In Sikkim, the border trade between India and China through Nathula Pass has concluded for the year with record import figure of 72. 68 lakh.

The official sources yesterday said that this figure which was nil in last two years gone up due to revision in trade items list by Directorate General of Foreign Trade which has added five items in import list and allowed seven more export items earlier this year.

The export figure of more than 5 crores by the Indian traders has also shown an increase of about 60 percent in last three years. The trade season every year began in month of May and ends in November.

Our correspondent reports that the import trade list which was limited to only 15 Items now added with 5 more items like readymade garments, shoes, quilt, carpets and local herbal medicines. While the export list restricted to only 29 items has been revised with seven more items.

This revision of trade list was a long pending demand of Indian and Chinese traders’ since the Nathula border trade resumed in the year 2006. More than 350 traders from Sikkim had received trade licenses this year.

The state officials have informed that ongoing construction work of a modern trade mart at Sherethang near Nathula border along with a new consolidated check post is likely to be completed by the next year.