First Cargo Ship To India-Funded Myanmar Port Leaves Kolkata For Trial Run

Myanamar’s Sittwe Port, funded by India as part of the unique Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport assignment, will be launched on 4 May. As part of a trial mission, an Indian cargo vessel will depart from Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Kolkata) for the Sittwe Port.

Per reports, the cargo vessel will be flagged off by Santanu Thakur, India’s Union Minister of State in charge of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.

The port in Myanmar’s Rakhine will offer an alternative transport channel to India’s Siliguri corridor, referred to as the Chicken’s Neck. It is a critical channel that connects the northeastern states via Myanmar.

From a connectivity point of view, especially the challenges encountered by northeastern states, alternate channels are being developed to improve the movement of goods to the region and the overall connectivity.

The cost of the Kaladan assignment is estimated to be approximately $500 million, while the port cost is around $120 million.

Santanu Thakur declared that under the leadership of PM Modi, efforts are being focused on enhancing cargo movement and connectivity in the northeast. This is a significant step in that direction.

A ship is preparing to depart from the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port of Kolkata with a consignment delivered by Ramco Cement, and it is expected to reach Sittwe on 9 May, where it will be received by an Indian delegation spearheaded by Sarbananda Sonowal, the country’s Union Cabinet Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways.

References: NDTV, East Mojo, Swarajya, PTI

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Source: Maritime Shipping News