Mizoram boosting infrastructure for border trade: Governor

Mizoram has been developing infrastructure to boost the trade with Myanmar and Bangladesh, said Governor Vakkom B. Purushothaman on the occasion of the Republic Day here Sunday.

"Infrastructure has been created along the international borders to facilitate border trade. The proposed Land Custom Station at Zorinpui in Lawngtlai district has already been approved in principle by the union commerce ministry recently," the governor said after unfurling the national flag at the Assam Rifles ground.

He said : "After the completion of the proposed border infrastructure, Mizoram would be a gateway of trade any economy of the South East Asian countries."

Mizoram shares a 722-km unfenced boundary with Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The governor said that the flagship programme of Mizoram government - the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) - has made very good progress in uplifting the economy of the state thereby registering GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) growth rate at 11 percent during 11th plan period against the national growth rate of 7.8 percent.

"Planning Commission has so far released Rs.1,208.82 crore for the execution of NLUP. In addition, various central ministries are expected to provide Rs.760.43 crore more by the end of 2013-14 fiscal."

The NLUP scheme, which aims to benefit over 125,000 families, has had significant impact in rural economy by providing alternative and sustainable livelihood activities to the farmers, thereby reducing their dependence on 'jhum' cultivation (slash and burn method of farming) by 50 to 60 percent.

The Mizoram government launched the Rs.2,873-crore NLUP in 2010 to tackle food scarcity by moving away from 'Jhum cultivation' to stable farming.

The governor said the Mizoram government has taken an ambitious plan to train its sportspersons to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games.

"A special programme 'Olympic Vision 2016' has been launched in which sportspersons are given special intensive training in selected disciplines.

"Towards achieving excellence in sports, world class infrastructure for sports have been created in various places of the state," he said, adding that the government's policy of "Catch The Young" is being implemented in all sports disciplines the year round.