The Free Movement Regime (FMR) on the Indo-Myanmar Border (IMB) is a mutually agreed arrangement between the two countries that allows tribes living along the border on either side to travel up to 16 km inside the other country without a visa. The FMR has been in place since 2018 as part of the Act East Policy.
The FMR has been beneficial in promoting people-to-people contact and local trade between India and Myanmar. However, it has also been criticized for aiding illegal immigration and drug trafficking. The FMR was suspended in September 2022 due to the Myanmar crisis.
The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway (IMT-TH) project is a significant regional connectivity initiative aimed at establishing a road network that links India's Northeast region with Thailand through Myanmar. The project has the potential to boost trade, commerce, tourism, and people-to-people interactions among the three countries, fostering regional integration and collaboration.
The IMT-TH project faces a number of challenges, including incomplete road networks, construction difficulties, security concerns, implementation of the IMT Trilateral Motor Vehicle Agreement, land acquisition and compensation, funding and financial constraints, and impact on local communities.
The essential factors for successful implementation of the IMT-TH project include infrastructure development, policy coordination, commitment to democratic transition, and multilateral cooperation and engagement.
The Mekong Ganga Cooperation (MGC) is a regional cooperation initiative between India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The MGC was established in 2000 with the aim of facilitating closer contact among the people inhabiting the Ganga and Mekong river basins. The MGC has four areas of cooperation: tourism, culture, education, transportation and communication.
The FMR and the IMT-TH project are two important initiatives that have the potential to boost regional connectivity and cooperation in South Asia and Southeast Asia. The successful implementation of these projects will require the cooperation and commitment of all stakeholders.