Union Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and his Bangladeshi counterpart M Faruk Khan on Saturday jointly inaugurated the first Border Haat on the Bangladesh-India border. Khan and Sharma opened the Haat on the border stretched from Kalaichar in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya to Baliamari of Kurigram district in Bangladesh on Saturday. Bangladesh and India have agreed to set up a number of Border Haats, which, if opened, are expected to witness bilateral trade worth 20 million US Dollars every year. West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said after the hoisting of national flags of both the countries and recital of the national anthems, a brief cultural programme was organized. A crowd of about 1000, from both sides of the international border witnessed the re-opening of the haat. The first transaction will be held on July 27. Twenty five vendors from each side and some 300 vendees are expected on the first day. The Haat will open ever Wednesday from 9.30 AM to 3 PM. The Union Commerce Minister has expressed the hope that ‘the opening of Border Haats shall herald a new chapter of cooperation in India-Bangladesh trade.’ He was confident that the opening of Border Haats will make the border villages on both sides more prosperous through improved market accessibility for their locally produced goods. It is estimated that bilateral trade worth 20 million US $ will take place annually from the Border Haats once they are opened. The Border Haats aim at promoting the well being of the people dwelling in remote areas across the borders of India and Bangladesh by establishing traditional system of marketing of local produce. The commodities traded shall be locally produced vegetables, food items, fruits, spices; minor local forest produce.