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Arakan Region: A Maritime Gateway for the Future Development of Mizoram and Chin State
Updated: Sep 19
Kyaw Zan ၊ Opinion ၊ September 11, 2026
In his 1776 book The Wealth of Nations, Scottish economist Adam Smith pointed out that expanding access to trade and markets is one of the key factors in the development and prosperity of a country or region. Western countries that followed and practiced ideas along these lines subsequently became wealthy and prosperous, developed strong military and political power, and came to dominate the world. Throughout world history, there has also been a long-standing geopolitical and geoeconomic competition between landmass powers and maritime powers, and historical lessons indicate that the latter have generally enjoyed greater advantages in terms of power. This has been particularly evident among countries in Europe and North America.
Maritime trade has become more dominant than land-based trade for many reasons. The main advantages include: (1) transportation costs that can be 10 to 30 times lower for a given volume of goods; (2) lower fuel consumption in water transportation; (3) the ability to transport much larger quantities of goods; (4) less need to construct, repair, and maintain physical roads and bridges; and (5) the ability to trade with almost every part of the world. At present, approximately 80–90 percent of global trade is transported by sea. Consequently, whether on a continent or within an individual country, coastal regions are often the starting points and major centers of economic development. Some of the clearest examples are Shanghai, Singapore, New York, and Dubai, among the world's wealthiest cities.
The Geographical Advantages of the Arakan Region
The Arakan region has historically been a place where ancient civilizations flourished. During the periods of Dhanyawadi, Vesali, Lemro, and Mrauk-U, the region maintained extensive trade and economic connections with neighboring countries and regions. By the Mrauk-U period in the 16th and 17th centuries, its commercial relations expanded significantly with Western maritime powers such as the Portuguese and Dutch, as well as with regional areas including India, Sri Lanka, Bengal, Burma, Mon territories, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
The Arakan navy also protected and controlled maritime trade along the eastern side of the Bay of Bengal, from Chittagong to Cape Negrais. In other words, the prosperity of the Arakan region during those periods was largely generated by maritime trade. The royal capital of Mrauk-U was even frequently compared with Venice, one of Europe's wealthiest cities. But, after the independence of Burma, Rakhine became the second poorest state after Chin. (Note: The underdevelopment of the Arakan region after independence has been caused by the lack of self-government and politically oppressive rule.)
The region's geographical position has not changed in the 21st century. At present, the Arakan coastline stretches approximately 713 kilometers from the Naf River to Cape Negrais, or approximately 640 kilometers if measured only to Gwa. This coastline, together with its plains, the Arakan mountain range and its subsidiary ranges, major and minor rivers, and numerous large and small islands, constitutes the basic geographical structure of the Arakan region.
The long coastline, marine resources including fish and shrimp, valuable offshore mineral resources, extensive plains suitable for rice and other crops, and forest and mountain resources are all important sources of livelihood for local communities and potential resources for future development.
Landlocked Mizoram and Chin State
Although India is the world's fourth-largest economy, Mizoram, located at the southern end of India's northeastern region, remains among the country's three poorest states and has lagged behind in development. The Mizo people are educated and aspire to modernization and development, but geographical barriers pose major challenges.
Its neighboring Chin State is similarly one of the poorest states/regions in Myanmar. The two areas share many similarities geographically, historically, ethnically, religiously, and economically. One of the most important similarities is that both lack direct access to the sea, which is essential for trade and economic activities with other parts of their respective countries as well as with neighboring countries.
The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, which the Indian government aims to complete by 2027, therefore has a potentially important role in the development of these mountainous regions, including the Arakan region.
In particular, Mizoram faces significant difficulties in connecting with India's more developed regions—especially major cities in central and southern India—through the geographically vulnerable Siliguri Corridor ("Chicken's Neck"). This results in considerable expenditure of time, money, and human effort. As a mountainous region, Mizoram also faces significant transportation difficulties during the rainy season.
For example, the land route from Mizoram to the commercial center of Kolkata is approximately 1,764 kilometers, whereas, if transportation were possible through Sittwe in accordance with the Kaladan project, the distance would be only about 882 kilometers, reducing the distance by approximately 50 percent. As a result, many essential commodities from mainland India could reach Mizoram more easily, while Mizo products could also gain access to much broader markets.
The same applies to the development of Chin State, which borders the Arakan region. Before the 2021 military coup, when the roads had not yet been blocked, transporting goods to the mountainous towns of northern and southern Chin State was already long and difficult, and commodity prices were significantly higher than normal.
To reach northern towns such as Falam, Hakha, Tedim, and Thantlang, goods had to pass through cities such as Mandalay, Sagaing, Monywa, Kalay, Magway, and Gangaw. Similarly, goods transported to southern towns such as Mindat, Matupi, and Kanpetlet had to pass through areas including Pakokku, Kyaukhtu, and Saw in Magway Region. If goods came from ports such as Yangon or from the Ayeyarwady region, the journey would be even longer.
At the same time, transportation routes to the mountainous areas of Chin State could be blocked or restricted at any time by the military regime through what is commonly known as a “Four Cuts” strategy.
However, if a trade route could be developed from the Sittwe–Paletwa side toward Mindat and Matupi, and from there onward to northern Chin towns, the flow of goods and transportation could become considerably easier, much as it could for Mizoram.
As a result, the people of Chin State would not have to depend exclusively on the eastern parts of the country for development. The Arakan coast, as a major southwestern gateway, could create new opportunities and enable the people of Chin State to benefit from economic development.
From Challenges to Opportunities
At present, Arakan, Mizo, and Chin are located within a triangular region where Myanmar, India, and Bangladesh meet, and all three remain relatively underdeveloped regions. Among them, the people of Chin and Arakan have also suffered from killings and repression by the Myanmar military regime and have been resisting to prevent the military council from retaking territories, while many civilians have been killed and towns and villages have been burned.
According to some sources, since the military coup, approximately 500 civilians in Chin State and around 1,000 in Arakan have been killed by the military regime.
Nevertheless, the geographically interconnected peoples of Chin, Mizo, and Arakan must work together and overcome their current difficulties and challenges through unity and cooperation.
Broadly speaking, Mizoram has a population of around 1 million, Chin State around 500,000, and Arakan at least 2 million. If the proposed trade corridor connected to maritime trade can be successfully developed, approximately 4 million people across these regions could potentially benefit from the resulting development opportunities.
On the other hand, the common adversary, the military regime, will continue attempting to divide and rule among ethnic brotherhoods. For revolutionary forces, it is therefore important to strengthen their economic foundations in order to sustainably protect and administer the territories they control.
Military strength is fundamentally based on population and economic wealth, while wealth is directly connected to the expansion of trade and productive economic activities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Arakan region should be viewed not only as a region with its own development potential, but also as a potential maritime gateway for the future development of neighboring Mizoram and Chin State.
Within the coming decade, the Arakan coast could potentially emerge as a maritime gateway connecting Arakan, Chin State, and Mizoram to wider regional and international trade networks, creating new opportunities for economic development and prosperity for all three interconnected regions.
