SCC demands trade growth through Nathu La

Gangtok, Feb 8(UNI) The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce (SCC) has urged both the Centre and the state governments to meet its eight point charter of demands to increase the volume of trade through Nathu La pass.

SCC President S K Sharda said he had submitted an eight-point memorandum to Sikkim Minister for Industries R B Subba for the fulfilment of its demands before the trade resumes in June this year.

Nathu La Pass was opened for bilateral trade between India and Tibet Autonomous Region of China last year after a gap of 44 years.

The demands, included expansion of the list of items figured in the import and export list, permission to Indian traders to stay in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), abolition of ceiling on amount of transaction for individual traders, issue of import-export code without PAN number and availaibility of dollar for trade as per demand.

Mr Sharda said most of the items figured in the import-export list were outdated.

He said the list should be revised to meet the requirement of people on both sides of the border while the export list should include items like iron, steel, cement, paint, garments, consmetics and medicinal herbs,the import list should include manufactured goods.

He said the Indian traders should be allowed to stay in Chinese trade mart at Richingan for two to three days to develop confidence with their counter parts. Instead of restricting the traders to go up to Richingan, the businessmen should be allowed to visit Lhasa and other Chinese cities to asses the market.

The SCC also urged the government to develop infrastrcture in war footing to make the trade vibrant.

The government, it said, should ensure completion of widening of road, operationalisation of the proposed Airport at Paykong, rail link, establishment of central Food Laboratory and CITES office at Sherathang trade mart and set up an export and export zone to improve the volume of trade through the Nathu La pass.

UNI