Embassy of India
Yangon
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India Myanmar Development Cooperation
Development Cooperation has long been a prominent feature in India’s overall bilateral engagement with Myanmar. Our involvement and assistance extends from setting up of major connectivity infrastructure to significant initiatives in establishing long-term; sustainable and relevant institutions for capacity building and human resource development in some of the critical areas such as agricultural research, rural infrastructure, healthcare and education, IT and skill development. An important aspect of these initiatives is that they are, for most part, completely grant-funded, though India also extends a considerable amount of assistance by way of concessional finance for projects ranging from transport and communications to agriculture and farm mechanization and highway development. The total portfolio involving Indian assistance is valued at approximately US$ 1.5 billion, of which projects worth nearly US$ 1 billion are completely grant-funded.
2. Infrastructure Development
2.1 In the field of infrastructure, the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Corridor (KMTTC) Project is the most significant project undertaken by India in Myanmar. The objective of the project is to create a multi-modal transport corridor for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar as well as North-Eastern part of India via Myanmar. The project includes a waterway component of 158 km on Kaladan River from Sittwe to Paletwa and a road component of 109 km from Paletwa to Zorinpui on the India-Myanmar border in Mizoram State.
2.2 The KMMTTC Sittwe port was jointly inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister for Shipping, Ports and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Admiral Tin Aung San, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Transport and Communications of Myanmar on 9 May 2023. Under a bilateral MOU for management of port operations signed in October 2018 and amendment MoU signed in April 2025, the Sittwe Port is being managed by a nominated Indian entity, India Ports Global Limited (IPGL). The Port has berthed over 170 The road works from Zorinpui towards Paletwa for the stretch of 109 Km has commenced and is under progress.
The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway is the other major connectivity project that India is involved on two segments. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been identified as the implementing agency for both the components of the project. For the 112-km long Kalewa-Yargyi sector of the Trilateral Highway, the track is being upgraded to national highway standard. The Kalewa-Yargyi project road is amongst the most challenging stretches of the Trilateral Highway and with steep gradients and sharp curves, will have to be reconstructed. On the Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa sector, 69 bridges of World War II vintage are to be replaced with new Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) bridges.
3. Institutional Support and Capacity Building
As part of capacity building initiatives, the Government of India has assisted in setting up of premier institutes in the fields of Information Technology, agriculture, industrial training, entrepreneurship development etc. Some of the flagship projects which have been handed over are as follows;
3.1. Information Technology
The Myanmar Institute of Information Technology (MIIT) is envisioned to be a National Centre of Excellence at Mandalay, Myanmar on the lines of the IIIT model of India. International Institute of Information Technology, Bengaluru (IIIT-B) assisted MIIT in development of five-year B.E (Hons) in Computer Science & Engineering, B.E (Hons) in Electronics & Communication Engineering and M.E. in Computer Science and short-term diploma courses as well as also provided technical assistance in setting up of laboratories and data center at the campus. A team of academicians from IIT-B were stationed at MIIT campus to oversee academic and infrastructure roll out until the successful graduation of the first batch of students. It was handed over to GoM on 31 March 2022.
The Government of India supported in setting up the India-Myanmar Centre for Enhancement of IT Skills (IMCEITS) on October 16, 2008. IMCEITS is recognized as an Authorized Training center of Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC). IMCEITS has trained over 2800 IT professionals so far. The implementation of this project has helped Myanmar to take advantage of the developments in the field of IT and raise standards of IT education. IMCEITS has the state-of-the-art Data Centre, Hi-tech computer labs and Lecture Theaters, Tele-medicine lab with Video Conferencing facility and a rich library. Currently Phase V of IMCEITS as Authorized Training Centre (ATC) of C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) is on- going.
3.2 Agriculture
The Rice Bio-Park in Nay Pyi Taw, was handed over during the State visit of Hon’ble President of India in December 2018. It aims to demonstrate the full potential of paddy/rice value chain was also set up. Myanmar is a significant producer of rice and farmers are expected to benefit enormously by utilizing the commercial opportunities offered by rice husk and rice bran oil. The implementing agency for this project was M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF).
The Advanced Centre for Agricultural Research and Education (ACARE) at Yezin Agricultural University in Nay Pyi Taw is another flagship project of India. This centre envisions to benefit Myanmar agriculture through enhancement in agricultural production and productivity, enhancing agricultural income, improved employment opportunities and creating a pool of skilled agricultural scientists and managers.
3.3. Vocational Training
The India-Myanmar Industrial Training Centres (IMITC), have been set up at Pakokku (2010), Myingyan (2013), Thaton (2024) while IMITC Monywa is under progress. The IMITCs are providing training to local youth who are then employable in the industries being set up in Myanmar, thus contributing to the country’s industrialization and economic growth. HMT (International) Limited is the implementing agency for the Government of India.
India has also assisted in setting up of the Myanmar-India Entrepreneurship Development Centre (MIEDC), Yangon. The Centre was inaugurated in 2009 by then Vice President of India. MIEDC since its inception from 2009 had a total of 6644 participants at the centre. The Centre had conducted certificate courses on Project Management, Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing Research, Leadership & Management Skills, Logistic Management, Financial Management and Strategic Management etc,.
Myanmar-India Centre for English Language Training (MICELT), Yangon was set-up by India’s assistance in 2009. English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), Hyderabad acted as the technical consultant in setting up the centre on behalf of GoI. The vision of the Centre is to develop itself into a Centre of excellence for providing training in English language.
3.4 Health-care
Upgradation of Yangon Children Hospital and Sittwe General Hospital
An agreement for up-gradation of Yangon Children Hospital and Sittwe General Hospital in Myanmar was signed between India and Myanmar in October 2011. Under the provisions of the agreement, Government of India provided assistance in supply, installation and commissioning of medical equipment and training of Myanmar personnel in India. The responsibility of Government of Myanmar included modification and renovation of identified hospital buildings and arranging local personnel, materials, logistics and infrastructure support required for the Project. The project at a cost of Rs.40.48 crores was completed in 2019.
The Bhabhatron II Advanced Telecobalt Cancer Therapy Machine and Digital Radiotherapy Simulator, was handed over to the Yangon General Hospital in July 2024, to the people of Myanmar.
4. Archeological Restoration and Conservation
India has contributed to the restoration of the 11th century architectural marvel, the Ananda Pagoda at the UNESCO World heritage Site, Bagan. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was the implementing agency. The project was completed in 2018. Myanmar welcomed India’s assistance in the socio- economic development of Bagan while preserving and conserving its heritage.
Government of India has provided technical and financial support to the Government of Myanmar for 92 works for conservation and restoration of damaged structures including chemical preservation of mural paintings. The monuments were damaged during a severe 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on 24th August 2016. Prime amongst include Dhamma Yan Gyi, Maha Bodhi and Naga Yon which will be restored by the Archaeological Survey of India. The first phase with 22 works on 11 monuments was handed over in December 2024.
5. Institutional Mechanisms
In addition to these major infrastructure projects, a large number of community focused projects are undertaken in partnership with the Ministry of Border Affairs, Government of Myanmar under India-Myanmar Border Area Development Programme (BADP). It involves extending infrastructure and micro-economic development assistance through a grant-in-aid of US$ 25 Million for 5 years [US$ 5 million per annum]. Under this, 179 projects including
52 schools, 18 health centres, 106 bridges & roads and 3 infrastructure projects were constructed/built between 2013-2024 in Chin State and Naga Self-Administered Zone of Myanmar.
Similarly, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, Government of Myanmar, under the Rakhine State Development Programme (RSDP), Government of India is providing assistance for community infrastructure in the Rakhine State of Myanmar. It has committed a grant-in-aid of US$ 25 Million for 5 years i.e. 5 million
/annum. A total of 250 prefabricated houses, solar electrification for 5 villages, water supply system in Gwa township and health care equipment’s have been
provided. Two projects for a seed storage house and an agriculture mechanization sub-station are under advanced stage of implementation.
Under the Small Development Project (SDP) mechanism, high impact community development projects have been taken up across various sectors. The SDP framework has provided Government of India funding various initiatives including 200-bedded Women & Children Hospital at Monywa, provision of 40 computers & other associated peripherals at Sittwe Computer university and 15 tractors & 15 crawler harvesters to the Rakhine State Government. The framework continues to support on-going initiatives in the field of social infrastructure, which are designed to promote gender empowerment livelihood linked skilling initiatives and support marginalized sections of society.
Under the Framework Agreement of Quick Impact Projects (QIP), the Government of India has committed up to US$ 500,000 per year for small- scale, short-duration development initiatives which are designed to deliver tangible benefits at the grassroots level in sectors such as renewable energy, civic infrastructure, agriculture, rural development, education, handloom and disaster risk reduction in states and regions all across Myanmar.
6. Concessional Finance Assistance
Government of India’s Lines of Credit (LoCs) have been extended for projects in Myanmar in diverse sectors such as Telecommunication; Railways; Energy; Automobile; Power and Agriculture. Out of 24 projects under these LoC, 23 projects have already been completed and 1 project is under implementation.
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June 2025
