LONGWA (Indo-Myanmar border), Feb 9 ? ?Nga trade chira India me... (we want trade with India for which both India and ?Burma? should work together for boosting trade), this was observed by a group of Myanmarese people living along the international border near Longwa. Longwa, a small village of Mon district of Nagaland has become a major trade point between India and Myanmar. The people of both the countries exchange their goods through barter system on every Friday, keeping aside their border dispute. The Indians generally exchange salt, potatoes, cattle and clothes while the Myanmarese exchange limestone, herbal medicines, gram and precious stones in a temporary shed constructed by the Nagaland government. The barter system has been on for the last several decades which has cemented the relation among the people of both the countries.
?We are all friends. And, the trade has developed a new relation among us,? Khaupa, the chairman of the village council said. Khaupa generally monitors the trading while exchanging goods under the barter system. He has been given the responsibility of ensuring smooth conduct of trade between the two countries. The Myanmarese people come from Yenchung and Khatnyo areas covering a stretch of 20 km to attend the weekly market. ?They have to come on foot as there is no market on their side and hence Longwa market is very essential for them?, the village chairman informed.
In view of growing trade at Longwa area, the Nagaland government has constructed a shed for the people. But the road communication has remained a major problem for them. ?The Indian Government should improve the roads in the area for smooth running of the trade?, said Longshah. The youth also informed that during winter people face major hardships due to poor road condition. Despite vast resources and increasing volume of trade, the Longwa village is yet to be developed by the authorities concerned. The area is completely isolated from the district headquarters of Mon. But that has not impeded the growth of trade as the market is the lifeline for the people of India and Myanmar. ?We have to attend the market covering two days walk as we do not have any vehicle on our side,? said Onwang, Pongchai and Ponghi. According to them salt is very scarce in ?Burma? for which hundreds of people attend the weekly market to take salt. ?Even sometimes salt is exchanged with gold because gold is available in the Kachin area?, the Myanmarese said.
Encouraged by increasing volume of trade, the Nagaland government has submitted a proposal to the Union Commerce Ministry to declare Longwa as a trade point with Myanmar. ?Once it is declared as a trade point, then export and import would start from Nagaland?, a senior officer of the Nagaland Government said. The officer who did not wish to be named told this correspondent that since the people of Myanmar are dependent on this market, the Centre should take advantage of it by opening of a new trade route. It is learnt that the Commerce Ministry is likely to conduct a detail survey on Longwa and Pangshau-pass of Arunachal Pradesh to declare them as the trade points.