States » EastPosted at: Oct 29 2026 9:25PM


Meghalaya proposes new Land Customs Station at Umkiang, reopening of five Border Haats to boost trade with Bangladesh

Shillong, Oct 29 (UNI) The Meghalaya government has proposed a new Land Customs Station at Umkiang in East Jaintia Hills district and submitted proposals to upgrade existing stations at Bagli, Borsora, Bholaganj, Mahendraganj, and Dalu into Integrated Check Posts, Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said on Thursday.
He also urged the Government of India to facilitate the reopening of five existing Border Haats along the India–Bangladesh border and to operationalise the completed Border Haat at Huroi in East Jaintia Hills.
Addressing a State-Level Outreach Programme, Dhar, who holds the Commerce and Industries portfolio, underscored Meghalaya’s strategic location along the Bangladesh border and the importance of the Land Port at Dawki.
He identified key sectors driving the state's export potential to Bangladesh, including horticultural produce, spices, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, honey, bamboo, handloom, and handicrafts.
Dhar stated that Meghalaya is aggressively leveraging India’s robust Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to plug its enterprising farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs directly into international markets, underscoring the immense global potential these pacts unlock for local industries.
“The state government wants our local farmers, artisans, ambitious entrepreneurs, and young people to benefit from the unprecedented opportunities created by the FTAs, and my department is committed to making that happen,” the Deputy Chief Minister affirmed.
He noted that India’s trade agreements with partners, including the UAE, Australia, the United Kingdom, Oman, the European Union, and New Zealand, offer preferential market access to economies that collectively account for approximately USD 26.8 trillion in GDP and USD 8.2 trillion in goods imports.
Dhar highlighted the central government’s Export Promotion Mission, approved in November 2025 with an outlay of Rs 25,060 crore up to 2030–31. Its two sub-schemes, Niryat Protsahan and Niryat Disha, provide trade finance and non-financial assistance, including market-access support, he added.
Referring to transportation assistance under the LIFT scheme and support for participation in trade fairs and buyer-seller meets, Dhar urged exporters to obtain valid Importer Exporter Code (IEC) and Udyam registrations while adhering to the prescribed application procedures.
Highlighting recent state efforts to strengthen business linkages, the Deputy Chief Minister cited the Reverse Buyer Seller Meet 2.0, held here on October 8 and 9.
He informed that the event brought together 30 international buyers from 16 countries, two national buyers, and 400 sellers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from all 12 districts of Meghalaya.
More than 100 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed, with negotiations for business orders actively underway, Dhar said.
Joint Secretary of the union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Kapil Chaudhary, who also addressed the gathering, highlighted the expanding reach of India’s trade agreements.
She noted that India had signed around seven FTAs in the preceding five years, providing access to markets accounting for more than 75 per cent of global GDP.
Emphasising the need to convert market access into measurable growth, Chaudhary called for better identification of exportable products, improved export mapping, and stronger international logistics.
With Meghalaya’s exports reported at approximately USD 77 million, Chaudhary stressed the importance of strengthening trade linkages and exploring ways to capture shipments currently routed through ports outside the state.
Highlighting the Export Promotion Mission’s 11 intervention areas, including market access initiatives, transport assistance, market intelligence studies, and overseas warehousing, Chaudhary encouraged businesses to utilise these measures to address logistical challenges and identify demand in international markets.
The State-Level Outreach Programme was organised by the Meghalaya Commerce and Industries Department in collaboration with the Department of Commerce, Government of India, and the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
The programme was aimed at to familiarise exporters and entrepreneurs with FTA provisions, export promotion schemes, and the procedures involved in accessing overseas markets.
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