Assoc to improve trade through Nath La corridor

Gangtok, Oct 25: With an eye towards the next trading season at Nathula corridor, the local traders involved in the border trade has formed an organisation to address their concerns.

In a recently concluded meeting, the Sikkimese traders, involved in the Nathula trade, decided to float a new association called 'Indo-China Traders Association of Sikkim' or ICTAS.

The Association would improve and manage the trading activities through this trade route, ICTAS president Chimmey Rinzing Bhutia said.

All the traders, who have been trading through this new trade route, were present in the meeting.

During the meeting, the trading activities of the first year was reviewed and the members decided to solve some of the difficulties and inconveniences experienced by them to facilitate smooth trade next year, Mr Bhutia said.

Nathula border trade was closed on September 28 this year after its historic reopening on July 6, 2006. According to the agreements between the two countries, the border trade would be allowed from June to September in the initial phase. Nathula border trade would resume on June next year.

In the three months of the first year, the trade has been lukewarm. Raw wool from TAR were imported in significant volumes during the last stage of the trade while food grains, vegetables and oil received favourable response from the Chinese traders.

UNI