The Indian – Myanmar – Thailand Friendship Rally will start from India on 15 November 2016. The rally will feature around 25 cars (SUV’s) and 100 participants.
The ceremonial flag- off will be in New Delhi and the rallywill culminate in the first week of December in Bangkok. The epic 4618 kilometre journey will take the drivers and their teams through Northern India, crossing Myanmar to Mandalay, then into Thailand through to Bangkok.
The IMT Friendship Rally will seek-
- To promote direct physical connectivity by road, rail and air between North-East India, Myanmar and Thailand for more Trans- Border Trade and Investment.
- To promote North-East India, Myanmar and Thailand as the land corridor and gateway to South-East Asia and the Far East.
- To re-establish and strengthen the age-old historical linkages, culture and linguistic affinities of the people of the regions.
- To promote the “Act East” policy of the Government of India in the perspective of NE India with South-East Asian countries.
India, Thailand and Myanmar are currently working on a 1,400-kilometre-long highway that will link India with South-East Asia by land for the first time in decades, giving a boost to trade and cultural exchanges between the three countries.
Indian ambassador to Thailand Bhagwant Singh Bishnoi said 73 bridges in Myanmar, built more than seven decades ago during World War II, were being renovated with funding from India to allow vehicles to cross the highway safely.
The ambassador added that when the repair work is completed in 18 months, the highway could be opened to traffic from all three countries.
The Friendship Rally is fully supported by the respective governments of the three countries.