A consultation meeting on ‘strengthening border connectivity’ was organised on Monday by Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) in collaboration with Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) at Integrated Check Post (ICP) Moreh, Tengnoupal district Manipur.
Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi led by director (Operations) Land Port Authority of India Ajeet Kumar Singh; professor ASEAN - India Centre (AIC) RIS Prabir De and professor Manipur University Ch Priyoranjan Singh interacted with the stakeholders in Moreh in regard to the strengthening of Border Connectivity.
Trade bodies in Moreh town such as Border Trade and Chamber of Commerce (BTCC), Inpi Chamber of Commerce Moreh (ICCM) and representatives of civil groups such as Kuki Students Organisation, Hill Tribal Council, Meetei Council Moreh and Tamil Sangam Moreh attended the programme.
Manager ICP Moreh Robin Gangte; SP LCS Moreh SK Gangte; CO 43 AR colonel Sumit Sood and immigration, Customs and Food Safety (FSSAI) staff also attended the consultation. Various difficulties and problems faced by the local trade bodies were highlighted in the consultative meeting.
Prabir De gave a presentation on his research on trade between India and Myanmar. He highlighted the ways to legalise the illegal trade that is going on between the two countries.
Assistant commissioner, Custom Division Imphal HL Songate spoke on his experience as a custom officer posted at different border states and expressed that trade between India and Myanmar existing at border town Moreh is very different from other border trade of the country.
He continued that traders at border town Moreh have lack of knowledge about International Trade and it is the main reason why legal trade cannot exist in this border town.
"None of the traders of the town possessed the International Trade License card H, G and F. Traders also have no knowledge about the guidelines given by the nation. This is the main reason why illegal trade cannot be changed to legal trade," he said.
After hearing the points, the traders enquired about the Trade Card H, G and F. They also admitted of having no knowledge about these licenses and none of the officials in the town ever talks about the importance of these Trade Cards. The traders also highlighted the difficulties in trading due to 40 per cent tax imposed on imported goods. They appealed to review this tax on essential items etc.
Director (Operations) LPAI, Ajeet Kumar Singh said that Workshop and Seminars will be organised at the border town Moreh to give awareness on International Trade knowledge to the traders of the town. Only after getting the required knowledge, traders of the town can transform illegal trade to legal trade, he says.
Major import and export items, trade surplus and volume of trade between the two countries were shown to local traders and the problems of formal and informal trade and possible challenges that might come and role and responsibility of the local traders if and when the border gates are open for trade purposes were discussed in the meeting.
