FTP - 'Haats Off' to India Bangladesh Border Bazaars

By Vijay Kumar

DGFT has made arrangements for the operation of Border Haats across the border between India and Bangladesh:

The following commodities will be allowed to be traded in the Border between India and Bangladesh at the new Border Haat at Srinagar, Tripura - between Purbo Madhyagram (India) and Chhoighoria (Bangladesh):

i. Locally produced vegetables, food items, fruits, spices;

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

iii. Products of local cottage industries like Gamcha, Lungi etc;

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

v. Locally produced garments, melamine products, processed food items, fruit juice, etc.

DDT 1963 - 16.10.2012, noted, Haats are weekly rural bazaars that happen on a weekly basis across thousands of villages in India. We talk so much of FDI in retail and WalMart, but these Haats of India have more retail outlets than WalMart and they offer a variety that the best of WalMart stores can never dream of providing. With most rural people being regular visitors to Haats (including about 40% women), these Haats can if properly used, change the political and economic scenario of the country. And no WalMart can drive out these Haats.

DGFT Public Notice No. 72/2009-2014 (RE-2013), Dated: November 7, 2014