Border Trade closes high in spirit, but still low on infrastructure

EXPORTS OVER NATHULA ADD UP TO NEARLY A CRORE IN OCTOBER ALONE; IMPORTS STILL OFFICIALLY ‘NIL’

GANGTOK, 30 Nov: The sixth season of Indo-China border trade through the 14,000 feet high Nathula mountain pass came to a close today with the final day of trading marking the traditional annual bonhomie among traders of both countries. While trading too took place, the day was marked with exchange of gifts among the traders and get-togethers between relatives otherwise separated by the border. There was also a cultural programme organized at Sherathang, the trade mart on the Sikkim side, by Indian traders along with food and drinks.
Apart from traders, also present were government officials, especially from the line departments which are “ever” engaged in the seemingly never ending process of trade mart construction and upgradation at Sherathang.
As is usually the case, the last few weeks of border trade usually see a jump in the number of traders crossing over from both sides. It was no different this time either with the closing days witnessing a near doubling of trading activity. For the past few days, the number of traders from Tibet crossing over has been hovering around the 150 mark while the average of the past few months was around 80.
The volume of trade also sees in increase in the concluding days with traders from both sides working hard at accumulating as many items of trade as possible to last them the few months before trade reopens next season.
While the official balance of trade is heavily tilted in favour of the Indian traders, it would not be an exaggeration to state that with the figures of trade of unlisted items brought in by Chinese traders the border trade would be heavily in favour of the Chinese traders. However, Customs officials only keep tab of the official list goods and their statistics, and the figures they have, reveal that import of goods from China throughout 2011 has been ‘Nil’.
The official figures for import items is zero, which is to say that absolutely nothing has been imported this season, while exports to Tibetan Autonomous Region have been steadily increasing from Rs. 12 lakh in May to a maximum of Rs. 48 lakh for the August.
Exports dipped in September to Rs. 42 lakh as a result of the earthquake and the blockade of the route to Tsomgo and Nathula.  The month of October again saw heightened trade with its imminent closure with almost a crore rupees worth of exports recorded.
The actual figure of exports for the month of October is Rs. 94,62,225.
Figures for the month of November are being computed.
A bulk of the export from Sikkim is of vegetable oil (dalda), which, during the month of September, was worth Rs. 20.22 lakh. Next are copper items, canned foods, blankets, textiles and tea. Cigarettes are also a favoured item of export.
In October the export of vegetable oil to Tibet more than doubled with the Customs recording Rs. 54.35 lakhs worth of Dalda being exported. This was followed by copper items at Rs. 11.43 lakh and utensils at Rs. 6.51 lakhs.
Other items of export include textiles - close to Rs. 2 lakh worth of which were exported in October; Blankets worth 2.44 lakh and tea at Rs. 3.39 lakh.
While officially there are no imports, this has sort of become a kind of joke as Chinese traders are openly seen selling blankets, shoes, jackets, quilts, thermos flasks, beer etc. Not only that Gangtok and other towns are flooded with these items which are sold at almost triple the price at Sherathang.
As far as infrastructure at the trade mart at Sherathang is concerned there has hardly been any improvement. While line departments are informed to have visited today this has become a routine affair. There are several facilities proposed for development and one such even has its completion date given as 30 November but there is nothing to be seen above the foundation level.
This is, incidentally, the sixth season of border trade between the two countries. And while that may be so, there has been absolutely no change in the list of items of trade for the past 6 years.  Officials at the Industries Department inform that the center decided to continue with the existing list of items for border trade due to the lack of infrastructure and the unsuitable road conditions. The Border Roads Organisation has been engaged in road widening and double-laning works along the Sherathang route for the past 2 years.
It was also informed that the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industries, had visited Sikkim in the month of July to study the existing road conditions along the border trade route and also the infrastructure existing at the trade mart at Sherathang. The objective of the visit to see the feasibility of changing the status of trade but as the infrastructure and double laning of the road had not been completed nothing could be decided. Subsequently, there has been no direction from the Ministry and so the border trade continues with the present listed items.