Eight BTCs to come up in four NE states

Aizawl, Dec 29 (UNI) The government has decided to set up eight new Border Trade Centres (BTCs) in four Northeast states bordering Bangladesh in next three years.

In a communique, the union commerce ministry informed this decision to Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Asom stating that Rs 900 crore has been earmarked for this purpose.

State commerce department officials here today said that as per the proposal, apart from the eight BTCs with Bangladesh, four others will be set up with Nepal and one with Pakistan.

Officials said that the NE states have jointly urged upon the ministry to open up more BTCs with Myanmar while Arunachal Pradesh requested for opening up three BTCs for trading with China and Myanmar.

At present, only one BTC is in operation at Moreh along Manipur-Myanmar border.

As part of export promotion programme of agriculture, horticulture, handicrafts, handloom and leathers, the union government has taken up the decision to set up more BTCs in NE region, officials added.

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