Shillong: The North Eastern Council
(NEC)has entrusted the New Delhi-based Research and
Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), an
autonomous research institution, to undertake a study to
promote trade and investment between the Northeastern states
and the neighbouring countries.
"The study will benefit the local economy of the states
and establish equitable bilateral trade relations with the
neighbouring countries," official sources said today.
The broad issues to be addressed are assessment of the
pattern of border trade, constraints faced at supply end and
identification of products for promotion and trade
development.
A meeting of the stakeholders on border trade in NE
India was held recently at the NEC secretariat here. The RIS
gave a presentation on expansion of Northeast India?s trade
and investment with Bangladesh and Myanmar.
RIS would incorporate the suggestions that came up
during the meeting in their study.
Problems and prospects of Indo-Myanmar and Indo-
Bangladesh border trade were discussed during the meeting
which was attended by officials of various state governments,
Customs department and industry representatives.
The Land Customs Stations (LCS) at various border areas,
which would require to be surveyed for proper utilization were
identified - three in Assam, four in Meghalaya and one each in
the other five states.
It was decided that the researchers from RIS would visit
all the states of the region to work out on all the nitty
gritty of border trade.
-PTI
