Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 23 2010:
The import and export value of border trade at Moreh, which was raised upto Rs 68 crore a year at the initial stage, has been reduced to Rs 30 crore this year, said principal secretary, O Nabakishore today.
Addressing reporters at Manipur Press Club, the principal secretary cited the reason behind the decline in the trade and commerce was due to disturbances like economic blockade, illegal taxes and technical difficulties in countering by the security forces with the illegal activities.
He said that a delegation comprising officials of Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram had visited Myanmar recently from September 13 to 16 and recalled his experience of the visit which was a part of it.
Nabakishore recalled that the border trade through Moreh of Manipur was started from 1995 after an agreement between India and Myanmar was signed on January 21, 1994 .
At the initial stage, the cross border trade activities was observed a rapid increased but it was slowly declined, mostly importantly due to disturbances coming up in the way of trading.
Taking the opportunity of these disturbances, Nagaland, Mizoram and Assam are trying to take advantage by shifting the trade centre to their states, Nabakishore said.