Trade Between India and China Through Nathu La Pass (SIKKIM)
Once upon a time Silk Route was the main source of trade and business between two great nation of the world India & China.
Silk , Gold , Kasturi and many precious items was traded by the businessman of either side. Even in British India the tradition was continued for long. But situation changed when Indo-China Conflict leads to War.
But last decade situation has changed a lot and Nathula Became the main change point for the revival of the Silk Route again for meaningful business point.
Border trade between India and China through Nathula Pass has substantially improved ;Traders from Sikkim sold goods worth Rs 16.04 crore to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) in the year 2014, according to a release from Commerce & Industries Department of Sikkim government .
The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region is responsible for the matters relating to the planning, execution and monitoring of development schemes and projects in the North Eastern Region. Its vision is to accelerate the pace of socio-economic development of the Region so that it may enjoy growth parity with the rest of the country.
The traditional trade between India and China through Nathu La Pass in Sikkim commenced from 6.7.2006. Import and export of locally produced commodities by people living along both sides of Indo-China border as per prevailing customary practices are allowed.
Commodities allowed under border trade between India and China (at Nathu La Pass) notified vide Public Notice No. 5-ETC(PN)/92-97 dated 20.7.1992:
Items exempted from duty when imported into India from China through border trade:
1. Goat Skin |
2. Sheep Skin |
3. Goats |
4. Horses |
5. Sheep |
6. Wool |
7. Raw Silk |
8. Yak Tail |
9. Yak hair |
10. China clay |
11. Borax |
12. Szaibelyite |
13. Butter |
14. Goat Cashmere |
15. Common Salt |
Items freely exportable to China in border trade:
1. Agricultural implements | 16. Tobacco |
2. Blankets | 17. Snuff |
3. Copper products | 18. Cigarette |
4. Clothes | 19. Canned food |
5. Textiles | 20. Agro-chemical |
6. Cycles | 21. Local herbs |
7. Coffee | 22. Dyes |
8. Tea | 23. Spices |
9. Barley | 24. Watches |
10. Rice | 25. Shoes |
11. Flour | 26. Kerosene Oil |
12. Dry fruit | 27. Stationery |
13. Dry and fresh vegetables | 28. Utensils |
14. Vegetables | 29. Wheat |
15. Gur and Misri |
Click here for Department of Commerce Public Notice No.20(RE-2006)/2004-2009 dated 13.6.2006.
There is no duty on these 40 items unlike on the Indo-Myanmar border where 5% duty is levied. Other conditions of trade are as follows:
Border trade markets shall be open from 1st June to 30th September every year.
Border trade markets will be open from Monday to Thursday every week-four days in a week and from morning 7:30 am to afternoon 3:30 pm Indian time and 10 am to 6 pm Chinese time would be the timings for the border trade.
A permit fee of Rs.50 each will be levied for every vehicle entering Sikkim side from China. Similarly, a fee of 5 yuans (Rs. 5 equal to one Yuan) will be levied for every vehicle crossing over to the Chinese side upto the trade mart point at Renqinggang.
Reference: http://mdoner.gov.in/content/border-trade