Gangtok: Trade across the Nathula Pass in Sikkim is back. India and China reopened the historic route after six years of silence. Officials from both nations met at the border gate to swap trade passes. They later handed the documents to registered merchants at a ceremony in Sherathang.
This revival coincides with the restart of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. Sikkim Tourism Minister T.T. Bhutia expects a surge in local business and tourism. He plans to lobby the Union government to update the list of exports with modern Sikkimese goods. Current regulations permit only outdated items like yak tail, raw silk, and sheep skin. Traders want higher limits than the existing daily ceiling of 2 lakh rupees.
The current Standard Operating Procedure limits the season to 400 total passes. Delays pushed the launch behind schedule. "As of now, around 38 trade passes have already been issued. We expect more to be issued before August 1," an official said. The government is now asking the Ministry of External Affairs and the State Intelligence Bureau to allow for an extended application window.
Operations run Monday through Thursday. The gates unlock at 7:30 am IST, or 10 am Beijing time. Nothing has changed regarding the cargo rules. India still sends 36 items including textiles, rice, and spices. Imports from China remain limited to goods like wool, sugar, and borax. Officials admit the trade framework needs a serious update to survive in the modern market.
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