It was heartening to read your report “India ramps up ties with Myanmar, Thailand” (January 31). There’s no better way to “commemorate” our Look East policy than to get involved in the Italian-Thai venture on Dawei port development; our shipping services from Kolkata and Chennai to Yangon must also start. Industry bodies should arrange seminars in Yangon to indicate Indian business’ serious interest in investing in Myanmar. Moreover, efforts should be made to ensure the timely completion of railway projects in the north-east to link the region to Myanmar.
Last year, Sunanda K Datta-Ray had written in one of his columns in your paper that the north-east can have a vital role to play in India’s south-east Asian diplomacy (“Where money talks: East by north-east,” July 2). He also pointed out that the real reason for India’s inaction is lack of imagination, laziness and an inability to think beyond the parameters laid down by British India’s policymakers. Let’s hope the government shakes off this lethargy and announces more rail and road projects in the north-east that will link us with Myanmar and participates in the country’s infrastructure plans too.
S Subramanyan Navi Mumbai
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