Itanagar: Border trade through Pangsau Pass along the Indo-Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh would be made operational soon, Union Minister of State for Trade and Commerce and Industries E M S Natchiappan has said.
During his two-day visit to Nampong and Jairampur in Changlang district on Saturday along with Union minister of state for Minority Affairs Ninong Ering, he said the Centre was committed to start border trade through this historical route at the earliest, official sources said on Monday.
Promising Centre’s full support to develop Nampong as an important international trading hub and “India’s gateway to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)”, he suggested the state government organise an investors’ meet at Nampong to capitalise on its trading potential.
Ering said that Arunachal Pradesh could transform the economy of the northeast region if Indo-Myanmar trade was opened through Pangsau Pass and India-China trade potential was explored through Kibithoo in Anjaw, Gelling in Upper Siang and Taksing in Upper Subansiri.
These trading routes were very well connected and all-weather high volume trade could be carried on through them, he said.
The ministers along with Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture and Horticulture Minister Setong Sena visited the market area of Pangsau Pass to assess the available infrastructure. They also interacted with a delegation of Myanmarese officials and traders and discussed trade readiness through this route.
Stressing on the need to open this trade route early to bring the Look East Policy into motion, Sena urged upon the two Central Ministers to make Arunachal Pradesh a member of the high level committee on promotion of trade and commerce between India and Myanmar.
Changlang deputy commissioner Chanchal Yadav highlighted the need to set up a border haat at Zero Line, appointing a land customs staff and including more items in the list of permissible items to be traded through the border route.
She also suggested a special policy on capacity building for the locals, so that they could utilise the international rading opportunity.
The Centre had approved opening up of a border haat at Pangsau Pass along the Indo-Myanmar border in March this year to boost border trade with South East Asia in tune with its ‘Look East Policy’.
Chief Minister Nabam Tuki had last year written to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh urging the opening up of border trade on few specific points along the border that Arunachal Pradesh shares with neighbouring countries. (PTI)