Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have agreed to strengthen cooperation in excise administration, prevention of illicit trade and revenue mobilisation following a ministerial-level meeting held in Itanagar on Wednesday. The meeting was chaired by Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and attended by Assam Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, Excise, Border Protection and Development Atul Bora, along with senior officials from the finance and excise departments of both states. According to an official statement, the discussions focused on enhancing coordination between the two neighbouring states in areas related to excise management, enforcement measures, revenue generation and the prevention of illegal trade in excisable goods.
Deputy Chief Minister Mein, who also holds the Finance, Tax, Excise and Narcotics portfolio, emphasised the need for stronger inter-state cooperation to address emerging challenges in the sector. He highlighted the importance of coordinated action, technological innovation and regular engagement between departments to improve governance and enforcement. Speaking during the meeting, Mein said Arunachal Pradesh and Assam share a long-standing relationship built on mutual trust and cooperation. He noted that close coordination between neighbouring states is essential for the effective implementation of laws, policies and administrative measures. He further stated that challenges in excise administration cannot be addressed in isolation and require continuous collaboration among states. Expressing confidence in the outcomes of the discussions, he said regular dialogue and joint initiatives would help strengthen governance systems while safeguarding public interest.
During the meeting, officials from both states delivered presentations on ongoing initiatives, operational experiences and key challenges faced in excise administration. The presentations also highlighted areas where greater cooperation and information-sharing could improve enforcement and compliance. The two sides discussed measures to curb illicit trade more effectively and explored ways to strengthen monitoring mechanisms along inter-state borders. Revenue mobilisation and improving administrative efficiency were also among the major issues deliberated upon.
