'Centre must increase trade through Nathu La'

Kolkata, Jul 27: West Bengal government has urged the Centre to increase scope of bilateral trade through Nathu La and involve the state in all future discussions related to this trade corridor, a part of the ancient silk route.

Official sources said here that Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee has already discussed the matter with Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh.

The state intends to participate in the trade from India actively, sources said.

At present the scope of the trade through Nathu La is limited as only 100 Sikkim-based traders had been given licence to export 29 items, while China would export 15.

''Reopening of the Nathu La for Sino-Indian trade after 44 years would help the economy of the entire eastern region, including West Bengal and Sikkim,'' the sources added.

UNI