Aiyar wants to visit Myanmar in January 2005
Oil minister Mani Shankar Aiyar wants to visit Yangon in January 2005 to boost growing oil sector cooperation between India and Myanmar.
We understand Aiyar has set aside a tentative schedule of 6th to 10th January for his Yangon visit. Indias foreign ministry is also enthusiastic about the idea.
In response to an oil ministry communication on the subject, the foreign ministry replied that, our cooperation in various aspects including in the petroleum sector with Myanmar is proceeding positively. Therefore, the oil ministry was told, a visit by the minister of petroleum and natural gas and/or a visit by the Myanmar energy minister to India at a mutually convenient time would be welcome.
Given Mani Shankar Aiyars background as a former career bureaucrat in the foreign ministry, the oil ministry now routinely involves the foreign ministry in all plans by Indian state-owned oil companies to buy overseas equity oil and gas.