India - China trade resumes through Sikkim

GANGTOK: The border trade between India and China through Nathu La will resume tomorrow, a month earlier than the fixed date.

The district collector (East), Mr Vishal Chouhan, told The Statesman, that the Union commerce and industry department sent an intimation on Saturday to start the border trade through Nathu La from tomorrow.

“The decision to prepone the reopening of the border trade follows a series of high-level meetings in New Delhi, where the Sikkim chief minister, Mr Pawan Chamling, had demanded extension of the time and period of trade for the benefit of Indian traders,” the collector said.
As per the original agreement, the reopening of Nathu La was scheduled for the period 1 June to 30 September but now trade will continue from 1 May to 30 November.

The border route will only be open to those traders who have new trade passes or travel passes. They will be allowed to move up to Renqquingang in the Tibet Autonomous Region on the basis of the travel pass issued by the district collector, East.

“Till Saturday, we received only 15- 20 applications for fresh passes but today it increased to 35,” Mr Chouhan said.

“Last year’s passes would have to be surrendered at the district collector’s office for issuance of new passes,” he said.

The Union commerce and industry ministry’s decision to prepone trade has left little time for the traders to prepare for trading activities. The supervising authorities have also been caught offguard. There is mixed response among the traders over the development.

The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce president, Mr SK Sharda, expressed frustration with the pending demands such as change in export and import products. “We are not prepared but will organise everything to suit the preponement,” he said. According to him, more than 500 traders from the Chinese side are prepared and have reached Yatung near the Chinese trade mart, for the upcoming trade, which is to begin tomorrow, the official added.

Source: The Statesman