Border trade with Bhutan, Myanmar in 2007: Jairam

Itanagar, Jan 15(UNI) Border trade with Bhutan and Myanmar through Bleting and Pangsau Pass will be operational in the current year, Union Trade and Commerce Minister Jairam Ramesh said.

Addressing a programme at the third leg of Siang river festival at Aalo in West Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh yesterday, the Minister said the Centre was making all out efforts to increase border trade with China, Myanmar and Bhutan adding Bumla and Gelling would be trade centres for China, Bleting for Bhutan and Pangsau Pass for Myanmar.

These centres would be set up on the model of More in Manipur, he said.

Describing the vast potential of Arunachal in the field of power sector, he informed that PSUs like NHPC, NTPC and NEEPCO were investing in a big way in Arunachal in the next five to seven years which would increase the employment opportunity.

Attributing lack of infrastructure as the main cause of backwardness of the state, he opined that it would be the public sector which could invest to boost the economy of the state, official sources said.

UNI