India and Bangladesh unveiled a border haat at Kalaichar in Meghalaya on Saturday, to be followed by two other haats, which together are expected to result in an estimated $ 20 million of bilateral trade annually.
The haats are aimed to re-create the thriving commerce shuttered forty years ago after the creation of East Pakistan. The Kalaicharv haat will be soon followed by another border haat at Balat on the Indian side and Lauwaghar on the Bangladesh side, said commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma. Bangladesh trade minister Muhammad Faruk Khan inaugurated the haat with Sharma.
Commodities can be exchanged at the border haats in local currency and/or barter basis with a cap of local currency equivalent of $50 for any particular day.
