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India inks $29.24 mn sonar deal with Myanmar
February 19, 2014, 11:23 am

While, the EU and the US permanently ended sanctions against Myanmar last year, they maintained an arms embargo on the Southeast Asian nation [Getty Images]

While, the EU and the US permanently ended sanctions against Myanmar last year, they maintained an arms embargo on the Southeast Asian nation [Getty Images]

India has signed a $29.24 million deal to sell Indian-developed sonar equipment to Myanmar, Defence Minister A K Antony said on Wednesday.

Indian electronics firm, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) signed a contract for the supply of three “hull-mounted sonars” with the government of Myanmar on January 16, 2013, the Minister told Indian lawmakers on Wednesday in a new highlight of Asian regional cooperation.

Contrary to earlier reports, he said India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation is not involved in export as it has been given the mandate for research and development of various systems and technologies for the use of the armed forces.

BRICS members China and India have formed an intergovernmental body with Bangladesh and Myanmar for the BCIM economic corridor in December last year.

Consultations have been held earlier on the feasibility of a BCIM Economic corridor, a region host to 40% of the world’s population. The belt hopes to retrace the lost trails and revive commercial trade in the ‘Southern Silk Route’.

Both India and China have been allies of Myanmar (earlier called Burma) through the country’s transition from military dictatorship to civilian rule even as it grappled with western sanctions.

While, the EU and the US permanently ended sanctions against Myanmar last year, they maintained an arms embargo on the Southeast Asian nation.

The military government that had run the country also known as Burma for five decades stepped aside in 2011.

 

TBP and Agencies