Editorial: Add Border Trade to Tourism Bouquet

If things follow their due course, Border Trade over Nathula will resume in little over a fortnight. The trade has not [even remotely] lived up to its projected glory, but has been vibrant at the local level, with goods keeping shops here well stocked with popular-among-tourist goods. The last few years have seen Tibet in turmoil and that has dampened spirits at the trade marts a bit, but business, whether in the ‘official’ exports from here or the casual imports from the other side, has found its commercial balance. This balance is however very low. And as the State begins the paper work to issue trade passes for local traders to join a new season of border trade, it is necessary that a frank appraisal is undertaken of the whole development. The resumption of trade over Nathula was a big moment for Sikkim, as also Asia’s largest neighbours, but the promise that this trade is pregnant with, remains stillborn.
It is important for Sikkim to go over the pre-reopening projections once again, sift the practical from the hyperbole, study the figures [both, the official ones and the unofficial estimates], sit with the traders, from both sides, and see how this trading can be taken to the next level working within the cramped guidelines of the trade modalities. Coming up is the border trade’s seventh outing and it is about time that everyone concerned accepted that while funding for infrastructure might keep coming for trade-related works, Delhi does not appear too excited about enhancing the items officially allowed for border trade over Nathula. After all, the demand for expanding the list was made on the first year itself and since then, all that Sikkim and its traders have received, are assurances that the request was being considered. On ground, some fast-moving items have even been struck off the tradeable list. It is perhaps time that Sikkim started thinking more outside the box while working within the insensitive list and modalities appended to its border trade. Say for example tourism. Nathula is a big hit with tourists and the Sherathang trade mart is along that route. While this trade mart might not behave like a trading hub, it still has appeal among tourists, offering them a chance for photo-ops with foreigners or bargaining with traders from Tibet. And really, ever since the huge gate replaced the natural pass at Nathula, the place is not really appealing anymore. Surely, some coordination with traders from the other side and involvement of tourism stakeholders from here can make the whole Sherathang experience more than just about bargaining over a Chicago Bulls embossed ‘cowboy’ hat. No rules will be broken if cultural troupes perform there while the trading hours are open. With adequate promotion, this could prove a big hit and earn substantial revenue for everyone allowed. A little prodding, and surely the authorities will allow even foreign tourists to travel up to at least the trade mart at Sherathang. Unfortunately, it is being sidelined with rushed share-jeep tours to Nathula not even stopping over at Sherathang anymore! The tourism potential of Sherathang is an aspect of the border trade that can surely be explored a bit more.
Definitely, if more thought is applied to it, more ways of making the border trade more meaningful for Sikkim can be worked out.