Imphal, January 12 2009: Manipur is all set to go international ! Lately, the "Switzerland of the East", Manipur, has become the centre of interest and attraction for various international countries like Thailand, Japan, Czech Republic, Myanmar, Bangladesh and the Republic of Korea who are ready to invest in the State.

If reports are to be true these countries have shown their interests in the state of Manipur and are to invest in various sectors such as food, tourism and trade.

As per reports, the neighbouring country Myanmar was one of the first to show interest in the state when a 17 (seventeen) members team comprising of the members of Border Trade Chamber of Commerce (BTCC), Myanmar, industrialists, entrepreneurs and businessmen arrived in the State capital, Imphal on September 3, 2008 with the aim to discuss and improve the trade relations between India and Myanmar especially implementation of road construction between Imphal (India) and Mandalay (Myanmar).

That delegates were headed by U Hla Maung, president of BTCC.

Following that visit, a 7 (seven) points agreement was also signed between U.Hla Muang, president of BTCC and Y.Nabachandra, president of National Identity Protection Committee (NIPCO) on September 6 last which agreed on trading of 22 (twenty-two) items between the two sides.

Even functionalism of Letters of Credit system both by the United Bank of India and the Myanmar Economic Bank, promotion of tourism on both sides were also proposed, as per reports.

Besides these agreements, Manipur's NIPCO also reportedly agreed to cooperate in obtaining visa for pilgrims to Bodh Gaya as travel was possible only by air as per Indian law and not land via Tamu-Moreh.

And following closely behind the heels of this report, a team of experts from Japan were to visit the sericulture office of the state at Sangaipat, Wangkhei in Imphal East which is under construction.

According to various reports, Chief Minister O.Ibobi Singh and various concerned officials and minister of the sericulture department have called for completion of the department at the earliest possible.

According to reports, the team from Japan was supposed to arrive in November last.

However, with the construction of the sericulture office still incomplete there is a possibility that the team might arrive in the month of March this year, stated a report.

Japan, known for its technology and scientific advancement could sure be a big boost to the sericulture department of the state should the proposal to visit materialise.

Besides these countries, Bangladesh and Czech Republic have also reportedly shown interest in investing in the food processing of the State.

According to certain reports, this was conveyed to the state officials during the fourth North East Business Summit which was jointly organised by the ministry of DoNER and the Indian Chamber of Commerce at Guwahati in Assam on September 15-16, 2008 .

Even VISA conveyed its interest of setting up a mining unit in the state, added the report.

Apart from food processing, Czech Republic has also reportedly shown interest in launching a helicopter service between Imphal and Moreh in a bid to boost the bilateral trade between India and Myanmar through Moreh.

In this connection, head of political, development and trade of Czech Embassy at New Delhi, Jan Kreuerter reportedly visited Imphal in December last and even met the chief minister with interest to launch the chopper service between Imphal and Moreh.

As per reports the choppers will have a capacity to carry two tonnes of goods and 20 (twenty) passengers.

And even as the Czech Republic is reportedly looking for a local partner to run the service, this should come as a big relief to the various traders between the two destinations with the recent reports of various crime related news along the route.

Thailand is one country that has lately shown interest in the state of Manipur too.

A report stated that the Thailand government is setting up a Thai Trade Information Centre and Tourism Information Centre at Imphal in order to boost up the trade relations between Manipur and South Asian countries.

This two centres could come up as early as in March this year, stated the report adding that the trade information centre would be open by the Royal Thai Embassy which is based in New Delhi.

According to reports Tharadol Thongraung, Councillor Commercial of the Royal Thai Embassy will soon be visiting Imphal to inspect the site for the Thai Trade Information Centre and that Thongraung himself would personally set up the centre here in the state capital, Imphal.

And the latest report is that the Republic of Korea has shown interest in the state and is ready to invest in various sectors such as sports, IT, language, culture and even man-skill.

According to reports, education minister of the state, L.Jayentakumar met Young Sun-Back, Ambassador of Republic of Korea on December 30 last in Delhi who showed interest in helping the State of Manipur and has asked for proposals from the minister.

According to reports, the Korean ambassador also proposed for a Korean language department in the Manipur University (MU) apart from providing help in sports, IT and culture.

Due to lack of man-skill in Korea, the ambassador reportedly stated that those trained in these sectors with the help of Korea, would then be provided with job opportunities in Korea.

In this connection, the Korean ambassador has reportedly asked for a proposal from the state government.

With all these reports and links with international countries, it appears that the state of Manipur is also all set to go international should all these materialise.

And in a bid to materialise these, reportedly even Manipur has done its bid.

According to reports, T.N.Haokip, minister of Information and Public Relations (IPR) had urged the central government for foreign exchange facilities in the state.

For the moment, Manipur going international does not appear to be a far off dream with steps and processes taken as fast as possible.

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