Indo-China border opens for readymade garment trade.

Garments have now been included in the revised list of tradable items through the Indo-China border, issued by the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.

It is for the first time that the items for exports and imports between the two countries have been increased after the opening of the Nathu La trade route in Sikkim.

Seven new items in exports and five new items in imports have been added to the earlier list of tradable items under the Foreign Trade Policy 2004-09, taking the total number of items that can be imported and exported to 20 and 36, respectively.

Readymade garments and handloom and handicraft products are among the items that can now be exported from India to China through the border route, whereas readymade garments, quilt/blankets and carpets are among the items that can be imported by India.

The items of import and export through the Indo-China border have been increased in response to the demands of the local people, BK Kharel, Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of Sikkim, said.

The revised list of tradable items would enter into force as soon as the border trade resumes on May 21, 2012. The border trade is currently stopped owing to heavy snowfall in the region, which has blocked roads.

The items that were earlier allowed to export through the border, including blankets, clothes and textiles as well as items that were imported, including wool and goat cashmere, would continue to be traded, the DGFT notification said.

It added that the border trade will continue only through three Land Customs Stations, viz. Nathu La in Sikkim, Gunji in Uttarakhand and Namgiya Shipkila in Himachal Pradesh.

Source : fibre2fashion.com