Indian traders do brisk business through Nathu La

Export from the Indian side has done good this year in border trade between India and China at Nathu La, registering a turnover of Rs 58 lakh from May 19, when this year's trade began, to September.

On the other hand, import during the same period was just Rs 1,35,000 according to Sikkim's commerce and industry department.

With bilateral border trade through the historic Silk Route between India and China remaining open for one more month, the export turnover from India is likely to increase substantially.

Annual border trade, which this year commenced three weeks after the scheduled date, had started on a tepid note to record a thin volume in the first two months, but the business picked up subsequently.

In terms of visits to trade marts of the two countries, while 1,115 Indian traders visited the Renquingang trade mart at the Tibet Autonomous Region till October 30, 2,787 Chinese traders visited the Sherathang mart in India.

With export of non-basmati rice, a favoured item among importers from the Tibet autonomous region, off the export list, the Centre decided to ban its export this year, the traders association said.

Utensils, woollen materials and processed food are the favoured items of import for the people of TAR for whom it is easier to buy them from Sherathang marg than from market places in China, the Indo-Chinese border being closer, the officials said.

The import from China has witnessed a 70 per cent slump since last year as there were not many takers of the Chinese goods among Indian traders.

The traders insist they are hamstrung by restrictions imposed on consumption of imported goods in Sikkim markets.

Unless the Centre lifted the restriction on the sale of the Chinese goods throughout India, there would not be many takers.

The Indo-China Traders Association of Sikkim, the apex body of the Indian traders who visit Nathula for business purposes, has demanded review of the policy of trade through the Nathula Pass in order to make the trade an all-weather affair, its spokesman Anil Gupta said.

The two countries should allow more goods on the export-import list by updating it from time to time, the ICTAS general secretary said.

He said that for the Indian traders, the Centre should take a couple of measures like lifting restriction on the sale of Chinese goods beyond the jurisdiction of Sikkim, permitting export of non-basmati rice and urgent review of the trade list.