NEW DELHI: Border trade between India and Myanmar is likely to be expedited with Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Ninong Ering taking up the issue with the Union Ministry of Commerce here on Tuesday.
After detailed deliberations it was agreed that custom officials would be posted at the land customs station at Nampong and other places to immediately take up trade activities. It was also agreed upon that the Ministry of External Affairs would initiate action for the development of road infrastructure in the bordering areas.
The Myanmar Government would be requested to initiate pending action to set up a corresponding land customs station within their border near Nampong and other places, according to official sources here on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the government of Arunachal Pradesh and other state governments would expedite and send pending project proposals for industrial development in the area to the Ministry of Commerce at the earliest.
The various issues discussed in the meeting include the status of trade activities at the Indo-Myanmar border, Indo-Myanmar border haats at Pangsau Pass (Nampong), road development in the border areas, functioning of the customs office at Nampong, establishment of customs bonded warehouse for trade promotion, making operational the land customs station and posting of customs officials and establishment of integrated check-posts.
Incidentally, India is the largest market for Myanmar’s exports and also its fourth largest trading partner.
The Indian government has worked to extend air, land and sea routes to strengthen trade links with Myanmar and establish a gas pipeline. While the involvement of India’s private sector has been low and growing at a slow pace, both governments are proceeding to enhance cooperation in agriculture, telecommunications, information technology, steel, oil, natural gas, hydrocarbons and food processing.
The bilateral border trade agreement of 1994 provides for border trade to be carried out from three designated border points, one each in Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland and now at Nampong in Aruanchal Pradesh.