When I landed at the Zokhawthar trade centre on the Indo–Myanmar border in Mizoram, it happened to be the same day the NCB Director was visiting the township. The symbolism was hard to miss: while New Delhi worries about borders and security, life here moves to the rhythm of commerce.
As the saying goes, seeing is believing. By afternoon, the marketplace was alive with brisk negotiations. On the Indian side, traders argued animatedly, offering competitive prices to familiar faces—many of them daily customers from across the border.
“Omlo mo…,” a woman trader protested, refusing to lower her price further. Her customer pushed back theatrically, prompting smiles from onlookers. An Assam Rifles personnel standing nearby remarked, almost amused, that it is often impossible to distinguish between Myanmarese traders and Indian Mizos—the language, culture, and business instincts are shared.
Booming business here is not an exception; it is routine.
Local Mizo traders spoke of logistics—how energy drinks imported in bulk could be transported onward to Champhai, Aizawl, Kolasib, and even Silchar in Assam. “Business is business,” said Bruce P. Hmar tersely, unwilling to be distracted during trading hours. Over dinner later, he was more candid.
“Fencing the border is a mistake,” he argued. “The British divided us whimsically, and Delhi has inherited that legacy.” He dismissed claims of insurgency in Mizoram, stressing instead the region’s commercial potential. “We have the business acumen of Gujaratis and Marwaris. We can transform Mizoram and the Northeast.”
Across this trading ecosystem sits a quieter, more poignant story—that of Myanmar’s children studying in Indian schools.
Jacob, a shy Class VI student from Myanmar, studies in Zokhawthar. “Hindi… theamlo,” he said softly. “I know English.” His dream, if God—Lal Pa—wills it, is to become a pilot. Asked about home, his voice dropped. “My country is burning every day. I am grateful to India and my Mizo brothers and sisters. A big kalawmein.”
Zokhawthar (India) and Rihkhawdar (Myanmar), formalised as a border trade point in 1994, remain a critical—if largely informal—economic lifeline. Agricultural goods such as beans, pulses, vegetables, fruits, spices, and tobacco dominate trade. For nearly six per cent of Mizoram’s population, livelihoods are tied directly or indirectly to this exchange.
Civil conflict in Myanmar has disrupted flows, triggered refugee movements, and forced intermittent closures. Yet commerce adapts, finding ways to survive.
The larger lesson is strategic. Business-to-business interests matter. Opening borders responsibly, investing in all-weather roads near international frontiers, and recognising the Northeast as a global partnership hub—not a peripheral security zone—are overdue policy shifts.
With over 250 ethnic communities, the Northeast has already demonstrated its potential. The 2023 G20-related business meet in Nagaland, attended by delegates from 27 countries, was proof.
At Zokhawthar, the border is not just a line—it is a marketplace, a classroom, and a reminder that integration, not isolation, is how regions truly prosper.
Need for Construction of All-weather roads in all villages located in close proximity to international borders.
With more than 250 ethnic tribes domiciled, the north-eastern states have now become the centre for investment and partnering with other global business communities and a platform for various collaborations.
When asked to comment further; analysts said – In 2023 when Nagaland hosted business meet related to G20 Summit; delegates from 27 countries including delegates from Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy. Jamaica, Japan, Nepal made things a Success.
Zokhawthar in Mizoram (India) and Rihkhawdar (Myanmar) form a crucial, yet often informal, border trade point established in 1994, located 510 km from the international border. Key exports include agriculture items (soybeans, red kidney beans), while the trade is deeply linked to regional livelihood and cultural ties.
Key Aspects of Zokhawthar-Rih Border Trade
Location & Significance: Situated in Mizoram, Zokhawthar acts as a key gateway to Myanmar (Rihkhawdar) and Rih Dil lake, facilitating, for instance, about 6% of Mizoram’s population’s livelihoods.
Trade Mechanism: Originally authorized under a 1994 agreement, trade includes formal, barter, and, primarily, informal, non-monetized exchanges.
Key Commodities: Trade focuses on agricultural products such as beans, pulses, vegetables, fruits, spices, and tobacco.
~ Nirendra Dev
