Indian tourists to get visa on arrival in Myanmar
13 Dec 2018
Myanmar has extended the visa-on-arrival facility to Indian nationals visiting the country from today, which will allow any Indian tourist arriving at any of the three international airports in Myanmar - Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon and Mandalay - to secure a visa on arrival.
Speaking to reporters at a function on Wednesday during President Ram Nath Kovind's five-day visit to Myanmar, India's ambassador to Myanmar Vikram Misri said, "The process has already started and it will be effective from Thursday.
"One of the important outcomes of this visit is that the visa on arrival will be given for Indians arriving by air. This will increase tourism and people to people exchange between the two countries," foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale said.
Highlighting the importance of the visit, Gokhale underlined that President Kovind had excellent meetings with his Myanmarese counterpart U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. He said that the President's visit to Myanmar is to maintain a very positive and forward-looking trajectory and build upon the strong historical ties and also the cordial ties currently shared between the two nations.
"The State Counsellor referred to India as a 'friend', which takes a fair and balanced position on all issues related to Myanmar. The President of Myanmar said that relations with India are already at a high point and will go higher. We reiterated our strong support for Myanmar's unity and territorial integrity," the foreign secretary elaborated.
He expressed hope that bus services from Imphal to Moreh and from Mandalay to Tamu would be operational soon. Gokhale further informed that the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project is reaching the final stages of completion. A port operator for the Sittwe Port would be announced soon.
Stressing that India considers Myanmar as a land and sea link between New Delhi and ASEAN as part of the 'Act East' Policy, the Foreign Secretary said: "We have cross-border links with North East India and Myanmar. Our objective is to fulfill certain key goals including connecting India with South East Asia, building stronger defence, security and economic relations with Myanmar and ensuring our security in the Bay of Bengal."
President Kovind visited Rice Bio-Park and Advanced Centre for Agricultural Research and Education Nay Pyi Taw, which are two flagship development projects, supported by India.
The President also met nine surviving veterans of the Indian National Army in Yangon on Wednesday. During the meeting, President Kovind exchanged warm sentiments to them and said that the country is honoured that these people were a part of the freedom struggle, the foreign secretary noted.