IMPHAL, May 29 � Two border Haats between Manipur and Myanmar�s Saigang division at Behiang and New Somtal have been approved besides opening two more haats at Konkan Thana and Tusom in Manipur�s Ukhrul district bordering Myanmar.
Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh disclosed this while addressing the opening ceremony of the two-day Regional Investment and Business Conclave at Monywa, the capital city of Myanmar�s division on Tuesday.
Ibobi led a 40-member Manipur delegation including Ministers. Separate teams from Nagaland and Mizoram are also taking part in the Conclave jointly organised by Sagaing Region Government, Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Indian Chamber of Commerce, reports reaching here said. The delegation is expected to return here on June 2.
Stating that Imphal Airport would become an international airport in July this year and proposing flights between Imphal and Monywa, Mandalay, Yangon and Kalemyo to promote trade, tourism, business and investment, he said.
�The Government of India is setting up an Integrated Check Post at Moreh for promotion of trade and tourism between India and Myanmar. It will be ready by 2015�, Ibobi added.
He also highlighted the importance of Imphal-Mandalay bus service for the promotion of economy, tourism and trade between the two countries.
He further suggested that investment could take place in Sagaing Region of Myanmar in different areas like generation of power, hydroelectricity, thermal power plants, agro-industries, setting up of educational institutions and hospitals with the support and cooperation from Myanmar authorities.
He also proposed exchanges between Myanmar�s Saigaing Region and Manipur in areas like education, culture and sports; and offered education facilities to the students of Sagaing Region for studies in medicine, engineering, higher studies in colleges and university in Manipur.
Highlighting that Manipur was the power house of sports in the country, he invited the Myanmarese sportspersons for study at National Sports Academy in Imphal. Chief Minister also proposed for opening a Visa Office of Myanmar in Imphal, which would facilitate promotion of tourism in Myanmar. Indo-Myanmar border trade was established in 1995 through Moreh-Tamu sector with 33 trade items but it has been increased to 62.
