New Delhi - Myanmar is hoping its India-built Sittwe Port will be a game changer in regional connectivity and boost its trade with India. The port, which is part of Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project, was opened on May 9. The project seeks to provide an alternative route for connectivity from India’s eastern coast to the north-eastern states through the Sittwe Port. The port links to Paletwa in Myanmar via an inland waterway and from Paletwa to Zorinpui in Mizoram via a road segment. Locals hope that direct trade with India will bring economic prosperity for Arakan state.

Agreements are in the pipeline between the two countries for launching direct trade. Myanmar and India are yet to sign a coastal shipping pact to launch trade between Sittwe and Kolkata. The two governments have to decide how many times cargo will be shipped between Kolkata and Sittwe. For example, they can choose to operate one ship a week or two ships a month. Shipping lines will not get much profit during the initial operation.

The port has been opened, but it will be operational only after a shipping line that will run regularly between Koklata and Sittwe is launched. U Tin Aung Oo, chairman, Rakhine State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is optimistic about the port. “Currently, Bangladesh is the only country Arakan state trades with, and it is the cross-border trade.

Through Sittwe Port, we will be able to trade directly with India’s Kolkata Port. This means there will be more choices for traders. There will also be more job opportunities. I assume that the trade will improve,” U Tin told local media.

“Request has been made through our organisation to allow using coastal ships owned by Myanmar business owners in the trade. We are still negotiating about that.” U Tha Tun Hla, chairman of Arakan National Party, told local media that Sittwe Port will create some benefits for Arakanese people if products from Arakan state are allowed to be traded through it.