India, Myanmar to discuss energy, economic cooperation

New Delhi, June 17 (UNI) India and Myanmar will hold discussions over the next two days on closer cooperation particularly in the energy sector and infrastructure development.

The main issues will be cooperation in the energy sector, the Kaladan Multi-Modal Project and the Tamu-Kalewa-Kalemyo (TKK) Highway constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) between the two countries.

Myanmar has the potential of being a very important partner in the energy sector.

Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, who will lead the Indian delegation at the talks, will leave here for Myanmar tonight for holding Foreign Office Consultations as part of the regular contact between the two countries, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said here today.

In the Foreign Office Consultations held last year, one of the things decided was the visit of President A P J Abdul Kalam to Myanmar which took place in March.

India is seeking to import gas from Myanmar via Bangladesh through a Myanmar-Bangladesh-India pipeline. However, Dhaka's insistence on including some bilateral issues in the project has forced India to consider a pipeline through the North-Eastern states.

India is pursuing the option of a gas pipeline from Myanmar through the North-Eastern states bypassing Bangladesh, officials said. The route will be linking the Kaladan river in Myanmar to Mizoram.

India is already engaged in discussions with Iran on importing gas through the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipelne.

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