Kolkata to Kunming (K2K) Car Rally
Translating the Vision of Connectivity into Reality
The first BCIM Car Rally from Kolkata to Kunming (K2K) will take place from 22 February to 5 March 2013 through the active participation of the four partner countries of the BCIM initiative – Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar. It is envisaged that the Car Rally will play a catalytic role in stimulating interest of the concerned stakeholders in deepening cooperation among the BCIM countries. It is thus hoped that the K2K Car Rally will promote the interests of trade, commerce and investment, encourage exploitation of natural resources through joint efforts, encourage cultural exchanges, and enhance the possibilities of tourism and people to people contact in the BCIM region.
The theme of the Car Rally 2013 is Building Bonds, Fostering Friendship. The BCIM Car Rally retraces the historical routes of the Southern Silk Road to highlight the vast potentials of the renewed networks for closer economic, cultural and people to people cooperation. BCIM aims to rejuvenate the ancient links while forging new bonds of connectivity and friendship in the region.
The Car Rally 2013 will be flagged off from Helipad Ground, Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata, India by Smt. Mamata Banerjee, Hon'ble Chief Minister of West Bengal, at 1300 hrs on 22 February 2013. The Rally will cover a distance of more than 3000 km through Bangladesh, India and Myanmar to culminate in Kunming, China. About 80 participants representing the four countries of Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar are participating in the rally in 20 vehicles. The route of the Rally is shown in the route map below.
Kolkata to Kunming(K2K) Car Rally: The Route
The possibility of organising the Kolkata to Kunming Car Rally was first mooted at the Sixth BCIM Forum in New Delhi in 2006. The idea took concrete shape at the Ninth Forum in Kunming in 2010. Governments of the four countries showed keen interest in giving concrete share to the idea. Indeed, the Communiqués issued when the Chinese Prime Minister met the Indian Prime Minister in 2006 and when Bangladesh Prime Minister met the Chinese Prime Minister in 2010, affirmed the suggestion to promote connectivity in the region. Subsequently, a Route Survey was conducted during 9-18 February 2012 to assess the condition of the route, facilities available, and major bottlenecks. 13 participants from four BCIM countries took part in the Route Survey. Hon’ble Minister for Communication Mr Md Obaidul Quader, MP received the participants of the Route Survey when they passed through Dhaka. A reception was accorded to the team when it reached Kolkata on 19 February 2012, where the survey teams shared their experiences with the participants of the 10th BCIM Forum. A special meeting on Car Rally was also held as part of the Forum where possible dates for the Car Rally was discussed. It was decided that the Rally would follow the Kolkata to Kunming route and will coincide with the 11th BCIM Forum to be held in Dhaka.
The K2K Car Rally is the culmination of year-long preparation following the route survey in February, 2012. The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), New Delhi which coordinated the route survey was entrusted with the overall responsibility of taking the lead role in organising the BCIM Car Rally. Focal points were designated in each country to collaborate with the CII. From the Bangladesh side Roads Division, Ministry of Communication, GoB served as the focal point and was entrusted with the task of coordinating the work of the inter-Ministerial Steering Committee in Bangladesh. (It will be possible to monitor the progress of the Car Rally as per the information in the attachment).
CPD is organising a Reception for the Car Rally participants when they reach Dhaka. This special event will take place on 23rd February at 5:00 pm at the Carnival Hall of Bangabandhu International Convention Centre (BICC). Mr Md Obaidul Quader, MP, Hon'ble Minister for Communication, Government of Bangladesh, will be the Chief Guest at this event. Ambassadors of the BCIM countries, participants of the 11th BCIM Forum and distinguished representatives from various sections of the society will be present at this colourful event.
