With regard to the situation in Rakhine, following the completion of the first Indian project to build 250 prefabricated houses which were handed over to the Myanmar government this July, Modi expressed India’s readiness to carry out more socio-economic projects in the state. He emphasized that the speedy, safe and sustainable return from Bangladesh of displaced people to their homes in Rakhine was in the interests of the region, the displaced persons, and all three neighbouring States: India, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The Sittwe Port in Myanmar, constructed with India’s assistance, is part of the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project.

Its objective is to create a multi-modal sea, river and road transport corridor for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar through the port as well as to the northeastern region of India via Myanmar. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between India and Myanmar on October 22, 2018 for the operationalization of the port.