India signed a MoU with Department of Marine Administration for a Small-Scale Development Project (SDP) to support capacity building and livelihood development for seafarers in Myanmar on June 27.

The MoU was signed by Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur and Dr Ko Ko Naing, Director General, Department of Marine Administration, Ministry of Transport and Communications, Myanmar, in Yangon on June 27 to support to a new Small-Scale Development Project (SDP) to support capacity building and livelihood development for seafarers in Myanmar, the Indian Embassy said.

The MoU signing ceremony was attended by senior officials of the Myanmar government, Port Managers of Kaladan MULTI-MODAL Transit Transport Corridor (KMMTTC), India Ports Global Limited at Sittway Port and officials from the Indian Embassy.

The project includes financial support for the construction of a simulator-based training centre for seafarers in Yangon and installation of state-of-the-art digital simulators for training, and the project will be implemented as soon as possible.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of the Government of India for Small Development Projects (SDP) was first signed on July 27, 2010 and is valid till July 2030. Under this partnership, the Government of India has already implemented several projects, including a 500-bed hospital in Monywa, Sagaing Region, provision of computers and agricultural machinery to Rakhine State, and support to Home Science Schools in other states and regions of Myanmar.

The Government of India has committed to provide up to US$ 2 million per project for the construction of development infrastructure that has a significant impact on the community.