The opening ceremony of the Sittway-Kaladan international jetty under the India-funded Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project was held in Sittway Township of Rakhine State yesterday.
First, State Administration Council member Deputy Prime Minister Union Minister for Transport and Communications Admiral Tin Aung San welcomed the Indian delegation led by Minister Mr Shri Sarbananda Sonowal of Ports, Shipping and Waterways at the Sittway-Kaladan international jetty.
At the meeting hall of the port, the relevant officials of A to Z Exim Limited presented the work processes of the port to the Deputy Prime Minister and Indian officials.
Then, Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Vinay Kumar, Rakhine State Chief Minister U Htein Lin and Indian Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mr Shri Sarbananda Sonowal made speeches respectively.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Prime Minister said the opening of the Sittway-Kaladan international port, part of the India-funded Kalandan Multimodal Transit Transport Project, is an achievement that brings benefits not only to India but also to Rakhine and Chin states. As it is a multimodal transport system by linking the sea route, inland waterways and roads, the flow of transport and goods between Rakhine and Chin states will be better and it can develop the socioeconomic status of residents. It will create more job opportunities. It is thankful for the efforts of the two governments as the project creates direct trading services to the regional countries in addition to India through the Sittway port.
Then, the Deputy Prime Minister and Indian Minister pressed the button to inaugurate the monument of the port and exchanged gifts. They also had a documentary photo taken together with the attendees.
They then conducted the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Sittway-Kaladan international jetty at Sittway-Kaladan International Port where the international cargo vessel ITT Lion docked at.
At noon, the Deputy Prime Minister, Indian Minister and party met with the members of the Rakhine State Chambers of Commerce at the Royal Sittwe Resort Hotel. During the meeting, they discussed the potential of bilateral trade, trade volume to regional countries through Sittway Port, economic and job opportunities for Rakhine State residents, transport system between Rakhine State and Chin State.
The Deputy Prime Minister met state-level departmental officials of Rakhine State at the cabinet office to discuss the cyclone that is likely to occur in the Bay of Bengal on 8 May.
During the meeting, the deputy director-general of the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology explained the weather forecast and paths of the storm and the Rakhine State chief minister, the security and border affairs minister and the cabinet secretary reported on the preparations and measures to be conducted in the period of emergency.
Then, the Deputy Prime Minister gave proper instructions.
The Deputy Prime Minister and party then inspected the digging sandbank for 1,262 metres long waterway of Sateyoekya Creek conducted by the Rakhine State budget in 2022-2023 and 2023-2024FYs, nine wells in the Sittway agricultural farm and well-digging processes at Sittway General Hospital. — MNA/KTZH
