Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 10:
As a fall out of the Indo-Myanmar Trade Agreement, many goods, consumable as well as non consumable brought in from across the border have become almost an essential household items in every Manipuri family with the goods over-flooding the markets of Manipur.
Apart from foodstuff's, many of the traditional household goods used in a Manipuri family have been slowly and steadily substituted by goods made and brought in from the other side of the border.
When the free trade agreement was signed, only 22 items were covered within its ambit.
But now a wide range of foreign goods from rice to cosmetics, from furniture to bucket and from shoes to electronic items are being brought in.
One important reason for preferring to buy these items is its price.
The goods brought in from Myanmar specially electronic items are selling like hot cakes among the people here as the price of these electronic goods are much more cheaper than those made in India.
It is estimated that goods worth Rs 40 lakhs are brought in from Myanmar to Manipur on an average daily.
But from this side of the border, nothing but some cycle parts are being exported.
Free trade between the two countries, however, have benefited some of the small business men and 'Moreh business' as it is called in common parlance has been increasingly looked upon as a source of earning income for many of the educated unemployed youths.