electrification of Rural Villages by small wind energy in Kungyangon Township, Yangon by Ministry of Science and Technology.
- Departmental E-Library project by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation
- Water Supply using solar power in the drought affected villages of central dry zone of Myanmar by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation
These QIPs are small projects, each of around US$ 50,000. Three MoUs in the field of rural electrification, education and water supply were signed in November 2023 followed by two MoUs in the field of civic infrastructure and connectivity in January 2024.
Concessional Finance Assistance
Line of Credit (LoC)
Government of India’s Lines of Credits (LoCs) have been extended for projects in Myanmar in diverse sectors such as Telecommunication; Railways; Energy; Automobile; Power and Agriculture. Out of 24 projects under these LoCs, 23 projects have already been completed and 1 project is under implementation. The total amount committed to Myanmar under LoCs is US$ 745.57 million.
Government of India has agreed to offer LoC worth of US$ 270 million (out of the US$ 500 million LoC signed between Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and Export-Import Bank of India in 2012) to Myanmar for undertaking development projects in Myanmar at the rate of interest of 1% per annum with repayment period of 20 years (inclusive of 5 years moratorium period].
