Indo-Sino border trade through Nathu La to start tomorrow

Gangtok, Apr 30 (UNI) The India-China border trade through Nathu La, the part of an old silk route, will begin tomorrow and will continue till November 30.

The trade was originally scheduled to start from June one to September 30.

Official sources here today said the preponement and the extension of the duration of the trade to six months was taken by the Centre in consultations with its Chinese counterpart in a bid to make the trade more vibrant and successful.

The office of the District Collector (East) entrusted with the task of issuing passes to the traders were working overtime to issue passes.

Despite this, the trade bodies like Indo-China Traders Association and Sikkim Chambers of Commerce have welcomed the decision of extending the duration of the trade.

The Nathu La reopened for border trade last year after a gap of 44 years following a series of deliberations between India and China.

The trade route was closed in the wake of the Sino-India war in 1962.

UNI