01 October 2006
Nathu La trade shut till June
(IANS) Trade between India and China through Nathu La Pass in Sikkim, which opened after 44 years, closed after registering business worth Rs.1.2 million (UK£14,070; US$26,100; EUR€20,877) since July. “Trade between the two countries has closed for this year and will resume from 01 June until 30 September next year”, Sikkim's Director of Industry and Commerce Saman Prasad Subba told IANS. Under an agreement reached between the two countries, trade takes places four days a week - Monday to Thursday - lasting until 30 September when snow makes the area impassable. "The volume of trade through Nathu La in the first year itself may not be that high, but the mood was very positive and we would say this was a good beginning”, Subba said. Although the trade was slow this year, about 900 Chinese traders crossed the border separated by a rusty barbed wire marker to the bazaar of Sherathang, five kilometres below the pass on the Indian side, and about 400 Indian traders headed to Tibet on the Chinese side. “I think it was a very successful attempt and by next year we hope to see business flourish”, Sikkim Chamber of Commerce president S.K. Sarda said.