Nathula Trade dry run on Apr 21

Gangtok, Apr 19: A dry run on bilateral trade between India and China, before the reopening of the historic Nathu La trade route, will take place on April 21.

A decision in this regard was taken at a high level meeting chaired by Union Commerce department Additional Secretary C Fernandes at New Delhi on April 13 last.

Sikkim Commerce and Industries Principal Secretary Karma Gyasto who attended the meeting told newsmen here after he returned from Delhi.

Mr Gyasto said officials from the Army, ITBP, Central Board of Customs and Excise, Telecommunication, Home Affairs attended the meeting.

A team of officials from the Commerce, home affairs, custom and Central excise department from Delhi are arriving here on April 20 to oversee the exercise and suggest corrective measures if any.

All the officials of the line department were asked to remain present at the site.

The main objective of the dry run is to monitor the level of preparedness and the functioning of various departments of state and central government and to initiate steps to overcome the loopholes before the trade route reopen.

Mr Gyasto said the meeting also discussed and almost agreed upon the list of items to be traded through Nathu La pass. A notifiation in this regard would also be issued soon, he said.

A suggestion was also made to have four-day trading in a week after the trade route reopens, the secretary said.

UNI