The Sikkim government says preparations are under way for the possible reopening of border trade with China through the historic Nathu La Pass, and officials hope operations could resume soon. Tourism Minister Tshering Thendup Bhutia said on Saturday, June 20, 2026, that discussions on reviving the route are progressing and that the state is reviewing and upgrading trade-related infrastructure to be ready once the Union Government gives final directions.
Bhutia said officials from the Commerce and Industries department and other agencies, led by Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, are assessing existing facilities and carrying out improvement works. He added, “We hope that the Nathu La border trade can resume at the earliest, and there is a possibility of trade operations restarting soon.”
Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur echoed that optimism while noting no official date has been fixed. “However, it is certain that trade through the Nathu La border route is going to resume,” he said, adding that there is broad consensus and necessary steps will follow once a date is finalised.
The comments follow remarks in May 2026 by Rajya Sabha MP D.T. Lepcha that reopening the Nathu La trade route was under active consideration. Lepcha had said trade was expected to restart from the existing trade mart once required clearances were obtained, and he indicated the Ministry of External Affairs planned to resume the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via the Nathu La route during the June–August 2026 window.
Nathu La, at an altitude of more than 14,000 feet in East Sikkim, is part of the old Silk Route linking Sikkim and Tibet. India reopened the pass for border trade in 2006 after it was closed following the 1962 Sino-Indian conflict; trade continued until it was suspended in 2020 amid the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Officials say a restart would boost local economic activity, benefiting traders, transporters and communities connected to cross-border commerce. However, resumption remains contingent on final clearances and directions from the Union Government, and authorities have not announced a firm reopening date.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/possibility-of-nathu-la-border-trade-restarting-soon-minister
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