Nathu La border trade ends for this year

Gangtok, Nov 27 (UNI) The third season of the Nathu La border trade between Sikkim and Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) today concluded on an optimistic note with traders from both sides expecting more fruitful years.

A simple function attended by state government officials, Sikkimese traders and TAR traders at Sherathang trade mart located near the Nathu La border marked the end of this year’s season which began on May 19, this year.

The participation of the TAR traders was pretty healthy compared to the low turnout of the Sikkimese traders in the closing ceremony summing up the response of local traders towards the border trade.

However, Sikkimese traders have dominated the border trade so far in the past seven months of trade upto November 25.

Official records show that Sikkimese traders have managed to export items worth Rs 95 lakhs to TAR.

The TAR businessmen could only sell items worth Rs 1.35 lakhs to their Sikkimese counterparts during the whole trading season.

A brief meeting was held between the Sikkimese officials, traders and TAR representatives on the closing ceremony which saw an exchange of views and ideas as how the trade can be improved more.

The Chinese traders demanded more export of the items and also the early revision of the lists of old items during the meeting, said one state government official.

As per the bilateral agreement only scheduled items are allowed for the border trade. Most of the items listed in the schedule are obsolete and do not have commercial value, a fact which both Chinese and Sikkimese traders have highlighted.

Sikkim government has been demanding the Centre to revamp the list of items and put more commercially viable items to boost the border trade.

This is the third year of the border trade along the 14,400 ft mountainous corridor of Nathu-La after a historic reopening on July 2006.

As per the bilateral agreement, only traders from Sikkim and TAR are allowed to participate in this border trade for four days a week during the trading season.

The fourth season of the trade is expected to commence from May 1, next year.