Bridging borders, boosting growth: Revitalizing northeast India with the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway

The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway (IMT TH) stands at the forefront of regional connectivity initiatives, representing not only a strategic infrastructural undertaking but also a key catalyst for enhanced economic integration across South and Southeast Asia. This paper examines the multifaceted dimensions of the IMT TH project and its proposed eastward extension to Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Viet Nam. Drawing upon a range of studies—including background papers, integrative reports, and policy briefs from ERIA, Observer Research Foundation, RIS, and related institutions—the analysis reveals that while the highway promises significant trade facilitation, regional competitiveness, and socio-economic upliftment for India’s North Eastern Region (NER) and ASEAN economies, several challenges remain. These include infrastructural bottlenecks, complex multilateral coordination, and unresolved security issues. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for harmonizing investment, institutional reforms, and cross-border facilitation mechanisms to fully unlock the transformative potential of the IMT TH corridor.