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Manipur
has the advantage of acting as India’s Gateway to the East
through Moreh town, which is the only feasible land route for
trade between India and Myanmar and other South East Asian
Countries. It shares 398 km long international border with
Myanmar. A Land Custom Station (LCS) already exists at Moreh
for the existing traffic volume of trade.
There
are 40 (forty) tradable items under Barter Trade
mechanism through Moreh (India-Myanmar Border). Major
exportable items include cement, engineering goods, transport
equipment, motor cycles, iron and steels, medicine, chemicals
and allied products, cotton yarn, etc. The major items now
imported from Myanmar through barter mechanism are betel nuts,
turmeric, red kidney beans (Rajma), kuth roots, gram, resin,
dry ginger, etc. The volume of trade at Moreh-Tamu Border
Point in 2001-02 was `
95.48 million and in 2009-10 `
298.19 million - an average
increase of 39% p.a. Further, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of
India has also cleared the operational of "Normal
Trade" through Land Customs Station, Moreh.
India’s
“Look East” Policy and several new measures taken by both
the Central and State Governments to promote and enhanced
trade link with SE Asia, provide Manipur with a competitive
advantage. In recognition of the potential of Moreh, the
Government of India has notified an ICP at Moreh.
Integrated
Check Post (ICP) at Moreh
The
setting up of Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Moreh is one of
the 13 Integrated Check Posts being developed by Central
Government along India’s international borders. These ICPs
are being developed by the MHA through the Land Ports
Authority of India (LPAI). The proposed ICP will facilitate
speedy movement of export-import consignments and redress the
inconveniences suffered by general public in the emerging
scenario of India’s Look East Policy. State Govt. has
identified 45.50 acres of land near Gate No.1 within Customs
notified area. RITES, a Central Public Sector undertaking have
prepared a DPR for Moreh ICP costing `
136 crores and is under the process of implementation.
The
proposed centre shall have (i) Immigration Department, (ii)
local Police including Women Constables for immediate
security, (iii) Land Customs Department, (iv) Customs
Preventive Department, (v) Forests, (vi) Narcotics & Drug
Control Department, (vii) Postal Department, (viii) Bank
Counter, (ix) Telecom, (x) Animal Quarantine, (xi) Plant
Quarantine, (xii) Quality Certification Inspection
Agencies/Export Promotion Councils, (xiii) Trade Facilitation
Counter and Trade related Public Bodies, (xiv) Food Testing
Lab, (xv) Truck Parking facility, (xvi) Staff Quarters, basic
amenities such as Canteen, Truck Drivers’ Rest House, etc.
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