mizoram-myanmar trade

[teruyuki_i@xxxxxxxxx]

Mizoram tells Centre
Hasten opening of trade route with Myanmar
AIZAWL, June 7? The Mizoram Government has urged the
Centre to expedite the opening of the trade route with
Myanmar to help the State increase its revenue
earnings by exporting agro-based products to its
eastern neighbour, reports UNI.  
State Chief Minister Zoramthanga is believed to have
requested Union Commerce Minister Ramakrishna Hegde to
implement at the earliest the Indo-Myanmar border
trade agreement of 1994 during the meeting of North
East Chief Ministers at Guwahati on June 3, officials
here said.  
Saddled with recurring deficit of Rs 400 crore per
annum, the state?s total revenue earnings are about Rs
350 crore per annum ? only one per cent of its annual
budgetary allocation. With the state government?s
decision to re-introduce sales tax after a gap of over
twelve years coming under fire from trade chambers and
Opposition alike, officials say border trade remains
the only ?safe? revenue earner for th state. In 1994,
Mizoram had imposed total prohibition, which had
brought down its annual earnings by Rs 80 crore per
annum.  
On April 28, 1998 Dhaka and Mizoram had agreed, in
principle, to re-open the Tlabung (Mizoram) Chittagram
(Bangladesh) trade route closed after the 1965
Indo-Pak War when Bangladesh was eastern Pakistan.  
Though no formal agreement was signed, the two sides
agreed to re-open the Karnaphuli river route.  
While Mizoram agreed to import rubber boots, jute and
ceramic products, among other things, from Dhaka, it
would export roses, pineaple, bamboo, passion fruit
and fibreless ginger to the latter. But the state
government is much interested in re-opening the
Chhimtuipui river route with Myanmar, closed after
independence, as Mizoram can export even essentials
like oil, tea leaves and rice to Myanmar. 

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