A
civil organisation in Manipur Tuesday said if an agreement was entered
with Myanmar government for working together towards curbing cross
border drug smuggling menace during Manipur chief minister’s proposed
visit to Myanmar, the visit would be a meaningful one.
A high level State delegation led by state chief minister Okram Ibobi
was likely to visit Saigang division of Myanmar in the latter part of
May in an effort to strengthen trade relationships between the two
countries through Manipur and other northeastern states of the country.
The chief minister O Ibobi was scheduled to visit the neighbouring
country to attend a seminar on May 28 at Mandalay that would deliberate
on issues concerning development of surface transport network to link
South East Asian countries with Manipur as well as discuss means to
enhance trade potential in the region.
All Manipur Anti-Drug Association (AMADA), in a statement, observed that
the drug smuggling has become a big issue in Manipur when even
personnel of the law enforcing agencies like the police department were
involved in the recent cases of drug smuggling in Manipur.
If the chief minister brings up the matter and signs an agreement to
work together between the two countries, the visit would be a meaningful
one and people would be thankful to the chief minister, the statement
asserted.
According to media reports in Imphal, the chief minister was likely to
be accompanied by commerce and industries minister Govindas Konthoujam,
works minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, education minister M Okendra and top
department officials.
The state chief minister has got a formal invitation from the chief
minister of Saigang division of Myanmar U Thar Aye which was provided
through the Union ministry of home affairs.
On the sideline of the seminar that would be followed by a buyers-buyers
meet Ibobi was likely hold a meeting with his Saigang counterpart Thar
Aye.