UG demands force shut down of DGFT office
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Imphal, March 15 2013 :
Seeking Importer Exporter Code (IEC) in Manipur faces difficulties now as the officials of Director General Foreign Trade (DGFT) were forced to pack up and leave the state after some underground organizations reportedly served huge monetary demand notes to them about seven years back.
Any person who wants to carry out business under Indo-Myanmar Border Free Trade Agreement, which has been in effect since 1995, needs to take IEC number.
For this purpose, the Manipur Government entrusted a three-member official team from DGFT, Guwahati and set up a temporary camp office at the complex of Directorate of Commerce and Industries in 1995, said a top official of the directorate on Friday to Newmai News Network.
Traders from the state used to get IEC number easily as the DGFT officials issued it on daily basis on the production of proper documents.
Now, it takes more than 10 days to get it from Guwahati, he said and added that aspiring traders have to face awkward situation every time they apply for this code number which is also known as trade license.
He said Rs 1500 was charged per IEC number till 2010, but now the charge has been reduced to Rs 250 only.
Even so, now the number of persons seeking this code number has been declined to the great extent.
The number of trade items allowed in the Indo-Myanmar Free Trade Agreement has been raised from 22 to 62, but only two-three traders are seen successful from among the 200 merchants who have IEC numbers in respect of Manipur, he added.
"The border trade between India and Myanmar is now nearly paralyzed due to several factors like bandhs, blockades and strikes along the trade routes," he added.