Traders want Moreh market to re-open

Mizzima News: 22 April, 2002

Namphalong(Burma) : We want to improve trade relations with India keeping in view of the potential. Both India and Myanmar (Burma) should work together for better trade in near future. It was an immediate reaction of Tin Win, a senior businessman of Namphalong market.

Namphalong, a township of Burma bordering Moreh of Manipur State of India, has now become a major trade hub in this border.

According to Mr. Win, the market was earlier located in Tamu, 15 kilometers away from Namphalong, but during 1996 it was shifted to Namphalong. Since then, the Namphalong market has been a main center of India-Burma border trade and over 1,000 people are estimated to be directly or indirectly involved to manage their daily life. The market is flooded with cheap Chinese goods and variety of goods from South East Asian countries.

Mr. Win who runs an electronic shop in the market told Mizzima correspondent that the electronic goods are generally brought from China, Korea and Thailand and then sold to different markets of India.

"We used to sell our goods in Moreh of Manipur, but due to insurgency problem, we had to close down our business there. Moreh is no longer a safe business place", Win said. In this context, he added that if the Indian government takes initiative to solve the militancy problem, business could be reopened there (Moreh).

It may be recalled that Moreh was a major trade point until 1995. The militants operating in the area allegedly imposed heavy tax on the traders forcing the traders to close down their business.

Despite the militancy problem, Burmese traders still want to reopen trade in Moreh because of its potential market. “If both Indian and Burmese governments take initiative, we would be very happy", said Ma San, who runs a shop in Namphalong market.

“I had some permanent Indian customers, but nowadays they have stopped coming to our market", she added. Khin Maung Win, a youth also informed that traders are trying to solve the problem amicably so that business is not affected. “We are still optimistic that the underground groups will allow us to reopen the trade in Moreh”, he said.

It is apparent that the Indian government is incurring a huge revenue due to ongoing militancy problem in Moreh. Moreover, the Burmese Government is relying on the market for its revenue potential. The people of the area want a permanent solution to the problem.