Little benefits from the Indo Myanmar Border Trade
Source: Hueiyen News Service / M Karnajit

Imphal, December 27 2011: The Indo Myanmar Border Trade Agreement which was signed between the government of India and the Myanmar government in the year 1994, though it gave some benefits to the people of the state initially, has hardly benefitted the state since 2008 .

Although the Agreement was signed in the year 1994, the agreement came into effect on April 22, 1995.Unlike other Border Trades, the Indo Myanmar Border Trade Agreement is a three tier system with 22 items which initially started off with 22 export-import items.

As a result of the positive outcome of the agreement another 18 items were further added to the existing 22 items in 2008 under a Public Notice.

The agreement which initially gave some advantages to the state proved to be of little benefit to the state's economy.

According to the Annual Report of Export and Import brought out by the Directorate of Commerce and Industries, GoM, the year wise volume of trade, from 1995 to 2011 were, a total of Rs 15,84,26,811 for the year 1995-96, Rs 46,88,15,231 for the year 1996-97, Rs 57,53,07,753 for the year 1997-98, Rs 8,80,49,326 for the year 1998-99, Rs 6,93,63,143 for the year 1999-2000, Rs 5,48,56,053 for the year 2000-01, Rs 9,54,79,600 for the year 2001-02, Rs 15,81,35,249 for the year 2002-03, Rs 16,80,73,705 for the year 2003-04, Rs 10,65,26,809 for the year 2004-05, Rs 7,39,17,854 for the year 1005-06, Rs 63,90,64,018 for the year 2006-07, Rs22,31,36,686 for the year 2007-08, Rs 2,39,88,033 for the year 2008-09, Rs 5,15,69,812 for the year 2009-10 and Rs 2149820 for the year 2010-11 .

Watham Nabachandra, President of Indo-Myanmar Border Trade Agreement, speaking to this reporter said that initially the Border Trade Agreement did give a boost to the economy of the state and also provided means of livelihood to many unemployed youths of the state.

But with the increase in the number of items being allowed for import and export between the two countries, another 18 items were given free entry and exit.

But unfortunately these items found few takers in local market, at the same time the quality of these items were also very low.

So the import and export of the later items slowly went down, thereby decreasing the benefits given by the Agreement to the economy of the state.

He further said that, if at all, benefit is to be derived from the free trade agreement, then items such as dry fish which is consumed by large sections of the people in the state should be allowed to be imported.

All traders should also be included in the State Level Export Grievances Cell.

If there is a separate Directorate for Trade in the state as found in other states of India, then the trade agreement would definitely give a whole lot of advantages to the people of the state and also helps in developing its economy.

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