The Hindu Business Line : One year on, ‘Nathula Pass’es more benefits to tourism sector

Gangtok, July 7 It is one year since the reopening of Nathula for border trade with China. Trade between Sikkim and the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) in China had resumed on July 6 last year after a gap of 44 years.

To mark the first anniversary of this historic reopening of the fabled Silk Road for border trade purposes, a commemorative function was held at the Chintan Bhawan here last week.

The chief guest was Mr D.D. Bhutia, Cabinet Minister and Acting Chief Minister.

Various traders and representatives from the Indo-China Traders’ Association of Sikkim, the Sikkim Chamber of Commerce and the Confederation of Industries of Sikkim were also present on the occasion.

Even as the need for proper checks and balances is still being felt to further streamline and enhance border trade, the Sikkim Government feels that the biggest achievement of reopening of Nathula has been the “cementing factor” between the two Asian giants.

“Our greatest achievement is that Sikkim has been successful in cementing the political relationship between India and China through Nathula,” said Mr R.B. Subba, State Industries and Commerce Minister.

Commenting on various demands made by local traders, especially the list of items for trade, Mr Subba said the matter was before the Union Cabinet and a decision could be expected soon.

Infrastructure

“We are doing everything to improve the existing infrastructure at the Sherathang Trade Mart well as at the Nathula post in order to further enhance border trade,” he said.

Mr Subba also added that the State tourism sector had benefited greatly from the reopening of Nathula border trade.

Earlier, Mr Anil Kumar Gupta, General Secretary, the Indo-China Traders’ Association of Sikkim, told the gathering that, amongst the various problems faced by the local traders, the list of items for trade was the biggest drawback of the Nathula trade.

“The low volume of trade is because of the present list of items. Another factor is that most items we import like yak tail, yak meat, sheep wool, etc, have to be used within Sikkim.”

Nodal officer

He had also mooted the idea of placing a nodal officer from the State Government at the Sherathang trade mart.

In the first two months of trading this year, Indians did business worth Rs 6.37 lakh while Chinese traders were able to sell goods worth just Rs 32,900.

Even with the trading ceiling being raised to Rs 1 lakh per trader per day, it is felt that only expansion of the list of trading items with more marketable products included could give Nathula border trade the much-needed impetus to propel it further.

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