The meaning of “Haats” in India Language is Rural Market. When observing the establishment of border haats in our neighboring countries, there can be seen trade in border haats across the border at Meghalaya between Bangladesh and India.
Regarding the discussion point to set up the border haats along Myanmar – India at the fourth Myanmar – India Trade Commission, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of the union of Myanmar had already been signed by the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Commerce of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the Foreign Secretary of the External Affairs of the Republic of India on 28th May, 2012 during the state visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of India to Myanmar.
According to the signed MoU, the very first haat (bazaar) will be set up at Pangsu Pass adjacent with Sagaing Region and Arunachal Pradesh as a pilot project even after signing the Mode of Operation of setting up border haats by the designated authorities.
The Joint Committee on Border Haats had already established and the First Meeting of Joint Committee on Border Haats between Myanmar and India was held in Naypyitaw on 18th October, 2012. The Myanmar side was led by Mr. Khin Maung Lay, Director General of the Department of Border Trade, Ministry of Commerce while the Indian delegation was led by Mr. Siddharth, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
In that meeting, both sides recognized that border haats enable local trade and increase people-to-people contacts and promote the well-being of the people in areas of difficult access across the borders of two countries through establishing a traditional system of marketing the local produce at local markets.
Both sides discussed in detail and finalized the draft Mode of Operation, proposed earlier by the Indian side. Both sides agreed that, after the approval of the competent authorities of both sides, the signing of the Mode of Operation on Border Haats will be done in the next meeting of Myanmar – India Joint Committee on Border Haats.
At present, the Department of Border Trade had already submitted the draft Mode of Operation on Border Haats to Attorney General Office for getting legal advice.