ASEAN Ideal Road Project- An Overview

Abstract

The World's biggest populated countries China, India and ASEAN nations are trying to come together through negotiations and trade agreements for mutual benefit and economic development. Slowly they are solving their Political, Border and other issues by bilateral talks and Summits. In this connection I want to give one of the good examples of above mentioned Treaties and their successful implementation. That is The Trilateral Motor Vehicle Roads between India, Myanmar, Thailand, during the ruling period of former Prime Minister Sri Atal Behari Vajpayee with Thailand Government negotiations, agreements and decisions has taken place. Unable to estimate the gravity and importance of trade issues the next Government's of India neglected the implementation of the Trilateral Road Agreements. Later from 2014 once again the Government of India determined to complete the Road Projects and completed and successfully inaugurated the Road from Manipur to Myanmar and Thailand. The Indian Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi inaugurated the Road Project on 8th August, 2018. And this road will be extended through Laos, Cambodia to Vietnam in one direction and Singapore, Malaysia in the other direction. After the completion of these road extensions the trade scenario of these Nations changes miraculously. It may lead to free Trade Zone between ASEAN countries Thailand expressed its acceptance and commitment to the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Transport Linkage Project (Trilateral Highway Project) and waiting, exemplary transformation in trade and economies of these ASEAN Nations to its timely completion. Thailand Government felt if once Trilateral Highway Project is completed, extensive flows of trade and investment will take place along the route, stimulating the movement of goods and services, improvement of employment opportunities, exchange of knowledge and culture, promoting tourism as well as raising the livelihoods of the peoples in the region. These are aspirations of all the stake holders of this project.