[ALOCHONA] Arunachal, Meghalaya favour trade ties with China, Bangladesh

Arunachal, Meghalaya favour trade ties with China, B'desh As India is intensifying its efforts to broaden trade ties with South East Asia, two northeastern states have pitched for opening of border trading posts with neighbouring countries, including China. Notwithstanding Beijing's claim over his state, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu said opening of border trade posts with the communist nation would bring prosperity to the people of the state. "We want opening of trading posts along our borders with Bhutan, China and Myanmar," Khandu told PTI here. Meghalaya Chief Minister Donkupar Roy said New Delhi should look at the immediate neighbours of the Northeastern states as it would be more beneficial for them. "Bangladesh is our immediate neighbour. The Central government should explore the possibilities of expansion of trade with that country," Roy said. Arunachal Pradesh is pitching for opening of traditional trade points with China at Bumla and Kenzamane in Tawang, Mechuka in West Siang, Gelling in Upper Siang and Kibithu in Anjaw districts. It has also already sought security clearance from the Union Home Ministry for development of traditional trade routes to revive border trade with Bhutan and Myanmar. Roy said Meghalaya, which currently has a trading post along the Bangladesh border at Dawki, would be happy to see more such posts coming up in the near future. The opening of the proposed Dongsengmang-Bleeting road will reduce the travel time between Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh significantly. Besides trade, the road link is expected to help increase the tourist inflow. Under the ASIDE (Assistance to State for Developing of Infrastructure for Export) scheme, minimum infrastructure for development of border trade with Myanmar and Bhutan from Arunachal Pradesh has been created. To accelerate border trade, the Union Government is mulling the issue of opening trade centres in Avangkhu and Lungwa in Nagaland, Zowkhathar in Mizoram, Pangsau Pass in Arunachal Pradesh and Behiang, Skip and Tusom in Manipur (all along Indo-Myanmar border). Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh has said that he was in favour of normal trade across the Myanmar border without any restriction or specification of commodities. At present, the border trade (at Moreh) is only restricted to 22 permitted items. India has expressed interest in developing the hydel power potential on the Chindwin River in Myanmar. India is already involved in similar projects with Bhutan and Nepal. New Delhi is also helping Myanmar in developing the Sittwe port in the Arakan region on the Bay of Bengal. The facilities at the port will be expanded to accommodate goods traffic under an agreement signed by the two governments in April this year. From Sittwe, the Kaladan river will be made navigable for 225 km up to a place called Kaletwa. From there, a 62-km highway will take the traffic to the India-Myanmar border in Mizoram. A road from the border will then link the project to National Highway-54. The sea distance between Kolkata and Sittwe is about 540 km. India is financing the entire project at a cost of Rs 546 crore.   India News Online,Meghalaya

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