Vice-President embarks on four-day visit to Myanmar

New Delhi, Feb 5 (ANI): Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari left for Myanmar on a four-day visit today to further strengthen ties between the two countries.

He is leading a high-level delegation comprising Members of Parliament and businessmen, and includes Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju.

The high-level business delegation comprises officials of the Steel Authority of India, TATA Motors, Gas Authority of India Ltd., Bharat Heavy Electric Limited among others.

TATA Motors is setting up a truck manufactring unit in Myanmar.

The delegation will hold talks with Vice Senior General Maung Aye, Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). They will also meet Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman, SPDC.

The delegation is scheduled to attend the inauguration of the Myanmar-India Entreprenuership Development Center (MIEDC) at the Institute of Economics, Hlaing Campus in Yangon.

India will sign three Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with Myanmar; setting up of an industrial training centre, Centre for English language and Entrepreneurship training centre besides signing investment promotion agreements.

Ties between India and its eastern neighbour have consolidated in recent years.

In May last year, Indian Navy ships were the first to reach relief to Myanmar in the wake of the devastating severe cyclone 'Nargis'. Later, the Indian Air Force also joined relief efforts.

India is also helping Myanmar in building infrastructure and boosting development.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has built the 160 km-long Tamu-Kalewa-Kaylemyo road on the Indo-Myanmar border.

The two sides inked agreements last year on bilateral investment protection while New Delhi committed 120 million dollars line of credit for power facilities in Myanmar. By Ravi Shankar (ANI)