Arunachal traders demand business with Myanmar

Itanagar, Oct 15 (UNI) The Arunachal Chamber of Commerce&Industries (ACCI) has expressed concern at the Centre's decision to exclude Arunachal from the proposal of border trade with Myanmar.

The apex traders' body in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there was no logic in the Centre's decision, which was apparently made for security reasons, since the state government has been pleading for re-opening of its traditional border trade with Bhutan, China and Myanmar.

It said Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh had assured an ACCI delegation at Pasighat on February 15 last year that he would do whatever possible in this direction to remove the state's 'isolation syndrome'.

The ACCI regretted that Mr Ramesh, who himself is one of the few central leaders behind the scripting of the 'Look East' policy and had inaugurated the border trade center at Nampong in Changlang district on November 24 last year, did not speak out in favour of Arunachal.

Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu in a letter on June 5 last had also urged the union home minister to accord security clearance for resuming official border trade with Myanmar through Pangsau Pass in Changlang district.

"Traditionl border trade with Myanmar through Pangsau Pass is still on, as the central government is aware, and an official seal on such trade will greatly help both the countries yield high revenue'', the ACCI said.

While seeking PM's intervention on the matter, the ACCI said that opening of border trade alone could facilitate the wind of change to blow towards Arunachal through the South East Asian nations, where half of world's rich live.

UNI UPB PC RD 1410