Question : BORDER TRADE ON INDO BURMA BORDER

(a) whether the Government are aware that informal border trade continues to exist between the tribes living on the Indo - Burma ( Myanmar ) border of the North - East;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government have any proposal to encourage multilateral border trade by re-opening and developing Stillwell road which was constructed during the Second World War connecting Ledo of Assam of Kunming of China through Myanmar;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY ( SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY )

(a) & (b) : Border trade between India and Myanmar is well recognized and the items which are predominantly traded on the border are already notified.

(c) to (e) : While the Government has every intention to promote Border Trade, there is no proposal for re-opening Stillwell road.