Border trade reviewed

Imphal, April 11: India’s ambassador to Myanmar, Aloke Sen, today said physical work under the Kaladan project— an Indo-Myanmar venture— would start by the end of this year.

Sen along with officials from Manipur reviewed the ongoing border trade between the two countries.

“We have done the technical survey for the Kaladan project twice and the physical work would start by the end of this year. However, the introduction of Imphal-Mandalay (Myanmar) bus service would have to be examined further,” Sen told reporters before leaving for Calcutta at the end of a three-day visit here today.

Under the Kaladan project, India will construct a port at Sittwe in Myanmar, about 400km from Aizawl.

Once completed, the project would open links between the Northeast and Myanmar through the sea route and thereby boost trade in the region.

“Both India and Myanmar are very interested in the Kaladan project as it would benefit both the countries. The completion of the project would take five to six years,” Sen said.

Indian Ambassador to visit Imphal

Imphal, Apr 2 : Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, Ashok Sen along with his entourage will arrive at Imphal for his three days visit to the state on April 8 .

During his stay in the state, he will pay a visit to the border town Moreh, official said today.

The ambassador along with his entourage will proceed to Moreh on the next day of his arrival and also pay a visit to the Tamu town on the Myanmar side.

After a nigh halt at the guest house of the 31 Assam Rifles Battalion headquarter, Moreh, he will back Imphal again.

It is pertinent to mention here that in connection with the ensuing elections to the Outer seat of the Manipur scheduled on April 16, a Central is expected to arrive in the state to take stock of the law and order situation of the Indian side at the international border.

Bleak future axe' hangs over border trade

Imphal, March 18 : 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.

Fifth anniversary of IMFA celebrated

Imphal, February  2 : THE VTH foundation day of the Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance (IMFA) was observed today at a solemn function held at the Manipur Press Club here.

Minister, IFCD and YAS, N Biren was the chief guest, MLA Dr I Ibohalbi and MLA RK Anand were the guests of honour and president of IMFA, RK Shivachandra presided over the function.

Addressing the gathering, Minister N Biren said, Manipuri people are a race that has a lot of innate talents and abilities.

But today, due to certain mis-steps in history, the Manipuris appear to live somewhat weakly.

If we have to get out of it, we need to rebuild a united strength, Biren said and added, IMFA has been trying to extend help to and follow the footprints of the Meiteis who have settled in different places outside Manipur, which is very good and highly encouraging.

When the Meiteis unite and build a united strength, the prevailing law and order situation in the state would also be improved, the Minister said.

Minister Biren donated a sum of Rs 20,000 for the proposed construction of a temple of Ibudhou Pakhangba by the Meiteis settled in Myanmar.

MLA Dr I Ibohalbi said, the IMFA has begun opening a bridge for uniting the Meiteis who have settled in separate places.

This is very encouraging, the MLA said and hoped that if IMFA succeeds in building a strong bond between the Meiteis of Manipur and those settled in Myanmar, it might pave the way for uniting all the Meitei people who are settled in separate places in the world.

Dr Ibohalbi expressed concern that once there was a thriving market at Prem Nagar at Moreh, which has now been replaced by Namphalong in Myanmar.

People from Imphal used to purchase merchandise from Namphalong and sell the same at Imphal.

But today businessmen from Kolkata and Guwahati come and buy up all merchandise from Naphalong and take it away, which is causing the Imphal market to die gradually.

MLA RK Anand said, the Look East Policy of Government of India is proposed to pass through Manipur for essential reasons, but there are chances for it to skip over Manipur when the policy becomes reality.

Therefore, the people of the state need to think and prepare themselves, or else the Manipuris could get sunk in the impact of globalisation.

President of IMFA RK Shivachandra narrated interesting stories about skilled and highly talented artisans of Manipur who were forcibly taken away by the Burmese during the period of Seven Years' Devastation.

He narrated how they were not allowed to enter the palace of Burma but made to settle near the palace.

He informed the gathering that Nadaose village is the first place in Burma where the Meiteis were made to settle.

Documentary slide shows of his journeys to different part of Mynamar and other south east Asian countries were also shown at the function.

He said, the ways towards south east Asian countries were far better and more convenient for the people of Manipur for trade and commerce and import of essential commodities than the national highways 39 and 53 .

Mutua Bahadur, a renowned cultural expert, also spoke at the function.

The two MLAs donated Rs 10,000 each for the construction of the temple of Ibudhou Pakhangba in Myanmar.