The Military Council-appointed Rakhine State government Chief Minister Dr Aung Kyaw Min said in his opening address on the 48th Rakhine State Day that one of the Indo-Myanmar friendship projects, the Sittwe port, would be opened soon for direct trade between India and Myanmar.

This Kaladan multi-modal transit transport (KMTT) project would be beneficial not only for Myanmar but also for Rakhine State development, he said.

Similarly, the press release issued by the Indian embassy in Myanmar says that Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project will be beneficial to the Rakhine State development and also for the local residents of Rakhine State. All the projects being implemented will help all local residents in the Rakhine State, it says.

A source close to the India embassy confirmed that new Sittwe port which was a part of KMTT project would be opened soon and 5,000-6,000-ton vessels would sail between Sittwe and Kolkata ports.

In Indo-Myanmar trade, maritime trade between Kolkata and Sittwe which are 539 kms apart will be a priority in direct trade between two countries and trade between Sittwe and Paletwa in Chin State will be conducted by inland water transport vessels.

This news source close to India embassy also said that road transport would be used to travel to Zorinpui in India which is 109 kms from Paletwa port.

KMTT is the sea-river-road trade route between the two countries and it will connect Kolkata in India and Sittwe in Myanmar with sea transport and then river transport will be used for Sittwe in Rakhine State and Paletwa in Chin State. And then the goods will be transported to Mizoram State in India by road.

India and Myanmar governments signed the MoU in 2008 for the KMTT project and the construction of Sittwe port started in 2009.