ITANAGAR, Nov 7: State Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra, who has been advocating for enhancing border trade with Myanmar through Pangsau Pass in Changlang district, has suggested that all formalities for opening of Pangsau Pass Border Haats must be completed at earliest possible so that the same can be opened before the commencement of Pangsau Pass Festival in January next year.
The Governor made this suggestion when the members of the ‘Core Group on Border Trade’ headed by State Assembly Deputy Speaker Tesam Pongte called on him at Raj Bhavan here today. Pongte was accompanied by Nampong MLA Laisam Simai, Namsai MLA Zingnu Namchoom and Trade & Commerce Director Tokong Pertin.
As advised by the Governor, the Pongte-led Core Group, which has visited the Land Customs Station at Moreh in Manipur last month for familiarization with the border trade system being followed there, apprised the Governor about its findings.
The Governor further advised the Core Group to submit its report to the State Chief Secretary to expedite the process of making the Pangsau Pass Border Haats functional at the earliest.
He also asked them to prepare a report, with due vetting by the State Government, and meet the Special Secretary, Border Management in the Ministry of Home Affairs at Delhi to obtain necessary sanction and orders for early operation of the border trade point at Pangsau Pass along the India-Myanmar border.
Pangsau Pass Haats, once well developed and organized, will definitely have a positive impact on the rural economy of the area and its people, the Governor noted.
Arunachal Pradesh is strategically placed to act as a land bridge between mainland India and the ASEAN countries because of its geographical position. There lies a great potential for increasing country’s trade with ASEAN and other border countries through Pangsau Pass under Indo-Myanmar sector, which can be fruitfully exploited by creating world-class infrastructure there.
“The visit to (Moreh) border trade point to study the set-up and functioning of border trade point will be of impetus for shaping the border trade point at Pangsau Pass through Land Customs Station, Nampong,” the Trade & Commerce Director had said.