Indo-Myanmar border trade hit by blockade

GUWAHATI, January 8 (TNN): The crisis caused by the economic blockade in Manipur has affected the bilateral trade with the neighbouring Myanmar, and the concerns were echoed at a business meet here on Sunday.   "The bilateral trade between Myanmar and India through Manipur has significantly dropped due to the ongoing blockade. The prevailing situation has really affected the bilateral trade. Hardly 25% of the bilateral trade is being carried out at present," said Myanmar's Border Trade Chamber of Commerce president Hla Maung on the sidelines of the two-day India-Myanmar Reverse Buyer Seller Meet, organized by the Indian Chamber of Commerce here. The conclave concluded on Sunday. Fifty-member delegation each from Myanmar and India had business-to-business interactions on prospect and opportunities for promoting bilateral trade with the neighboring country through Northeast.   "In fact frequent blockade in Manipur has already affected the bilateral trade. Situation has to improve for the sake of promotion of bilateral trade," Maung said.   Manipur is hit by an indefinite blockade imposed by the United Naga Council (UNC) since November 1 against the government's creation of new districts. The situation in the state is further aggravated by the counter blockade called by the Meitei groups.   The state shares 398 km international border with Myanmar, and state's Moreh town is the hub of border trade with the neighbouring country. The volume of trade at the Moreh-Tamu border point is estimated to be around Rs 300 million, which is an increase from an estimated Rs 100 million about a decade back.   Officials however, said that the volume of illegal border trade is several times more than the legal one. Altogether 40 items are included for border trade between India and Myanmar. India's export to Myanmar accounts about 38%. With Northeast being put at the centre-stage of India's Act East Policy for promoting trade link with South East Asian countries, Moreh along with other border points in the region has been identified as the strategic business location for cross-border business.   ICC said that the two-day meet is aimed at bringing together buyers and sellers from both sides of the border. North Eastern Council member C K Das said the historical ties, common cultural linkages and shared boundary between India and Myanmar are factors that should work in favour of improved trade between the two countries.  

Security forces escort over 500 loaded trucks into Manipur

  Imphal January 8 (IANS): More than 500 loaded trucks and oil tankers were on Sunday escorted into Manipur capital Imphal from Assam by state and central paramilitary forces, beating a Naga-imposed blockade.   The 511 trucks loaded with fuel and other consumer items, building materials and medicines were escorted over 220-km throughout the mountainous National Highway-37 from Silchar district in Assam to Imphal.  Officials said that 531 more loaded trucks and oil tankers will be escorted similarly in the next trip.   A report said supporters of Naga blockade in Manipur torched a truck loaded with rice bags near Kotland along the national highway on Sunday morning, but no arrest was made.   The United Naga Council imposed the indefinite economic blockade of the state on November 1 last year to protest the Manipur government's plan to create two new districts in the state.   The UNC claimed several "lands of the Nagas" -- where they have been traditionally the inhabitants -- would be usurped by the new districts.   Meanwhile, prices of consumer and other items have increased considerably, with traders maintaining that transporters are demanding extra fares since supply vehicles remain stranded for days at Jiribam district headquarters while waiting for armed escorts.   The Manipur government had requested the Centre to intervene and facilitate tripartite talks to end the blockade, but there is no response as yet from New Delhi.