NORTH-EAST, which shares boundaries with four countries has a huge potential for border trade, which would transform the economy of the region. After India and China agreed to resume trade through Nathula Pass in Sikkim  and encouraged by growing volume of trade across the trade points, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries (UMFCCI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for constitution of a task force to give a boost to the ongoing trade between the two countries. The Task Force will be constituted within three months, which will have five representatives from the North East. Assam Industry Minister, Bhubaneswar Kalita has said the task force would explore the trade potential between India and Myanmar and would identify the areas for future investment. He expressed the hope that the task force would help the young entrepreneurs to expand their trade with Burma. Mr Kalita and a 20-member business delegation of the Federation of Industries and Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) participated in the Made in India Show held in Yangoon recently to display their products. Buoyed by response from the Myanmarese traders, Mr Kalita said,’’ We have received tremendous response from the Myanmar Government and even the Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt and senior officials of the country visited our stalls and expressed their willingness to increase the volume of trade with the region.’’ North-East shares over 600 km border with Myanmar. India had signed a trade pact with Burma in 1994. Since then the volume of trade between the countries has been increasing gradually. To facilitate more trade with Myanmar, the traders of the North-Eastern region have been demanding reopening of the famous Stilwell Road.

Mr Kalita said the Indian delegation urged the Myanmarese Government to take early steps for reopening of the StilWell Road.’’We have also urged the Myanmar Commerce Minister Pyi Sone to reopen the road for the benefit of rest of South East Asia.’’ FINER and the Myanmar India Business Club (MIBC) had signed a pact to increase trade between the North-East and Myanmar. FINER has urged the government to set up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) along the western border of Myanmar in an effort to help the plywood traders. Sikkim to set up business growth centres to facilitate trade Gangtok, Sikkim government will set up business growth  centres in the state with part financial assistance from the Centre to facilitate growth of trade volume once trading reopens between India and China via the Nathu-La pass in East Sikkim. State Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said that the new growth centres would be set up along the 20 km stretch from Rangpo, the gateway to East Sikkim, to Ranipool in East Sikkim with initial cost of Rs 25 crore. He said the area had already been identified across the 200 feet of the National Highway 31-A on both sides of Ranipool and Rangpo. “The Centre had already given Rs. 12 crore and the rest will come from the State exchequer,” Mr Chamling revealed.

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