Nathula trade resumes after six years; traders expect activity to pick up, seek expansion of trade basket
Nathula, August 1
Trade through the Nathula Pass resumed on Friday after a gap of six years, with traders expressing optimism that commercial activity will gradually pick up over the coming weeks while urging the government to expand the list of tradable items to better reflect current business needs.
Speaking to ANI, General Secretary of the Nathula Traders Association, Nim Sherpa, said the reopening had brought relief and renewed optimism among traders after trade remained suspended since the COVID period.
"Trade is restarting today, after a gap of six years since COVID, and everyone is happy... We expect it to go well now," she said.
Sherpa added that expanding the list of approved trade items would further boost business. "It would be even better for us if the Central Government expanded the list of trade items... The passes will be issued within the next two weeks," she said.
General Secretary of the Indo-China Nathula Border Traders Welfare Association, Anil Gupta, said traders were hopeful that business would gradually return to normal as trade passes and permits are issued.
"Our hopes are very good. Our trade will flourish. It will be slow in the beginning... but it will pick up," Gupta told ANI.
He said the current trade list includes items such as horses, sheep and goats, and traders have requested the government to include industrial products that are more relevant to present-day trade.
"We have submitted an application to the department. We hope that the government will take a positive view," he said.
Gupta added that around 500 traders had collected application forms for trade passes, while nearly 300 had already submitted them. Verification is underway and traders expect passes to be issued soon, allowing commercial activity to gather pace.
Other traders also welcomed the reopening of the trade route. One trader told ANI, "All of us traders are so happy," while another said, "We are glad that trade is starting up again. It feels good," adding that business prospects would improve further if some of the items on the approved trade list were revised.
Traders said they expect activity to gradually increase in the coming weeks as more traders receive their passes and existing stock movement resumes through the Nathula trade route.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is really encouraging news for the Northeast region. It's not just about trade, it's about people-to-people connections and regional economic stability. My cousin trades in Gangtok and he's been struggling since 2020. Excited to see this resume and grow. 🙏
Good to see trade reopening but I have to honestly say, the item list feels very outdated. Horses and goats in 2025? The government needs to be more pragmatic and include industrial products, electronics, and other modern trade goods. Otherwise this route will never reach its full potential. #ModernizeTrade
It's wonderful to see optimism from the traders! It's true that activity will be slow initially, but with the right government support and a better trade basket, this can become a booming economic corridor. Also, important to maintain good relations with China for smooth trade. 🤞
Glad to see the passes being issued. These small steps matter a lot for border areas. The expansion of the trade basket is a no-brainer in my opinion. If we want the region to really benefit, the list needs to reflect what businesses actually trade today. Hope the authorities move fast. 👍
Nice to hear things reopening after so long, but let's also remember that border peace and security are critical. Trade is good, but we must ensure it doesn't compromise India's strategic interests in the region. Balanced approach is key. 🕊️
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.