Indo-Myanmar-Thai car rally

IMPHAL, NOVEMBER 23: Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh has flagged off the India-Myanmar-Thailand (IMT) Friendship Car Rally from Hotel Classic Grande in Imphal this morning. Wishing the participants a happy and safe journey, the chief minister said that the event would definitely help in strengthening relations between India and the South East Asian countries. He also said that the rally will give a wide range of experience as the drivers travel from Delhi to Moreh via Imphal and then up to the final destination Bangkok (Thailand) through Myanmar. The IMT Friendship Motor Car Rally was initiated by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, with support from the ministries of External Affairs, DoNER, Tourism, and Petroleum & Natural Gas. The rally was organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Kolkata and Kalinga Motor Sports Club (KMSC), Odisha. The rally began at New Delhi on November 13, and will conclude at Bangkok on December 3 passing en route through Myanmar covering a distance of 5722 kilometres. The teams comprise 76 members (62 Indians, seven Myanmarese and seven Thais) They reached Imphal yesterday. The drivers will be crossing Moreh (India) this afternoon and then en route to Bangkok they will travel Tamu- Kale–Mandalay-Nay Pyi Taw-Yangon-Thaton-Mayawaddy (Myanmar)- Mae Sot (Thailand). The event hopes to promote regional cooperation and connectivity, and fostering social and economic integration of the regions. Business seminars, media conferences and cultural programmes are also going to be organised. The interactions will cover subjects of mutual interests of the three countries on issues of connectivity, safe driving, cultural bonding, business potential, and regional integration, among others. The team leader Praveen Chandra Bhanjdeo of Kalinga Motor Sports Club of Odisha, who is also a sitting MLA of Odisha, said that the Indian team members are from 14 states and representatives of the media like DD Sports, the Week etc., are also taking part. Three members from Manipur are also taking part.