“Myanmar is our gateway for Southeast Asia and East Asia, and for our Act East policy [formerly known as the Look East policy] everything begins from Myanmar. We share the common sea, the Bay of Bengal. It is rich in natural agriculture and forest resources. We have a lot of cultural affinities. Myanmar people are hardworking and disciplined,” he said in an exclusive interview.

He noted that as India grows, Myanmar should also benefit from that.

Mukhopadhaya lauded Myanmar’s improvement in engaging with the rest of the world in the past five years and he believes the reform momentum will continue to grow faster in the new government’s term, leading to further improvement in bilateral relations.

As part of India’s foreign policy called the “neighbourhood first policy”, Myanmar is pivotal. Its Act East policy prioritises strengthening relationship with the counties east of India, starting with Myanmar, its gateway to Southeast Asia.

“We had a good relation with the President Thein Sein government and we expect to maintain our good relation with the new government because we have even closer bones of democracy,” Mukhopadhaya said.

“India is also a democratic country. The world’s largest democracy is next to Myanmar.”

He foresees growing cooperation between the two countries in sectors such as agriculture, livestock, fisheries, light industry, oil and gas, power, infrastructure, health, education and tourism.

“No areas will be left out. Many Myanmar people have lived in India. They know India very well. They live or study in India in their period of exile,” he said.

“There are also many people of Indian origin who have been living in Myanmar for many decades. So they have formed a natural bridge with each other … To some extent, both India and Myanmar have been forgotten for historical reasons.

“In the way that Myanmar is opening up, it is quite natural. India is also quite natural – it will mix the connection and establish the relationship.”

India has provided a US$750 million (Bt26.3 billion) line of credit to Myanmar to help improve power transmission lines, roads, ports, telecommunication, railway, irrigation and agriculture.

To move the relations to the next step, a joint consultative committee has been established and headed by foreign ministers. All the ministries of the two governments can participate in the committee in order to develop cooperation in a wide range of areas including health and education, said the ambassador.

He underscored the importance of transport and communication in improving bilateral ties. While pleased with an increasing number of Myanmar pilgrims to Bodha Gaya, he said upgrading of the port between Sittwe and Kolkata and a direct rail link between Mandalay and Imphal were urgently important.

As of February India was the 12th biggest foreign investor in Myanmar with approved investments of $730.65 million. The investments grew quickly in the past two fiscal years. Projects worth $208.89 million were approved in the 2014-15 fiscal year and projects worth $222.22 million were approved in the subsequent fiscal year.

According to the Indian Embassy, bilateral trade between the nations rose from $328 million in1997-98 to $2.18 billion in 2013-14. India is the fifth largest trade partner of Myanmar, the third largest export destination for Myanmar and the seventh largest source of imports into Myanmar.