The historic Shipki La trade route between India and China was reopened on Saturday after a six‑year break. Revenue and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi led the ceremony and flagged off 16 traders from the Indian side.
During the flag‑off, the minister presented traditional Khataks, ceremonial scarves, and accompanied them with horses to Shipki village in Tibet. This gesture symbolised the revival of the ancient Silk Route trade.
The traders will conduct barter trade for 72 hours in the Tibetan market before returning to India. The Minister explained that goods would be exchanged directly without monetary transactions.
At the same event, a new modern trade mart named Chhuppan Trade Mart was inaugurated. Built at a cost of Rs 1.70 crore, it is located in the Shipki La area of the border Gram Panchayat of Namgya in Kinnaur district.
Minister Negi urged all traders to follow the import‑export regulations set by the Union Ministry of Commerce. He stressed that transparency and rule‑compliance are essential for smooth trade.
Preliminary figures indicate that Indian traders can bring up to 72 different items, while traders from China can offer 30 items. This mix is expected to diversify the range of goods exchanged.
Responding to the Traders’ Association, the minister said the proposal to widen the scope of trade will be forwarded to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. From there, it will be presented to the Chinese government through the Ministry of External Affairs.
Negi said that resuming trade via Shipki La will strengthen the economies of border areas. He added that it will create new jobs and self‑employment opportunities for local youth.
The state government continues to work on holistic development of border regions, focusing on road connectivity, communication networks, and basic amenities to improve life for people in remote areas.