Silchar, Jan. 28: Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga will inaugurate the region?s second border trade centre at Zokhawthar on the state?s border with Myanmar on Friday. Official sources at Aizawl said the centre would facilitate extensive trade in goods produced in India and Myanmar.
Minimum tariff would be slapped on the indigenous industrial and agricultural products to boost trade and curb cross-border smuggling, a source said.
The first trade centre at Moreh on the Manipur-Myanmar border was commissioned in 1995 following the signing of a protocol by the two countries.
Zokhawthar, a village on the bank of the river Tiau near Champai town, is preparing to host the inauguration ceremony, which will be attended by Myanmar trade and commerce minister Brig. Gen. Pyae Sone and Mizoram trade minister Aichhinga.
Senior officials of the Union commerce ministry will also be present on the occasion. The border trade centre is part of a Rs 8 crore-project funded by the Union commerce ministry.
Several shops, a bank, a telephone exchange, a warehouse, a police station, a customs centre and a BSF base will be established at the centre to facilitate trade.
The existing protocol allows people of both countries to cross the border and travel upto a distance of 10 km on the opposite side.
While agricultural products from Mizoram like ginger, pineapples, oranges and passion fruit and handicraft items are likely to draw buyers from Myanmar, products like rice, gems, shoes and bags as well as electronic and consumers goods are expected to be popular among the Mizos.