Trade through Nathula pass to resume next month

Gangtok, May 25 (UNI) Resumption of bilateral trade between India and China through the historic Nathula pass in Sikkim will take place from next month.

Mr Karma Gyatso, Principal Secretary, Department of Commerce and Industries, today announced that the Nathula trade route would be reopened in June, thereby ending months of speculations about the reopening of the trade route.

'' Nathula trade route will definitely be reopened by June, '' he said.

He, however, did not mention the actual date for the launch of the bilateral trade route.

'' It is a central subject. Therefore, the finalisation of the actual date lies with the Centre, '' Mr Gyatso said.

He informed the upgraded list of items for trade where 30 odd more items had been added to the old list of items selected for trade, highlighting the infrastructure completed at Sherathang mart in Nathula for border trade.

'' We have played the role of facilitators to our best ability, '' he said and urged the main players in the border trade, the Sikkimese people, especially the educated unemployed youths, to come forward and utilise the host of opportunities lying before them.

With only the local traders allowed to take part in the border trade for an initial period of five years, Mr Gyatso urged them to utilise the period to get a headstart in the trade.

UNI XC SJC/ SHR RK1740