By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Stressing on the need to increase the volume of trade and commerce between the region and its neighbouring countries, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma has said that the Union Government was in favour of increasing the volume of trade between the Northeastern region and the neighbouring countries.
“There is a plan to use the Land Custom Station at Dalu in West Garo Hills as a transit port for trade and commerce between Bhutan and Bangladesh,” Dr Sangma said on Thursday while speaking during a function to observe the International Customs Day which coincides with the Golden Jubilee of the Customs Act, 1962.
He also informed that there is a proposal for construction of a bridge over the Brahmaputra in Dhubri, Assam connecting Phulbari in Meghalaya.
“This bridge would be used as a transit for trade with the neighbouring nations,” the Chief Minister added.
He also emphasized on the importance of trade and commerce between the Northeastern region and the neighbouring nation saying that the region shares 98 per cent of its border with Bangladesh while mainland India shared on 2 per cent border.
Dr Sangma also stressed on the need for value addition of products exported from the region which would amplify trade and raise the income of the local people.
He also called upon the top businessman to invest in sectors where they can assist in giving value addition to those products which are currently exported from the region as a raw material.
Assam, Meghalaya lead in trade through LCSs
Meghalaya ranks second behind Assam in terms of import and export through the Land Custom Stations (LCSs) among the Northeastern states.
As per statistic made available during the observation of the International Customs Day and the commemoration of the 50 years of the Customs Act, 1962, it was observed that the total estimate of exports from Meghalaya through the LCS was around Rs 383.95 crore while imports stood at Rs 9.45 crore for the period 2010-11.
From amongst the 24 functional LCSs in the North East, the LCS at Borsora, West Khasi Hills district bordering Bangladesh has emerged as the biggest trading hub with a total trade (both import and export) worth Rs 461.93 crore in 2010-11.
The inauguration of the border haat at Kalaichar in West Garo Hills in July last year, has also augmented the border trade, it was observed. Till December last year, the border haat had recored exports worth Rs 11.32 lakh while the imports stood at Rs 3.15 lakh.
Coal and tea have emerged as the major export components from the region accounting for 88 per cent of the total volume of trade. In 2010-2011, the exports for coal and tea brought in Rs 861.14 crore while the import figures were pegged at Rs 300.93 crore.
Coal, tea, limestone and boulders for construction constituted the major items of export, while cement and other manufactured products like waste of wool, waste of cotton, non-knitted articles of synthetic fabric, mosquito net, PVC plastic sheets/pipes/tubes, furniture, household articles of plastic, broken/crushed stones, building bricks, jute products and chemicals were the major items imported.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate, Northeast region, B Thmar, has informed that the Customs made seizures to the tune of Rs 34 crore in 2010-11 while till December last year, the seizures were worth around Rs 18 crore. He also informed that the Customs destroyed around 20 tons of cannabis valued at Rs 10 crore in 2010 while 12 tons valued at Rs 6 crore were destroyed in 2011.