NATHULA (SIKKIM): The reopening of the Nathula pass four months ago has spurred the Sikkim trading community into "hyperactive mode," demanding better facilities at the Sherathang mart and inclusion of more items on the India-China border trade list. The total volume of trade through this pass, located at a height of about 15,000 feet, since July 6 is officially stated to be about Rs. 19 lakh — imports worth Rs. 10 lakh and exports worth Rs.9 lakh.

With an "encouraging" feedback, the Government is set to undertake a comprehensive, integrated development of the Sherathang mart and the Nathula border post at a cost of Rs. 70 crore. The development project will include a bigger trade mart, and better immigration and customs facilities, Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said on Monday.

On his first-ever visit to this snow-bound pass, he told accompanying reporters that the public sector Rail India Technical and Economic Services was undertaking a study on the revamp and development of Nathula and it would be completed soon. "It will take another 18 months for implementing and completing the project."

Agreeing that the trade list was "outdated and ridiculous," he said it would soon be expanded. Now 15 items could be imported and 29 items could be exported.

"We have asked the National Council for Applied and Economic Research to prepare an expanded trade list. The report should be with us within a week and it will be made public, inviting suggestions from traders and others. We will then negotiate with China on expanding the list." The Minister said the Nathula border trade, improvement of facilities and expansion of the list could figure during discussions with Chinese President Hu Jin Tao, who is scheduled to visit India in November. Describing the reopening of Nathula as more of "political and strategic significance" than economic importance, he said expectations on this trade should be "realistic" and not "hyped up."

However, the Nathula border trade had great potential for expansion and not only Sikkim but also Siliguri, the fast developing industrial hub in north Bengal, could benefit from it.

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