Kitply to lift timber from Myanmar

Imphal, Nov 4 (UNI) Kitply, the famous ply company, would lift all the timbers from Myanamar's Moreh, the border town near Manipur.

Officials said the Forest Principal Chief Conservator, state governor S Singsit and officials led by U Win Min of Myanmar Timber Enterprises discussed the matter at Myanmar yesterday.

Officials said the entire Kabaw valley and the stretch from Mandalay to Moreh of Myanmar were full of timber and teak products and could meet India's demand easily.

However, the forest officials said they would strictly follow the instructions related to environment.

Union Commerce Minister Jairam Ramesh on his recent visit to Moreh had said the government was mulling over the possibility of allowing free trade at Moreh.

Commerce and Industries officials said trade between the two countries had been going on after the Indo-Myanmar Border trade agreement was signed on 21st January, 1994, that allowed only 22 items to be exchanged.

Traders of both the countries were allowed to enter each others' territory in the border areas during day time.

The state government had also recommended that there should be a list of narcotics, drugs and arms so as to keep a vigil on the smuggling activities.

The official trading activities were limited as the major central government offices were not located in Manipur and the traders had to go to Guwahati for the formalities.

The market was also fluid as the official exchange rate between Indian rupee and Myanmar Kyat fluctuated.

The official Kyat rate was higher than rupee. However, at the ground level the Kyat had much lower value which made the official trading exercises difficult, the officials said.

There was huge demand for Myanmar food products like mustard, pulses, vegetables, garlic, onion, chillies, spices and betel nuts, which were exchanged freely at the border town.

UNI NS PP SS1256