Imphal, March 17 2009: In comparison with the trade volume recorded since 2003-04, 2008-2009 is likely to go down in the history of the Indo-Myanmar border trade as one of the fiscal years with the lowest trade volume.

According to an official source, since 2003-04 till the current 2008-09, the highest trade volume was recorded during 2007-08 with a total revenue collection of Rs 1,77,13,903 from imports.

However, in the current fiscal year 2008-09, only a meagre revenue collection of Rs 20,40,581 has been recorded till February this year as against the total revenue collection of Rs 92,65,445 during 2003-04, Rs 41,73,018 during 2004-05, Rs 38,12,576 during 2005-06 and Rs 40,09,795 during 2005-06. From the decline in the revenue collection, the Government is well aware that the trade volume has been coming down, the source disclosed.

Citing some of the possible reasons for the decline in trade volume, the source mentioned deplorable condition of the road and bridges, deteriorating law and order situation in the State which is more prominent in the border town of Moreh, thus compelling the import-export code holders to shell out more money as non-Governmental taxes.

Among the 22 trade items agreed upon for the Indo-Myanmar border trade activities, the revenue earned from areca nuts (betel nuts) brought in from Myanmar has been the highest.

Nonetheless, while taking these nuts from Moreh to Delhi, traders have to spend transportation charge at the rate of Rs 20 per kg, the source disclosed.

In order to improve the border trade activities, the Director General of Forest Trade (DGFT) had issued a public notice on November 11 last year announcing inclusion of 18 new items of trade over and above the 21 items already agreed upon.

The newly added trade items are bicycles and its parts, life saving drugs, fertiliser, insecticide, cotton fabric, Lungi, stainless steel utensils, menthol, agarbati, perfumery compounds, spices, chemical, cosmetic, cotton yarn, textiles and dress materials, Pan masala, Zarda, animal skins/hides, Soya nuggets, other food items and motor cycle.

Even though these 18 trade items were recently included from November last year, none of the export-import code holders have traded in these items so far, the source disclosed.

After the introduction of the Indo-Myanmar border trade in 1995, State Level Export Promotion Committee (SLEPC) was set up to improve the border trade activities.

To monitor the progress of the border trade activities, the Committee is also supposed to meet four times in a year to review the activities.

But so far the Committee has only met six times.

The failure of the Committee led by the Chief Secretary of the State to convene its meeting in time is yet another reason for the declining border trade, the source maintained.

The construction work of the warehouse, chowkidar quarters, ring road and diversion road of NH-39 under the ASIDE Scheme in connection with improvement of the border trade which MANIDCO had entrusted with the SLEPC has been found wanting on many counts, the source added.

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