India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway CM flags off Friendship Car Rally
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 23 2016:
Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh flagged off the India-Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Car Rally from Hotel Classic Grande, Imphal this morning.
The rally which began from New Delhi on November 13, reached Imphal yesterday.
Wishing the participants of the a happy and safe journey, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said such a car rally would definitely help strengthen the relationship between India and the South East Asian countries.
He also said that the rally would give the participants a wide range of experience.
The Chief Minister thanked the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of DoNER and other Ministries of Government of India for supporting such rally.
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The IMT Friendship Motor Car Rally is piloted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India with active support from the Ministries of External Affairs/ DoNER/ Tourism/ Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.
The rally is organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Kolkata and Kalinga Motor Sports Club (KMSC), Odisha.
It began from New Delhi on November 13 and will conclude at Bangkok on December 3 after covering a distance of 5722 kms.
The rally team comprising of 76 members (62 Indians, seven Myanmarese national and seven Thai nationals) reached Imphal yesterday.
The car rally will be crossing Moreh (the last border town of India) this afternoon and will continue towards Bangkok.
The team will cross Tamu � Kale �Mandalay � Nay Pyi Taw � Yangon � Thaton � Mayawaddy (Myanmar) � Mae Sot (Thailand).
The rally is being organised with the objective to promote regional cooperation and connectivity, and foster social and economic integration.
Business seminars, media conferences and cultural programmes will be organised en route the rally covering subjects of mutual interests of the three countries on connectivity, safe driving, cultural bonding, business potential, regional integration and others.
The team leader Praveen Chandra Bhanjdeo of Kalinga Motor Sports Club of Odisha is also a sitting MLA of Odisha.
He said the participants are from 14 different States including representatives of media houses like DD Sports, the Week etc.
A team comprising of three members from Manipur are also taking part in the rally.
Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Transport Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, DGP LM Khaute, Commissioner (Transport) M Lakshmikumar and other officials also attended the flag off ceremony.
On the other hand, the Thadou Students' Association (TSA) Chandel and Indigenous People's Development Organisation (IPDO), Chandel jointly welcomed the delegates of India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Friendship Car Rally at Khopinom village today, reports our correspondent.
The rally briefly halted at Khopinom village along Asian Highway (AH) No 1, near Pallel.
Besides presenting traditional shawl of Thadou tribe to the president of IMT Friendship Car Rally, TSA, Chandel president Vum Khongsai and IMT Friendship Car Rally president Praveen also delivered speeches.