MV-ITT LION (V-273)
A cargo vessel named MV-ITT LION (V-273) was flagged off recently from Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata to Sittwe Port in Myanmar, marking the inaugural shipment to operationalize the port in the Rakhine State. The ceremony was presided over by Union minister Shantanu Thakur. The cargo vessel is carrying 1,000 metric tonnes of cement in 20,000 bags and is expected to reach Sittwe Port on May 9. The vessel will be received by Cabinet minister Sarbanand Sonowal at the port.
Development of Sittwe Port
Sittwe Port has been developed with Indian assistance as part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP). The port is linked to Paletwa in Myanmar by a waterway that runs inland, and from Paletwa, it is connected to Zorinpui in Mizoram by a road section. The Kaladan River connects Sittwe Port in Myanmar with Mizoram in India. The port has been developed under a framework agreement between India and Myanmar for the construction and operation of a Multimodal Transit Transport Facility on the Kaladan River.
Benefits of KMTTP
Once fully operationalized, the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP) will provide alternative connectivity from the east coast of India to the northeastern states through the Sittwe port. The project aims to enhance trade and commerce between India and Myanmar and the wider region. The opening of the Sittwe port will create new opportunities for trade and transit from and to Myanmar, particularly the Rakhine State.
Month: Current Affairs - May, 2023
Category: International / World Current Affairs • Places in News Current Affairs