The India-Myanmar-Thailand Joint Task Force meeting on the trilateral highway project was held here in which all sides reviewed the present status of the project and discussed future steps.
It was recalled that the idea of a trilateral highway from Moreh in Manipur to Mae Sot in Thailand through Myanmar was conceived at the trilateral ministerial meeting on transport linkages in Yangon in April 2002.
The trilateral highway represents the most significant step in the establishment of connectivity between India and South East Asian countries.
This was visualized as a highway of opportunity and friendship that would facilitate not just the movement of goods and services but also of people and ideas, a Ministry of External Affairs statement said.
It added the three countries agreed to make all efforts to establish the trilateral connectivity by 2016.
The meeting also also agreed that steps be initiated to address issues related to harmonisation of customs and immigration procedures at border checkposts to enable seamless movement of goods and people to realise the full potential of the trilateral highway.
"It was agreed that the next meeting of the Task Force would take place in Myanmar or Thailand on mutually convenient dates.
"It was also agreed that a ministerial meeting on transport linkages may be considered after finalisation of the alignment and financial arrangements," the statement said.
