Aruchal pleads for border trade with Myanmar

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, April 17: Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, Gautam Mukhopadhyay called on Chief Minister bam Tuki here Thursday evening for an informal but exhaustive discussion with regard to possibilities and challenges in border relations with Myanmar, particularly in the fields of trade and tourism. Tuki while welcoming the visit of the Ambassador expressed hope that the much needed border trade with Myanmar will receive a boost from it, an official communiqué said here today.

He requested the Ambassador to take up the issue both with the Myanmar Government and the Union Ministry of Exterl Affairs so that the feeble trade relation with the neighboring country is strengthened for the benefit of the people living along the border districts of Tirap, Changlang and Longding.

Tuki asserted that security concerns of the government shouldn’t hamper a healthy trade relationship with Myanmar, particularly along the historic Stilwell Road. “While not compromising with security and other diplomatic issues, we can always bolster our relationship with Myanmar, which in fact is already there since ages, particularly in the fields of trade and tourism,” he pointed. Mukhopadhyay while elaborating the plans and programmes of the Centre said that he has got lot of in-depth insights and interventions from his visit and would convey the same with his ministry.

He expressed optimism that border trade along the state’s border with Myanmar would come up in right earnest for the benefit of the people living on both sides of the intertiol border.

The discussion was attended by Speaker bam Rebia, Home Minister Tanga Byaling, Minister for Social Justice Empowerment, Parliamentary Affairs and Department of DoTCL Wangling Lowangdong and Minister for Civil Aviation Thangwang Wangham, both representatives from the districts that share intertiol borders with Myanmar.

Also present in the meeting were the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Home, Commissioner to CM, Commissioner Trade and Commerce, Planning Secretary, State Protocol Officer and officers from Trade and Commerce department.

Lowangdong and Wangham also presented their views during the discussion.

Earlier, Changlang DC Chanchal Yadav gave a power-point presentation highlighting the constraints and possibilities in ebling a gainful interchange of trade and commerce activities in the border districts, the communiqué added.