As India looks towards Burma to fulfil its quest for energy security, its growing interest in investing in the energy sector there is expected to figure prominently during the foreign office consultations between the two sides in Nay Pyi Taw on Monday.
A visit to India by the President of Burma, Thein Sein, will also figure in the bilateral discussions. There has been a standing invitation from New Delhi to the Burma leader and the latter’s hoping that it would come about soon.
Foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai will be leading the regular consultations from the Indian side with the deputy minister of foreign affairs of Burma, U. Thant Kyaw, on Monday. The consultations will also see the two sides reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations that are said to be flourishing at present.
Duirng his visit, Mr Mathai may also be calling on Mr Thein Sen and National League for Democracy leader Aung Suu Kyi.
The consultations will also see New Delhi raising the matter of the proposed Imphal (Manipur)-Mandalay (Burma) bus service, which has failed to take off till now. India is keen to known from Burma where things stand on the launch of this service.
India has been eyeing Burma to meet its energy needs given its abundant oil and gas reserves. Indeed, seven Indian companies are currently in the fray in Burma for acquiring 18 on-shore oil and gas blocks and are now readying to submit their financial bids.
There are indications that the proposal to revive the gas pipeline along the land route from Burma to India may also be discussed — the proposal was discussed during the recent visit of commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma to Burma. An earlier proposal to have such a pipeline passing through Bangladesh had to be dropped owing to lack of cooperation from the Khaleda Zia government.
The crucial Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project being executed to link Sittwe port in Burma to Mizoram through river and road links as well as to Kolkata vis sea is also expected to figure in Monday’s consultations.