Trade via Shipki La sees 375% jump

SHIMLA:THE annual cross-border trade between India and China via Shipki La in the tribal Kinnaur district closed for the year on Friday with a total turnover of ₹2.82 crore, registering a growth of 375.7%.

While goods worth ₹1.14 crore were exported to Shipki La village in China-controlled Tibetan Autonomous Region, items worth ₹1.38 crore were imported from China. The cross-border trade had seen a sharp decline in 2017 due to India - China standoff in Doklam.

“This has been a good trading season. It’s because trade started well in time and traders got ample time to make cross-border trips,” said Hishey Negi, Kinnaur Indo-china Association president.

In 2017, cross-border trade which begins in June every year had begun in August due to the stand-off and trade worth only ₹59.3 lakh was registered.

Shipki La is a high mountain pass and border post on the India-china border at an elevation of 18,599 foot above the sea level. It is through this pass the Sutlej enters India (from Tibet).

The trade through Shipki La Pass opened in 1993. It came to a halt after the Indo-china war in 1962. Ever since, the trade has resumed but not even a single Chinese or Tibetan trader has visited the Indian side.

The trade suffered another jolt in 2012 when the Indian government imposed a ban on livestock import through Shipki La. Livestock import comprises 60% of the total trade with China. Chigu goats and Chamurthi horses are in great demand in China.

In 2013, the Centre expanded trading list which enhanced the trade volume with cross-border trade recording a turnover of ₹7.32 crore. Trade recorded peak growth in 2015 with the turnover exceeding ₹9.38 crore.

Indian traders travel by road to Namgya, 22 km from Pooh, and then to Chuppan near China. After reaching the zero point, they have to trek for nearly six hours, along with mules, to reach Shipki. Traditionally, trade with Tibet (now Chinese occupied Tibetan Autonomous Region) was carried out under barter system. The products traded are sold during lavi trade fair at Rampur Bushar which commences on November 11 every year.

Products traded include agricultural implement, blankets, copper products, clothes, textiles, cycles, coffee, tea, barley, rice, flour, dry fruit, dry and fresh vegetables, vegetable oil, jaggery and tobacco.