‘Customs should remain alert, ensure Indo-Bangla trade is not hindered’: Nirmala Sitharaman in Agartala

Built at Rs 28 crore, the GST Bhawan has eight floors, including the ground floor, and is equipped with facilities and space for support and training in GST-related issues.

While stressing on the need to boost border trade with Bangladesh, Sitharaman said since Tripura is a bordering state, customs have to remain alert. “Customs should be alert and it should be ensured that trade between two countries is facilitated rather than being hindered,” she said.

Sitharaman said before GST was introduced, Tripura, annually received only Rs 4.21 crore as central sales tax collection. “However, since then, the state has come a long way in growth of businesses and subsequent revenue generation and in 2022-23, Tripura collected Rs 982.5 crore as interstate GST, within a matter of five-six years,” she said.

“Post GST, the collection and revenue generation for Tripura has been extremely favourable. It has gone from single to three digits. Interstate trade has been facilitated. It’s showing how GST has actually meant good for the northeast states and Tripura’s number is almost enviable. Tripura needs a lot more resources but in six years, so much development shows the need for greater coordination through GST. More business is coming through GST,” Sitharaman said.

She also urged the GST authorities to conduct outreach initiatives with the state government so that more small businesses understand that they benefit by enrolling for GST. “Large companies don’t want to buy or procure goods from non-GST companies,” she said.

On region-specific realities of Northeast India, like the rugged terrain, the Union finance minister said it is difficult for people from such inaccessible areas to reach out and get enrolled under GST in Agartala.

She asked the officials to reach out to the people in such areas and discuss the benefits of GST and how it can benefit their resources and give them higher returns in terms of business.

“There should be a two-pronged approach. In order to have the distant people appreciate the benefits of GST, the officials can go there and tell them about how it can benefit their resources and give them back more,” she said.

CBIC chief Vivek Johri, Revenue secretary Sanjay Malhotra and others joined the inaugural event and lauded the role of taxpayers in Tripura. The Union finance minister later flagged off a mobile ATM of the Tripura Grameen Bank at a city-based hotel in Agartala.