Japan to support road network expansion in Asia

[Vikrant]

MUMBAI – The government is planning to help improve transport connectivity in South and Southeast Asia by renovating existing roads and building new ones, sources familiar with the matter said Monday.

The infrastructure support plan, aimed at strengthening economic ties within regions including India and Myanmar, is Japan’s answer to Chinese-led projects launched to link southern China and South Asia by road and rail.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency will be responsible for drawing up the financing and construction plans. It will invite officials from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand to New Delhi in mid-January to brief them on site surveys, the sources said.

Japan expects to confirm a plan with India to proceed with road-building projects in January when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits the country, they said.

The Japanese projects are expected to improve road connectivity between Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Thailand while giving Bhutan and Nepal better access to coastal areas.

Aging road infrastructure and constraints on its capacity and efficiency have become trade barriers between the countries. The economies of Bangladesh, India and Myanmar, for instance, would benefit from new roads in areas where the land transport infrastructure is underdeveloped or inefficient.

Japanese companies in the regions are also likely to profit from improved connectivity because it would improve their supply chains.

But such infrastructure development may not immediately lead to improved trade between countries with unresolved diplomatic issues.

Bangladesh, for instance, has limited cross-border trade with India and Myanmar due to diplomatic constraints.

Japan to support road network expansion in Asia | The Japan Times

 

[SalaamAkir]

Best of luck to them

 

[Vikrant]

Japanese prime minister is in talks with India on a number of infrastructure projects.

---

(Reuters) - India and Japan's talks on nuclear cooperation have gained momentum over the past few months and the two hope for an agreement on civilian nuclear energy soon, leaders of the countries said after meeting on Saturday.

"Our negotiations towards an agreement for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy have gained momentum in the last few months," India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, said in a statement after meeting his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe.

The Japanese prime minister said in a separate statement they had agreed to continue talks "with the view for early conclusion".

Abe's three-day visit to India, which started on Saturday, is underscoring growing business and political ties between the two countries as they face mutual rival China.

An agreement on civilian nuclear energy would open up the Indian market to Japanese players, reflecting another shift in Tokyo's policy on a sensitive issue.

Japan is also looking to sell ShinMaywa US-2i planes, built by ShinMaywa Industries, that could be outfitted for firefighting or as a kind of amphibious hospital and cost an estimated $110 million per unit.

A joint working group has met to explore ways to cooperate on its use and production in India, Singh said.

The two countries are also cooperating on several infrastructure projects.

NAVAL EXERCISE

Japan would extend India a loan of about 200 billion yen ($1.95 billion) for the extension of Delhi's metro underground rail system, Abe said.

He added the two sides had also agreed to step up cooperation on high-speed rail systems.

Abe will be the first Japanese Prime Minister to witness India's Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

India also invited Japan to the Malabar joint naval exercise this year. Indian and U.S. navies conduct their annual Malabar joint exercises in the Bay of Bengal once a year.

India, Japan seek early agreement on nuclear cooperation | Reuters