A renewed sense of optimism prevails in the air around the Asian continent. Asian countries are increasingly interested in collaborating, and India is playing a huge part in brewing this favorable milieu. For instance, Bangkok will soon be connected with Kolkata by road! The Kolkata Bangkok Highway will be a great omen toward achieving this togetherness among the Asian countries. The two prominent cities in Asia will be connected via the Kolkata Bangkok highway and enhance links between India and Thailand. The trilateral highway, a part of the BIMSTEC project, is looking at three to four years for commissioning.

The road will start from Bangkok and go through prominent cities such as Sukhothai and Mae Sot in Thailand, Yangon, Mandalay, Kalewa, and Tamu in Myanmar, before reaching India. The highway will pass through Moreh, Kohima, Guwahati, Srirampur, and Siliguri in India before reaching Kolkata. Similarly, it is interesting that the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang, recently requested the Centre to construct an international business corridor in West Sikkim for enhanced connection with Nepal, claiming that it will stimulate development in the Himalayan state.

Nepal and India have completed several major flagship projects in recent years, including the first cross-border petroleum products pipeline in South Asia from Motihari in India to Amlekhgunj in Nepal. Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ held wide-ranging talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to India, focused on boosting cooperation between the two countries in several areas,including trade, energy and connectivity infrastructure. The mutually beneficial ties among Asian countries will transform the business environments around Asia.

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