India–Myanmar JTC Reviews Trade, Connectivity, and Security
Nay Pyi Taw: The ninth meeting of the India–Myanmar Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was held here today, highlighting the link between economic engagement and regional stability for India. The session was co-chaired by U Minn Minn, Deputy Minister of Commerce of Myanmar, and Nitin Kumar Yadav, Additional Secretary in India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with officials from multiple ministries on both sides participating to discuss avenues for expanding bilateral trade and strategic cooperation.
The committee reviewed issues ranging from improving market access, streamlining financial transactions, upgrading border infrastructure, and re-opening key land trade posts, to promoting the Rupee–Kyat trade settlement mechanism. The meeting also focused on maximising the benefits of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA).
Officials explored cooperation in sectors including Textiles, Transport and Connectivity, Capacity Building, Customs and Border Management, Shipping, Power, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Health, Pharmaceuticals, and Agriculture. Both countries recognised that sustained collaboration across these areas could generate long-term economic benefits while reinforcing security by stabilising livelihoods and reducing vulnerabilities along the border.
Myanmar expressed appreciation for India’s open policy environment, particularly for pulses and beans exports, which have been a major contributor to bilateral trade growth. Particular focus was placed on the Tamu–Moreh and Rhi–Zokhawthar border trade posts, with India reiterating the request for their early reopening. Plans to develop an Integrated Check Post at Tamu were also discussed to improve efficiency and oversight of cross-border trade.
These discussions occurred alongside Myanmar’s ongoing multi-phase elections, the first since the 2021 military takeover. The elections are being held in three stages: December 28, 2025, January 11, 2026, and January 25, 2026, under military supervision. India’s trade and connectivity initiatives continue in parallel with the elections, reflecting a coordinated focus on economic engagement while monitoring political developments across the border.
India and Myanmar share a 1,640-kilometre border across Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, a frontier historically affected by insurgent activity, arms trafficking, narcotics smuggling, and cross-border movement of displaced populations. These trade and infrastructure initiatives are part of broader cooperation aimed at strengthening border management, including intelligence sharing and limited security coordination.
Economic engagement in Myanmar also connects with India’s Act East Policy, with strategic infrastructure projects such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway. A functional government in Nay Pyi Taw helps facilitate these projects, supports trade and connectivity, and reduces opportunities for third-party influence in this geopolitically sensitive region.
Bilateral trade between India and Myanmar reached USD 2.15 billion during 2024–25, reflecting a positive growth trajectory. Both sides aim to scale trade to USD 5 billion by 2030, with measures such as the Integrated Check Post at Tamu designed to streamline operations and reinforce regulatory oversight. The meeting also reaffirmed commitment to an expedited review of AITIGA, intending to make it simpler, balanced, and mutually beneficial.
The JTC concluded with an agreement to maintain regular communication among relevant agencies to ensure effective follow-up on decisions, with the next meeting scheduled in New Delhi. India and Myanmar continue to pursue trade and infrastructure engagement alongside monitoring political developments, with an emphasis on supporting economic growth and secure, resilient border communities.
– global bihari bureau
