Exports to China hit new peak
- Nathu-la trade up

Source; Telegraph


Gangtok, Dec. 2: Landslides and inclement weather this monsoon did little to dampen trade with China through Nathu-la with Indian exports crossing the crore mark for the first time at the end of the fourth season of trading that ended on Monday.

According to data provided by the Sikkim commerce and industries department, the total exports from India this season stood at over Rs 1.35 crore, surpassing the Rs 95 lakh that was recorded in the last season.

With obsolete items making up the trade list of the Tibet Autonomous Region — it includes yak pelt, sheep wool, borax (a cleaner and disinfectant) and salt — the imports from TAR was dismal till last month when items worth Rs 2.95 lakh were sold to the Sikkimese buyers.

Senior officials of the commerce and industries department said the Indian exports comprised mainly canned food, textiles, utensils, vegetable oils, tea, dry fruit and spices. According to the agreement between the two countries, India can export 29 items, while traders from TAR can send only 15.

Customs officials at Nathu-la at 14,400ft said 3,737 Chinese buyers came over to the Sherathang trade mart on the Indian side, while 1,157 Indian businessmen crossed over to the Renquinggang trading post on the Chinese side.

“There was absolute goodwill between the two sides at the closing ceremony yesterday. However, the demand for revising the list of items that can be imported from China still remains a contentious issue,” said a senior government official present at the event. The Sikkim director for commerce and industries, Ujjwal Gurung, had hosted a lunch for the traders.

Sources in the Indo-China Traders’ Association said the traders from TAR had boycotted trade in May and June this year demanding that the list of items be revised.

S.K. Sarda, the president of the Sikkim Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the rise in the export volume. “It is a positive development, as the volume of trade picked up in the second half of the season. I have positive feedback from Delhi that a revised list of items for import has been approved and there should be some good news at the year-end,” Sarda said.

He also said traders from Sikkim would have an advantage over their counterparts from other states when the trade is opened to all. “The Indian government had allowed only traders from Sikkim to do commerce through Nathu-la for the first five years and the next season, starting in March 2010, will be the last,” Sarda added.