BIMSTEC moves forward on trade pact
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Rs 200 cr marked for devpt of NE trade points
New Delhi, Jan 31: Giving impetus to its "Look East Policy", the Government has sanctioned a Rs 200-crore project for developing infrastructure at four international trade points in the northeastern region.
"We have
already start-ed the project. The four bor- der trade points will be ready in
14 to 16 months time from now," Union Mini-ster of State for Commerce
Jairam Ramesh told a seminar on "Look East Policy: A Reality Check"
organised here today by the North East Media Forum.
The four border trade points are Moreh in Mani-pur, Dawki in Meghalaya, Sutarkandi in Assam and one near Agartala.
"We will have to have better infrastructure. These
centres will have facilities for international trade, customs, immigration and
ban- king," Ramesh said.
When completed, these points will greatly boost business
between northeastern states and neigh- bouring countries like Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Ramesh said his ministry had approached the exter-nal affairs ministry to con- clude bilateral trade agreements with China, Myan- mar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal for regular trade with them through the northeast.
"Bilateral agree-ments are very important. Apart from opening ancient trade routes, we will have to pursue a policy of trade in border rather than border trade," he said. The inaugu-ral function was also addre- ssed by North Eastern Development Finance Corpor- tion Chairman K N Hazarika.
Soures: THESANGAIEXPRESS.COM