Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

14-December-2016 15:20 IST

Currently, four border haats are operational, along the India-Bangladesh border. Two border haats are located in Meghalaya at Kalaichar and Balat and two are located in Tripura at Srinagar and Kamalasagar.

The trade at border haats is permitted to be carried out in Indian Rupees/Bangladesh Taka and on barter basis, and data of such trade is maintained by the Haat Management Committee of the respective border haat. As per data furnished by the concerned State Governments, cash trade equivalent to Indian ₹ 1686.62 lakhs was carried out at the said four border haats in the five year period ending 2015-16.

There are no border haats in operation along the Bhutan and Myanmar borders.

In addition to the four functional border haats, Government of India and Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh have approved six more border haats-two in Tripura at Palbasti and Kamalpur and four in Meghalaya at Bholaganj, Nalikata, Shibbari and Ryngku.

Government of India has also executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government of the Republic of Union of Myanmar on establishment of border haats along their border.

The border haats aim at promoting the wellbeing of the people dwelling in remote areas across the borders of two countries, by establishing traditional system of marketing the local produce through local markets.

This information was given by the Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

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MJPS

Border haat trade permitted in local currencies and barter to support cross border local markets and community wellbeing. Establishment and operation of border haats permit authorised local cross border trade in Indian Rupees, Bangladesh Taka or by barter, with trade data maintained by Haat Management Committees; four haats are operational and six additional haats have been approved for India-Bangladesh, while a Memorandum of Understanding with Myanmar addresses establishment of haats on that border to promote the wellbeing of remote border communities through traditional local markets.