India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) highway
- The India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway is highway under construction under India’s Act East policy that will connect Moreh, India with Mae Sot, Thailand via Myanmar.
- The highway is expected to boost trade and commerce in ASEAN–India Free Trade Area, as well as with rest of Southeast Asia.
IMT Motor Vehicle Agreement (IMT MVA)
- Government is also working to connect India with South East Asia via IMT Motor Vehicle Agreement (IMT MVA).
- India, Myanmar and Thailand had commenced negotiations for finalising and implementing IMT MVA in 2014 to utilise physical road infrastructure on IMT Trilateral Highway.
India’s Plan:
- India is planning to hold talks with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to extend India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) highway up to Vietnam.
- As per proposals from India, the 1,360 km long IMT highway from Moreh in India to Mae-Sot in Thailand can be extended to Vietnam via Laos and Cambodia.
- The connectivity provided by expansion of IMT highway till Vietnam can generate an estimated $70 billion annually in incremental GDP and $20 million in incremental aggregate employment by 2025.
- Besides, it will provide much required market for crops grown in hilly regions of Northeast India, thus benefiting growers in getting better price for their produce.