SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma on Friday called for border trade regulation to check illegal trading that would adversely affect the country’s economy.
Speaking at the two-day international seminar on ‘Border Trade in North East India: A Politico-Economic Perspective’ organised by Women’s College in the city, Sangma referred to pre-Independence days when trade flourished in the remotest and most difficult border areas of the country.
He regretted that post-Independence border trade was not taken advantage of and the borders have become areas of conflict and poverty.
“However, with the long-drawn engagements by successive governments of northeastern states with the Centre and the governments of neighbouring countries to make the international borders the borders of friendship and prosperity, things have started happening,” he said adding, “but we need to move faster and that is why such seminars are important to look at the opportunities and challenges of border trade from politico-economic perspective.”
He said that the opening of two border haats in 2012 — one at Kalaichar in South West Garo Hills and the other at Balat in East Khasi Hills — was a “humble step” of the government to promote the age-old trade relations with Bangladesh. After seeing the success of these border markets, he informed that the State has proposed 22 more border haats, of which four have already been sanctioned.
Highlighting the bottlenecks and challenges that come in the way of promoting border trade, the Chief Minister said convergence of all stakeholders was crucial and expressed hope that the discussions and deliberations in the seminar would culminate into suggestions for policy makers.
Sangma also suggested that such seminars be held on a larger scale “so as to reach out to the youth and motivate them towards entrepreneurship”, adding that there cannot be sustainability of trade and commerce without entrepreneurs.
Earlier, Falguni Rajkumar, Chairman of the Board of Governors, RGIIM-Shillong, said South East Asia “is a divided family broken down by politics of states” and stressed on the need to restore the dynamics of exchange across the borders.
President of Education India Trust, J.B Bhattacharya and former Rajya Sabha MP and President of the Governing Body of Women’s College B.B Dutta also addressed the inaugural session.
The seminar is being attended by delegates from Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, besides hosts of academicians and students from various institutions, including those from beyond the borders.
