Agencies
AGARTALA, SEPTEMBER 9
[dropcap]I[/dropcap]N a worrying trend, the volume of import and export between Bangladesh and Tripura has gone down in the last financial year, said state commerce minister Tapan Chakraborty recently.
He pointed out that Tripura has been exporting only dry fish, paper, banana, pineapple and woven fabrics to Bangladesh, while importing food items, processed fruit drinks, household items, furniture items, cloth and metallic products from the neighbouring country.
Of the eight land custom stations (LCS) along the Tripura-Bangladesh border, only three are used for trade between the two countries, said the minister. He added that India has been requesting Bangladesh to upgrade trade infrastructure on its side of the border and secure funds for development of LCS on the Indian side.“In 2013-14, Tripura imported items worth Rs 229.83 crore. The amount was Rs 342.65 crore in 2012-13 and Rs 329.05 crore in 2011-12. Similarly, Tripura exported goods amounting to Rs 0.41 crore in 2013-14 and 2012-13. The amount was Rs 1.55 crore in 2011-12,” Chakraborty said.
Expressing concern over declining trade along the Indo-Bangla border, Chakraborty said the state government has been trying to start border haats (markets) on a weekly basis to boost trade volume. He added the ministry of commerce has approved four border haats along the Tripura-Bangladesh border and work on these markets is progressing smoothly.
Bangladesh’s ministry of commerce and the Indian government had agreed to set up border haats at Kamalasagar in Sepahijala district and Srinagar along the southern border town of Sabroom in 2013. Work on the Srinagar border haat is almost complete.
The Centre has sanctioned Rs 2.38 crore for the Kamalasagar haat and Rs 2.44 crore for the Srinagar market.
