GUWAHATI, Feb 11 – Opening up of all the trade routes with the neighbouring countries, particularly reopening of the Stilwell Road was the main thrust of the presentation of the Minister of State for Home and Industries, Sri Pradyut Bordoloi in the South East Asia trade conference held at Dhaka recently under the Kunming Initiative. In his speech in the inaugural session of the conference, Sri Bordoloi said that along with the Moreh-Tamu-Kalmeyo road, stress should be given on reopening of the Stilwell Road connecting Ledo in Assam to Kunming in China, covering vast areas of Myanmar to boost regional cooperation in trade and commerce. He pointed out that the Chinese portion of the Stilwell Road has already been developed into a four-lane express highway with Asian Development Bank funds, while portions of the road in Myanmar are also extensively used.
Sri Bordoloi pointed out that implementation of the US Dollar 37 billion three gorges project in China connecting Qinghai and Sichuan, multi million Dollar project connecting Quanjzhau and Kunming and development of Shenzhen area of China as a special economic zone would open up vast potential for development of the North East region of India as a trade hub of the South-East Asia, if the Stilwell Road is reopened. “After the division of the country, the North-East found itself in a landlocked area connected only by a narrow corridor in North-Bengal. Efforts should be made to dismantle all the walls around us”, he added. He also stressed the urgent need for opening up of the international river routes. Sri Bordoloi, who came back from Dhaka yesterday, told this correspondent that the Chinese delegation appreciated his demand for reopening of the Stilwell Road. In fact, one member of the Chinese delegation, in his paper, also stressed the need for reopening of the Stilwell Road for boosting regional cooperation. He said that now the concerned governments must do the needful to ensure reopening of the Stilwell Road. He also expressed the view that the Members of Parliament from this region should also put pressure on the Central Government for the reopening of the Stilwell Road.
The Minister said that during the conference, delegates also had bilateral discussions on various issues relating to boosting trade and commerce. He said that if the trade routes are opened, the north-eastern region of India can be developed as a major trade hub. He said that there is tremendous potential for increasing the volume of trade with Myanmar through this region. According to an estimate, the volume of trade with Myanmar through Kolkata in the year 1999-2000 was to the tune of Rs 300 crore, while, the barter trade through the Moreh-Tamu border amounted to approximately Rs 80 crore. This amount will increase considerably if the trade barriers are lifted to facilitate trade through this region, he added. Sri Bordoloi printed out that an oil pipeline from Digboi to Myanmar was in operation till the World War II and “instead of sending the excess petroleum products produced in the refineries of the State to other parts of India, it would be much cheaper to export the same to the neighbouring countries”. He also revealed that Bangladesh has shown keen interest in boosting the trade ties through the NE and a trade delegation from the region has been invited to Bangladesh for discussions in this regard.
The Indian delegation to the conference was led by Sri Charan Washva, the Director of the Centre for Policy Research. Member of Parliament, Dr Arun Sarma was also a member of the Indian delegation. The Chinese delegation was led by the Governor of the Yunan province, while the Myanmar delegation was headed by Col Nay Winn, Director General of Border Trade and Commerce. The Bangladesh ministers including Foreign Minister, Commerce Minister and Communication Minister also attended the conference. Sri Bordoloi said that the conference was the third under the Kunming Initiative, launched in 1999 and the next sitting is scheduled to be held at Myanmar next year.