MSMEs and overland trade barriers: a case study of India's prominent land border gateways

The small business enterprises in the states sharing international land borders usually prefer trade with the bordering nations. In view of this, the article attempts to highlight the impediments Indian MSMEs encounter in overland trade. The study draws on an exhaustive field study undertaken at integrated check posts (ICPs) Attari, Raxaul and Petrapole along India's land borders. For pointing up the problems that MSMEs consider as trade impeding snowball sampling technique is used. The study finds that such enterprises perceive lack of financial resources, lack of government assistance, corruption, infrastructure inadequacy, customs regulations and procedures, and biased behaviour of border agencies as strong impediments to their trade. Moreover, the study suggests calculation of charges for different trade-related services on ad-valorem basis, separate enquiry-cum-grievance redressal kiosks for MSMEs and dissemination of necessary information through regularly held trade fairs besides electronic and print media.