Boost to border trade on the anvil
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 08: With the Myanmar Government finally agreeing in principle to the proposal of the Government of India, normal or free trade is likely to be introduced in place of the ongoing Indo-Myanmar border trade here very soon.

This was disclosed by the Joint Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India TS Tirumurti while talking to mediapersons here today.

Trimuti interacting with the media at Moreh to boost border trade

Tirumurti said that the Myanmarese Government has agreed in principle to the proposal of the Government of India for converting the ongoing Indo-Myanmar border trade activities at Moreh into normal trade activities.

However, before implementation of the same, the neighbouring countries need to put in place certain internal arrangements, he added.

After finalisation of these internal arrangements, border trade will be made normal trade, he said.

When pressed for a tentative date for introducing normal trade as opposed to trading on restricted items currently in practice, the Joint Secretary said that it can only be known after a joint meeting of the officials of the two neighbouring countries due to be held at New Delhi sometime during this month.

Necessary banking arrangements and other technical matters related to listing of the trade items are needed to be sorted out , he explained.

Earlier during the day, interacting with community leaders, Meira Paibis, student leaders and Government officials at headquarters of 24 Assam Rifles, Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Basker Mitra, who is also currently at the border town, disclosed that Myanmarese Government was hesitant of the proposal for normal trade at first and it was only recently that the proposal has been agreed in principle.

Consequently to the agreement of the Myanmarese Govt, the bank authorities of both the neighbouring countries are looking into the technical aspects of introducing letter of credit system instead of the barter system being followed, Basker said.

He expressed confidence that introduction of normal trade would be able to bring about some developmental changes in the border town even if there is no adequate infrastructures at present.

As of now there is no plan for introducing bus service between Mandalay and Imphal.

However, permission would be granted for going to Mandalay from Imphal through the existing service from Tamu, he added.

The Ambassador declined from giving any comment on issues related to Indo-Myanmar border fencing and driving out UGs from Myanmar although he maintained that the Government of India has been keeping a close watch on the scenario of security in the border areas.