The border bilateral trade between India and China through Nathu La international border in Sikkim for the year 2018 has been declared ‘closed’ on Thursday.
The trade for this year was started on May 1 for a period of seven months and this season trading has been closed in the advance to the scheduled date November 30 as the last day is a non-trading day.
To mark the occasion, a closing function was organised at Nathu La on Thursday, which was attended by the Secretary Commerce & Industries Department, Government of Sikkim, and other line departments of the State and Central governments.
It has been informed that the volume of trade for this season has been recorded up to October is export of Rs 375, 038, 654 and import of Rs 27, 698, 090.
The next season trade will re-open from May 1, 2019.
The bilateral trade for the year 2018 between the traders of India and China through the started with traders and
Government officials from both sides exchanging gifts and greetings on May 1, 2018.
As per reports, in 2017, the bilateral trade was disrupted following the standoff.
“Last year, due to the Doklam standoff, trading through Nathu La was possible only for two weeks, as a result of which we incurred losses. However, we are optimistic this year,” the general secretary of the Indo-China Border Traders’ Welfare Association, Tenzing Tsepel, said on the day of the opening of the bilateral trade.
As per media reports, in 2016-2017, goods worth Rs 3.54 crore were traded via the Sino-Indian border,
Nathu La, an official of the Commerce and Industries department said at the border on May 1, 2018.