Overview
- Speaking at the Lavi Fair’s closing in Rampur, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said his government has formally pressed New Delhi to restart cross-border commerce via Shipki La.
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar earlier told the state that India has opened discussions with China on resuming trade at Shipki La, Lipulekh and Nathu La, though no restart has been announced.
- Kinnaur traders at the fair urged reopening, arguing it would revive sales of traditional goods, generate jobs and restore the event’s vibrancy as online retail cuts into business.
- Sukhu said talks on routing the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through Shipki La are being explored and highlighted more than 70,000 tourist visits after the state launched border-tourism activities.
- Shipki La is a designated seasonal trade point under a 1994 protocol, operations last ran in 2019, and past volumes swung from ₹8.59 crore in 2016 to ₹59.21 crore in 2017.