Humanitarian Support: India supplied Corona Vaccine

During the visit of India’s Foreign Secretary to Myanmar from December 22 to 23, 2021, India provided 10 lakh doses of 'Made in India' coronavirus vaccines and a grant of 10,000 tonnes of rice and wheat to Myanmar as part of its continued humanitarian support. The visit was first by any Indian high official after the February 2021 coup.

Situation in Myanmar

• The elected leaders of Myanmar were overthrown on February 1, 2021, in a coup by the army, which accused Nobel laureate Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s ruling party of cheating in the November elections.
• The army’s allegation has been rejected by the previous election commission and international monitors.
• Since then, the country has been grappling with an unprecedented crisis.

India’s Interest in Myanmar

• India’s military-diplomatic outreach to Myanmar became a cornerstone of its Act East policy.
• India has cultivated several infrastructure and development projects with Myanmar, which it sees as the “gateway to the East” and ASEAN countries. These include the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and the Kaladan Multi-modal transit transport network, as well as a plan for a Special Economic Zone at the Sittwe deep-water port and investment in Shwe Oil and Gas project.
• Besides, India still hopes to resolve the Rohingya Refugees Issue and is committed to ensuring safe, sustainable and speedy return of Rohingya refugees from refugee camps of India and Bangladesh.
• Further, connectivity projects through Myanmar help India overcome its Chicken-neck dilemma (Siliguri Corridor).