Centre pursuing NE issues on mission mode: Nirmala

Aizawl, March 26: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said the central government would pursue all matters related to India's northeast region on a "mission mode".

"Prime Minister rendra Modi has asked all central ministers to speedily deal with all issues of northeastern states and sort them out without any delay," Sitharaman said.

Modi also asked the ministers to visit the region whenever needed, she said.

Sitharaman was speaking after iugurating a land customs station (LCS) at Zokhawthar in Mizoram’s Champhai district on Wednesday.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, senior officials from Myanmar and Indian Consul General at Mandalay nda Kumar were present on the occasion.

The tiol Democratic Alliance government would follow all matters associated with northeastern states on a “mission mode”, she added.

“The government is keen to directly deal with the people of northeast as we are on a mission mode. Steps would be taken for setting up of banks and post offices in the remote areas of the northeast,” the minister said.

The LCS in Zokhawthar, bordering Myanmar, will facilitate trade with the neighbouring country. It is equipped with a weigh bridge, plant quarantine building and toll gate.

Sitharaman said she has already iugurated a ‘border-haat’ (border market) along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura on January 13 and visited a border trade centre at Moreh (along the Myanmar border) in Manipur.

“Myanmar has border with four Indian states (Mizoram, Manipur, galand and Aruchal Pradesh) and intertiol trade between India and Myanmar currently stands at $2.28 billion,” she said.

With the development of infrastructure along the borders this trade volume would increase further, Sitharaman added.

She said that “India is setting up intertiol standard multi-purpose integrated check posts along its borders with Bangladesh, Myanmar and Pakistan to increase trade and business with the neighbouring countries.”

“The ‘border haats’ are being set up along the India-Bangladesh border to increase trade in the local produce of both the tions,” she said. IANS