BCIM car rally flagged off, enters Myanmar
CM hopes rally puts State on development map
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 27 2013: Inspite of the Kuki State Demand Committee enforcing 'public blockade' in Kuki dominated areas, the BCIM (Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar) Car Rally, aimed at reviving the ancient trade route, has crossed into Myanmar without any incident.

Manipur-leg of the rally was flagged-off this morning from the historic Kangla by Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who expressed confidence that the Confederation of Indian Industryinitiated car rally will not only revive historical ties and links among the people of South East Asian countries but will provide new impetus in the implementation of the look East Policy.

Announcing that the Ministry of External Affairs has decided to provide 'Visa on Arrival' facility at Moreh for Myanmarese citizens in order to visit India, especially Manipur to get health care facilities, he expressed hope the Ministry would also ease travel restrictions between India and its neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and China to promote healthier people-to-people contact.

BCIM car rally flagged off

Recognising the need and importance of inter-dependency among the people in their efforts to realise the dreams of development, it is imperative to open all available channels of transport and communication, opined the Chief Minister and suggested that ensuring harmonious movement of goods and services and people across the borders would provide the much needed boost in improving relations between the neighbouring countries.

Speaking on the State's context, he referred to the london Olympics bronze medallist MC Mary Kom as a shining example of manipur awaiting proper exposure and assistance to compete with the best in the field of games and sports.

Pointing out to the rallyists comprising Indians as well as many foreign participants, that Manipur is the place of which gave Polo to the world, Ibobi also conveyed that along with plentiful natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, Manipur possesses huge potential for development of tourism industry.

He also expressed confidence that the State in the near future would be in a position to export Manipuri silk to the neighbouring countries.

Apart from Ministers, MLAs and high ranking security and civil officials, CII Eastern Region chairman RK Agarwal and Tata motors Managing Director Karl Slym were also present at the flag-off ceremony.

The rallyists arrived here late last night from Jiribam.

The rally of 25 SUVs, comprising 13 Bangladeshis, 20 from China, 25 Indians and 17 Myanmarese nationals, is scheduled to wind up in Kunming, china on march 5.As the rallyists drove out of Kangla, school children waved flags of the four participating nations to wish them safe journey.

In view of KSDC agitation, adequate security arrangement was made along the rally route.

At Moreh, where the rallyists arrived at around 3 pm, members of the Bangladesh team described the Jiribam-Imphal stretch as the worst section in the entire route till date.

During a brief interaction with mediapersons prior to having lunch at the last town on the indian side, one of the rallyists commented that riding on horse-back would be more convenient mode of travel from Jiribam to Imphal.

Even as district administration clamped CrPC 144 as a preventive measure in view of the KSDC agitaton at the border town which has substantial Kuki populace, the agitating KSDC also imposed its own version of 'public curfew' and put up black flags at different locations of the town to air their grievances against the government of Manipur.

However, the rally crossed Moreh towards Myanmar without any incident.

Large number of Myanmarese nationals also gathered at Moreh to cheer the rally participants.

After a traditional lunch hosted by the Commerce and Industries Department, Commerce and industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam flagged off the last leg of the indian-section at Moreh.

The flag-off ceremony was also attended by Tengnoupal AC MLA DK Korungthang, DC (chandel) and top officials of Commerce and Industries Department.

The rally, was flagged off from Kolkata on February 22 and after completing the Bangladesh leg re-entered India at Jiribam via Silchar yesterday morning.

It is said that more than six decades after an ancient trade route was closed post World War II, the BCIM hopes to retrace the lost trails and revive commercial trade in the 'Southern Silk Route' with the 3,000-km car rally from Kolkata to Kunming in China.

It is said that the rally would not only achieve the unique feat of reviving the ancient route but would also demonstrate symbolically that China is not far away from India.

The route through which the Rally cars will travel are also in the most underdeveloped areas of the four nations, thus having enormous potential to improve trade activities in case basic facilities are put in place by the respective countries.

The idea to hold a rally between Kunming and Kolkata took shape with a resolution at the 2006 Delhi (BCIM) Forum meeting and the suggestion was soon affirmed between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao later in the same year with a joint communique.

CII then initiated dialogue with its counterpart organisations and governments in Bangladesh and Myanmar for this car rally.

80 participants from the four countries will participate in 20 SUVs in the BCIM Car Rally.