Possibility of Nathu La border trade restarting soon: Minister

PANKAJ DHUNGEL

GANGTOK,: The long-awaited resumption of border trade between India and China through the historic Nathu La Pass in East Sikkim may take place in the near future, with the State Government indicating that preparations are underway and infrastructure is being readied for the reopening of the route.

Tourism Minister Tshering Thendup Bhutia on Saturday said discussions on reviving the trade route were progressing and that the State Government was preparing for its eventual reopening.

"The Nathu La border trade between India and China was functioning well earlier, but due to certain issues it has remained suspended. Discussions are currently underway regarding its revival, and the final modalities, strategy and requirements are being worked out. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, officials of the Commerce and Industries department and other concerned agencies are reviewing all trade-related infrastructure. We are assessing the condition of the facilities that were created earlier for border trade and identifying areas that need upgrading. The necessary improvement works are already being carried out. Once the final directions come from the Union Government, we will be ready. We hope that the Nathu La border trade can resume at the earliest, and there is a possibility of trade operations restarting soon," Bhutia said.

His remarks were echoed by Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur, who expressed confidence that trade through the border pass would resume, although no official date has yet been announced.

"Since the matter has come up, the government is working on it. No date has been fixed yet, but there is broad consensus on the issue. Whenever a date is finalised, the necessary steps will be taken. However, it is certain that trade through the Nathu La border route is going to resume," the Governor said.

The statements come weeks after Rajya Sabha MP D.T. Lepcha had indicated that the reopening of the Nathu La trade route was under active consideration.

In May this year, Lepcha had said that border trade through Nathu La was expected to resume and that trading activities would restart from the existing trade mart once the necessary clearances were in place. He had also stated that the Ministry of External Affairs would resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Nathu La route during the June-August period.

Nathu La, situated at an altitude of over 14,000 feet in East Sikkim, forms part of the historic Silk Route that connected Sikkim and Tibet for centuries. The border trade route was officially reopened in 2006 after remaining closed for more than four decades following the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict. Trade continued through the pass until it was suspended in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The revival of border trade is expected to provide a major boost to economic activity in the region, benefiting traders, transporters and communities linked to the cross-border commerce network. With both the Sikkim government and Raj Bhavan expressing optimism, expectations are growing that Nathu La could soon witness the return of one of the most significant trade links between India and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.