Question : TRADE AND COMMERCE WITH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

(a) whether the Government are aware of the rich potential of the North-East region of the country in the matter of trade and commerce with the neighbouring countries, namely, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China;

(b) if so, the steps taken so far to increase the Indo-border trade and commerce;

(c) the quantum and amount of products exported and imported to and from the aforesaid neighbouring countries during the last one year;

(d) whether the Government are considering to declare certain areas of the North - East region as a special economic zone; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor ?

MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI MURASOLI MARAN)

(a) & (b) : Central Government has taken specific steps to promote trade and commerce in the North Eastern region with its neighbouring countries. Minimum 10% of the budgetary provision of various schemes of Department of Commerce is earmarked for development of trade related infrastructure in the North East. Under the Critical Infrastructure Balance Scheme, 16 different projects relating to the development of trade related infrastructure and removal of bottlenecks in exports have been approved in the NER and Rs.39.92 crore has been sanctioned for the purpose. As per the PM`s Action Plan for the development of North East Region, four border townships at Zokhawthar (Mizoram), Moreh (Manipur) Dawki (Meghalaya) and Sutarkhandi (Assam) have been identified for development of trade related infrastructure. An Export Development Fund has been set up with an initial contribution of Rs. 5.00 Crore for assisting trade promotion activities in the North East. The border trade and inter country trade issues in the North East have been studied by a Task Force and an Empowered Committee has been set up in Department of Commerce to, inter alia, monitor the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force. A separate Cell has been created in the Department of Commerce for promoting exports from the North East.

(c) : The export to and imports from the neighbouring countries by the NE region during 2000-2001 are as follows:-

	(Rs. In crore)
Exports Imports
Bangladesh	109.32	8.01	Myanmar	5.60	12.37