India and Myanmar share a 1,643 km border, offering significant opportunities for trade, connectivity, and regional integration. Despite historical and cultural ties, border infrastructure, trade facilitation, and regulatory frameworks remain underdeveloped, limiting economic potential. This study aims to address these gaps by assessing trade flows, infrastructure bottlenecks, and policy challenges, while providing actionable recommendations for strengthening bilateral cooperation.

 

Key focus areas include enhancing border infrastructure at critical trade nodes like Moreh, Zokhawthar, Nampong, and Avangkhu, improving trade efficiency through customs digitization and multimodal connectivity, and aligning India’s exports with Myanmar’s import demand to boost bilateral trade. The study also examines major connectivity projects, such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP), which are crucial for integrating India with Southeast Asia. Additionally, the study explores the socio-economic impact of improved connectivity, highlighting employment generation, business expansion, and people-to-people engagement. Given the suspension of the Free Movement Regime (FMR), it also addresses security concerns while advocating for policies that balance trade facilitation with border management.

Following extensive field-work and on-ground assessments; the research will provide strategic insights and policy recommendations to formalize trade, strengthen logistics infrastructure, and position India’s Northeast as a vital trade hub. By unlocking the full potential of the India-Myanmar border, this initiative aims to drive regional stability, economic growth, and deeper connectivity.