Recession, militancy hit Indo-Myanmar trade

http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=dec2608/at06

SURAJIT KHaUND
GUWAHATI, Dec 25 – Global financial crisis, poor infrastructure and law-and-order problem have made a huge impact on Indo-Myanmar border trade in 2007-08. Though the Commerce Ministry has taken a slew of measures in order to increase the volume of trade, yet bilateral trade across the border has not witnessed any significant improvement. According to official statistics available with the Manipur Government, border trade between North-east and Myanmar has plummeted causing concern for the traders. What is more alarming is that the quantum of export has dipped significantly compared to import during the last fiscal. In 2007-08, export and import figures had been recorded at Rs 6.02 crore and Rs 416.30 crore respectively whereas in 2006-07, the figures stood at Rs 62.13 crore and Rs 178 crore.

The fall in volume of trade is apparently due to poor law-and-order situation and lack of infrastructure. Worried over the situation, many traders have withdrawn their business from Moreh.

Moreh, the main trade point of the North-east with Myanmar, remained closed on 15 occasions following bandhs called by the militant groups and other social organisations operating in the area, causing major disappointment among the traders. Traders of the region involved in export and import had to face a tough time while pursuing business with Myanmar. “We need proper storage facilities at Moreh while exporting our goods to Myanmar. Despite demands, we have not been able to convince the Centre in this regard”, a group of traders told this correspondent. To substantiate their claims, the traders alleged that they had apprised of the situation to the Manipur and Mizoram governments urging them to take appropriate steps for smooth conduct of trade which has not materialize so far.


Perennial militancy problem was one the reasons for poor trade between North-east and Myanmar. Frequent incidents of firing between security forces and underground members had a big impact on border trade between the countries.

Similarly, illegal trade was a matter of concern for the Manipur Government and the Union Commerce Ministry as well. The volume of illegal trade has reached such a magnitude that the Indian Government had decided to set up a composite checkpost at the Moreh trade point.

The Indo-Myanmar Border Traders’ Union (IMBTU), the main trade body of Manipur which has been pursuing trade with Myanmar, has blamed the Centre for poor trade volume.

“The Centre recently increased the tradeable items from 22 to 42, but unfortunately proper notification is yet to be made in this regard,” WN Singh, a senior member of IMBTU told this correspondent today. He also alleged that the Commerce Ministry is not at all sincere as far as bilateral trade is concerned. “Despite our repeated demands the ministry has turned a blind eye in this regard,” he added.