Centre urged to permit entry of registered vehicles into Myanmar

IMPHAL, April 20: In order to boost Indo-Myanmar trade, the State authority has urged the Union Minister for Commerce and Industries, Murasoli Maran to provide permission for Indian registered vehicles for its entry into Myanmar territory. The member of the Parliament from this tiny state representing half of the population, Holkhomang Haokip had apprised the matter by submitting an official letter to the Union Commerce minister-recently. Elaborating the steps which are being taken up by the MP in connection with the upgradation of the Indo-Myanmar trade agreement, which was formally signed in April, 1995, Holkhomang Haokip said that the Government of India should allow free entry of registered vehicles of the Northeast region into Myanmar on payment of nominal fees at least up to 120 km from the border on the pattern of similar arrangement permitted by Myanmar authorities for Thai registered vehicles along the eastern border of Myanmar. Talking to the mediapersons soon after the arrival from New Delhi, the MP from the outer Manipur parliamentary constituency Holkhomang also added that once such system is introduced along the border the inflow of tourists as will as trade system will be improved. He further said that the central authority should also consider the reciprocal permission for visit of Myanmar registered vehicles via Manipur up to Imphal on their side. The MP also sought permission for foreign nationals not only to visit the valley areas but also the hills for the better development of the tourism in the state. It may be worth mentioning her that at present, foreigners who are allowed entry into Manipur are subjected to several restrictions including periodic report to the police, etc. Demanding removal of such kind of restrictions on the foreigners who are visiting Manipur in particular, the MP also sought permission for such tourists to easily enter into the territory of Myanmar even up to the Kalimyu and Mandalay (both in Mynmar). Free movement of people across the international Indo-Myanmar border is a primary requisite for facilitating growth in Indo-Myanmar border trade, Holkhomang said, adding that the recently inaugurated Tamu-Kalewa highway which was constructed by the Border Road Task Force of India today facilitates for such trans-border movement. Highlighting the importance of developing the tourism industry in a state like Manipur, he also drew the attention of the Indian authority at the Centre to develop Manipur as a model in the context of tourism in the line of 'Chiangmai' region of northwest Thailand bordering Myanmar. He also hinted that Chiangmai region of Thailand which was hitherto amongst its least development areas using the said region as a conduit to Northeastern Myanmar, adding that such type of works could also be taken up in the Northeastern region.