After witnessing slowdown for almost 20 years, the Indo-China trade through historic Shipki la Pass in Kinnaur district seems to have left behind the lull era, as the trade this year touched new heights with around 280 per cent growth against last year, despite some restrictions imposed by Centre.
The yearly trade between the two neighbours through Shipki la Pass, which will close down on November 30, has registered a record turnover of Rs 5.33 crore as against Rs 1.4 crore of last year, the highest since the trade resumed in year 1993.
According to officials of Industries department, the import figure touched Rs 3.28 crore while the export figure touched Rs 2.05 crore this time with total Ex-Im figure touching to record Rs 5.33 crore despite the ban on livestock items which were considered as major component of Indo-China trade.
The figure may increase marginally in the next two days left for trade before the Shipki la pass closes. The trade between two countries resumes every year from June 1 and closes on November 30 but this year incessant rains and flash floods lashing Kinnaur district, delayed the trade by a few days.
The ban on important livestock items by Central Government had also failed to dampen the spirit of local traders and over 80 traders applied for trade passes this year as compared 45 traders last year and just 25 traders in 2011. Despite of high number of traders having applied for trading passes only 59 traders were given such passes. According to the latest ban, the Tha horses and Chigu goats were banned from being imported from Tibet into India. It dampened the spirit of Indian traders who carry items like agricultural tools, blankets, copper products, clothes, textiles, cycles, coffee, tea, barley, rice, flour, dry fruit, dry and fresh vegetables, vegetable oil, jaggery and tobacco.
Figures of state Industries department show that in year 2012, 23,000 kilograms of tobacco was exported to China while 20, 000 Chigu goats reared for its wool and soft meat in the villages of China were imported to India. Worry lines were drawn on the traders’ forehead especially from Chinese side, when the Central Government decided to ban import of live stocks. In July this year, Customs Preventive Commission, Amritsar had asked the district authorities of Kinnaur to ban the live stock import as per central government directive.
Chigu goats and Chamurthi horses known for its sturdiness in hostile terrain, were in great demand from China. The local authorities had taken up the matter with central authorities to allow livestock trade but the ban persisted. However, expansion of the trade list last year in which 12 new items were included in the list of tradable items contributed majorly to growth of trade between two countries this year — that traditionally was carried on ancient barter system. last year central Govern-ment had added 12 more items to the trade list, including carpets, spices, handloom items, religious material, herbal medicines, shoes and readymade garments. Earlier the trade was limited to only 15 items.
Deputy Commissioner Kinnaur JM Pathania, enthusiastic over high trade figure, said that traders earlier were panicked by different check posts being setup in the route but the matter was addressed amicably resulting in the high trade this year. The 1962 war between India-China had led to the closure of the pass until the modalities of border talks were worked out in 1993-94.