12 NOVEMBER 2014: India Myanmar discusses Co-operation

Ø The Modi government has frozen the budget subsidy for cooking gas at Rs. 20 a kg. This will not mean any increase in price for the consumer right away. However, if international prices were to rise, as they normally do in winter, then the government will be faced with the choice of either passing on the increase to consumers or asking the oil companies to bear the burden.

Ø As Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Myanmarese President Thein Sein met at Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of this eastern neighbour of India, on Tuesday, the big focus of discussions was improving connectivity between what they called “brother countries.” The two leaders spoke about the need for more direct air links, as well as an India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, and the Kaladan multi-modal transport project. The two nations are now not connected by direct flights. They signed an MoU for a bus service between Imphal and Mandalay only this year. Although bilateral trade between India and Myanmar is well below its potential, efforts are being made to enhance it. Bilateral trade stood at less than $2 billion in 2013. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Myanmarese President Thein Sein, at their meeting at Nay Pyi Taw, also discussed other economic ties and cooperation in the oil and gas sector, as well as the need for more cultural contacts, including sending Myanmarese students to Nalanda University. The meeting was one of more than 20 bilateral ones Mr. Modi is scheduled to have during his 10-day, three-nation tour during which he will attend the ASEAN-India summit, the East Asia Summit and the G-20 and Pacific Island Leaders-India summits.  During the tour, he is expected to engage with leaders of 40 countries. Mr. Modi will meet Myanmar democracy icon and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi as well as leaders of Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and Singapore. He will also attend the ASEAN-India summit with 10 other countries, where a free trade agreement is being discussed.

Ø Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads the reconstituted government committee for the year-long project to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Jawaharlal Nehru. The committee held its meeting on November 1.