Indo-ASEAN car rally to be flagged off on May 27

Our Correspondent

Itagar, April 8: India Asian Friendship Car Rally-2018, a joint initiative of the Centre and the State Governments, is proposed to begin on May 27 next and cover 9000-km across six ASEAN tions.

India ASEAN Friendship Car Rally Association (IFCRA) president Pem Som and consultant M Chandrakeshor Singh had a fruitful discussion with Royal Thai Embassy Minister Counsellor (Commercial) Khun Tharadol Thongruang in New Delhi on Saturday to seek support, a press release informed here today.

It is expected that there will be 45 participants with 15 cars would be flagged off from Tawang in India and  drive en-route  Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietm and Cambodia within 30 days to flag down at Imphal on June 20 this year.

In tune with India's Act East Policy, Union Ministry of Exterl Affairs is supporting the event to foster India-ASEAN friendship, sponsored by Tata Motors Ltd and supported by Royal Thai Embassy. The rally, a self driven expedition with Indian made SUVs, the event aims at promoting trade, tourism and people to people contact by rediscovering the age-old historical linkage and cultural ties with the ASEAN tions.

The rally will also highlight age-old trade route connecting the above tions, which in present scerio have acquired great significance for overland movement of people and goods between India and ASEAN tions.

This is the same route used by Japanese Army and later Indian tiol Army led by Netaji for movement of men and ration to reach Imphal in Manipur and Kohima in galand in India from Singapore during WW-II. It is may be mentioned that IFCRA had successfully organised two friendship car rallies in 2016 & 2017.

Cultural programmes besides business meet with networking dinner is on the chart at Yangon, Vientiane, Hanoi and Thailand in presence of local authorities, the release added.