The Hindu Business Line : Improvement in Nathu-la biz transactions

Gangtok, Nov. 16 As the fourth consecutive year of the border trade between India and China via Nathu-la border comes to an end on November 30 for the year 2009, traders from both sides of the border are happy that the business transactions were better than last year.

Despite teething problems faced by the Indian traders in the beginning of the year, traders were of the opinion that the overall business transactions would be better than last year.

Mr Anil Kumar Gupta, one of the prominent Indian traders engaged in the Nathu-la trade told Business Line that there was a drastic rise in trade in the past three months covering up all the losses of the past five months. “This year too, we will have amicable closure of the trade on November 30 for which discussions will be held between the two trader groups,” Mr Gupta said.

It has also been learnt that every day nearly 80 traders from China and 40 traders from India cross the border for their usual transaction.

According to Mr Gupta, the items that were exported and were in demand are canned food, spices, edible oil, textile cloths, copper items, utensils, tea and coffee. He added edible oil is in high demand compared with other items in the list.

Some traders said that development of connectivity and infrastructure in the border were impressive.

“Various developmental works are in progress like the intergraded check post for immigration and custom at Nathu-la, double lane road, parking lot facility, trade mart and cafeteria which have provided satisfaction to traders of both the countries – the reason why transactions are on the rise of late,” they added. Business was carried out without any cases of threat or harassment, they added.

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