Imphal, February 24 2009: The Indo-Myanmar trade items will be increased to 40 from the existing items of 22.The project will be implemented as soon as a notification to this effect is issued by the Custom Department, Government of India.

As such, to enable Myanmarese to procure commodities from India, the modernization work of Moreh Market will be taken up soon, the state industries minister Y Erabot said.

Speaking during an inspection tour to Moreh in regard to the coming of Trans-Asian Highway, the Minister, Erabot said that the items to be included in the Indo-Myanmar trade are life saving drugs, fertilizers, insecticides, cotton fabrics, steels, menthol, incense sticks, spices, cosmetics, lather foot layer, paint, sugar, mosquito coil, bulb, blades, x-ray paper, photo paper, and jewelry items.

He said that the expansion of 8.674 km long road between Lalkai Veng of Moreh and the International Border Bridge has been taken up since 2003.But due to objection from the locals, the work progress was stuck.

He maintained that as an agreement was reached with the locals for compensation, the expansion work will resume and it will be completed before the coming monsoon.

The Minister has also inspected the road during his visit to the border town.

He further said that India, Manipur and Myanmar should not only be taken into consideration.

Third, fourth and fifth countries should also be accommodated as trade relations with these countries are also going to be established.

So the market in Moreh must be developed to enable them to buy commodities of the country.

He further said that the construction of the trade centre has been completed in the second phase which will be inaugurated soon.

The Minister also has a stopover at the trade centre.

Asserting that a family quarter for the care taker will be provided in the Trade Centre, Erabot added that ground work for the stationing of security has been arranged at the Trade Centre.

A work programme has also been incorporated for the construction of handloom training building near the Centre.

There has also been plan to arrange Trade Fair to facilitate the Myanmarese buy the products of Manipur.

Check posts will be minimized by setting up Inland Container Depot (ICD) while local Custom authority will be entrusted to give license, Erabot assured.

The disadvantage will be in money transaction as dollar system will be banned by America because of Myanmar military rule.

The transaction cannot be done in other European currencies due to the UN's influence, the Minister said.

He also added that the government is contemplating to compensate families affected by the construction of Integrated Check Posts (ICP), and steps to allay the people from their hardship in depending only through the Namthalong market will be soon taken up.

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