India-WB sign $107m deal to connect Mizoram with BD, Myanmar

The government of India and the World Bank (WB) on Friday signed a US $107 million credit agreement for the Mizoram State Roads-II Regional Transport Connectivity Project to improve transport connectivity in Mizoram and help open up the potential for regional trade among neighbouring countries. The project will enhance Mizoram's road linkage with Bangladesh, as well as Myanmar. A WB press release issued in New Delhi said the Mizoram State Roads Project helped build or rehabilitate over 400 kilometres of the state's core road network, reducing travel time by half, and triggering significant socioeconomic benefits in the project area. It said the link to Bangladesh will facilitate greater bilateral trade in the northeastern region of India. The link to the border with Myanmar will facilitate connectivity to Myanmar and the rest of East Asia and beyond. The impacts on trade and employment will be felt at two levels, intra-state and between Mizoram and neighbouring states and countries, namely Bangladesh and Myanmar. According to estimates, annual intra-regional trade in the region can more than double from $16 billion to $38 billion annually, if barriers to trading with neighbours are removed. According to another estimate, investments in transport infrastructure could reduce trade costs by more than 20% in India, and 12.5% in Bangladesh, according to BSS.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/india-wb-sign-107m-deal-to-connect-mizoram-with-bd-myanmar/