Imphal, Jul 23: Representatives of the IndoMyanmar Border Traders' Union (IMBTU) called on Governor Dr SS Sidhu on July 22 urging him to intervene in the move being made by the Centre to divert the trade route from Moreh to some other States.

During the meeting, IMBTU delegation comprising of its president W Nabachandra, secretary organisation Oinam Ranjit, treasurer T Rashmani, chairman of IMBTU's programme implementation committee Yumnamcha Dilipkumar and executive member L Khogen Sharma took serious note of the discussion held at New Delhi on May 12 and 13 to divert the Indo-Myanmar trade route from Moreh to some other States and urged the Governor to intervene in this regard.

Apart from submitting a a 15-point memorandum pertaining to further development of Indo-Myanmar border trade the delegation also urged the Governor to press the State Government to take up necessary measures to approach the Centre for allowing trading of goods from third country as well as increasing the number of legal items for trading.

Green signal to the Indo-Myanmar border trade was given following the public notice no.289 (PN)/92-97 dated 10th April, 1995 issued by DGFT/Ministry of Commerce, Government of India and it was formally inaugurated jointly by then Union Minister of Commerce P Chidambaram and Lt General of Myanmar Tun Kyi on April 12, 1995.Since the commencement of the border trade, the highest trade volume was recorded during 1997-98.After that it has been witnessed a recession year after year, said the memorandum.

It is this fact that the memorandum submitted to the Governor by the IMBTU mainly highlighted.

With a view to step up the border trade activities between the two neighbouring countries, the memorandum urged for lifting restriction imposed on movement of the traders, starting an international bus service between the two countries, introducing air cargo services between Imphal and other countries, repealing of the Foreigner Protected Area order to allow foreign investors and tourists, giving subsidies in export of goods to other countries, declaration of some designated places in Manipur as Special Economic Zone (SEZ), setting up Export Promotion Council/Commodity Board in Manipur, facilitate exchange of Indian rupees and Myanmarese Kyat smoothly, introducing Inland Container Depo Service between Moreh and Guwahati via Imphal, organising seminar/awareness programme/exhibition related to border trade, setting up an International Trade Centre in Manipur, improvement of telecommunication system at Moreh and opening up a passport office in Manipur among others.

During the course of the meeting the IMBTU delegates also prevailed upon the Governor for intervening in the move being taken up by the Centre for diverting the trade route from Moreh to some other States.

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