Border Haat on India-Bangladesh at Srinagar, Tripura and Tarapur Kasba – Free Trade upto $100 per Transaction within 5 km Allowed

[DGFT Public Notice No. 34 dated 9^th September 2015]

Subject: Trade in Border Haats across the border in Tripura between Bangladesh and India

In exercise of powers conferred under paragraph 2.04 read with paragraph 2.21 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-20, the Director General of Foreign Trade, in supersession of Public Notice No. 72/2009-2014 (RE-2013) dated 7.11.2014 and Public Notice No.15/2015-2020 (RE-2015) dated 3rd June, 2015 hereby amends the arrangements in accordance with the addendum dated 15.5.2012 added to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated 23/10/2010 between India and Bangladesh.

2. In terms of the provisions contained in the Foreign Trade Policy, the following commodities will be allowed to be traded in the Border Haats at (i) Srinagar, Tripura – between Purbo Madhyagram (India) and Chhoighoria (Bangladesh); and (ii) between Kamalasagar, Tripura (India) and Tarapur Kasba (Bangladesh).

(i) Vegetables, food items, fruits, spices;

(ii) Minor forest produce e.g. bamboo, bamboo grass and broom stick but excluding timber;

(iii) Products of cottage industries like Gamcha, Lungi etc;

(iv) Small agriculture household implements e.g. dao, plough, axe, spade, chisel, etc;

(v) Garments, melamine products, processed food items, fruit juice, toiletries, cosmetics, plastic products, aluminum products and cookeries.

3. Clarification as to the specific commodity falling under the above list of items will be given by the Haat Management Committee, constituted under Article 1 of the operational guidelines of the MoU.

4. Vendors who are allowed to sell their products in the Border Haats shall be the residents of the area within five (5) km radius from the location of Border Haat. The vendees may offer immediate consumption items of snack foods / juices as may be allowed by the Haat Management committee.

5. The commodities will be allowed to be exchanged in the designated Border Haats in local currency and / or barter basis. Each individual will be allowed to purchase only as much of the commodities produced in Bangladesh / India which are reasonable for bona – fide personal / family consumption. Estimated value of such purchases shall not be more than respective local currency equivalent of US $ 100 (one hundred) for any particular day. The regulations relating to foreign exchange will be suspended in the designated Border Haats.

6. Effect of Public Notice

It operationalises the arrangements under the addendum dated 15.5.2012 added to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated 23/10/2010 between India and Bangladesh through Border Haats at (i) Srinagar, Tripura – between Purbo Madhyagram (India) and Chhoighoria (Bangladesh); and (ii) between Kamalasagar, Tripura (India) and Tarapur Kasba (Bangladesh).