Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has flagged off the first ever India Myanmar Thailand (IMT) Car Rally saying this expedition will bring people together and help in improving relations between these three countries. “This event is much more than a car rally. This will help us in bringing people closer and in turn promote tourism and business,” he said while flagging off the rally from lucknow which started from New Delhi on November 13 and will end at Bangkok on December 3.
He said organising such rallies is common in south India but the Samajwadi Party Government has promoted it in its tenure. “We have organised Chambal rally as these rallies facilitate trade and enhance connectivity between different Indian States with Southeast Asia, he said. “Traditionally, we are a part of a united region. Our civilisation and cultural ties are much deeper and these ties have further enhanced by trade and economic links. These three countries have given immense natural resources and human talent. Thus, the challenge is to implement co-operative regional actions which will promote collective security and development for all individuals,” he said.
The rally is organised jointly by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Department of North Eastern region, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas)and State Governments. Debmalya Banerjee, Regional Director, North India, Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) said that the IMT Car Rally will be a part of our people’s imagination, in showing the essential unity of our unified regions. This Car Rally is being viewed as a journey into the future, and will demonstrate the possibilities of trade, tourism, and people-to-people interactions, he said. Nearly 22 SUVs with 63 team members are participating in the rally.